Rob Sand Taps Farmer Dave Muhlbauer as Running Mate for 2026 Governor Race

Iowa Auditor Rob Sand has selected Crawford County Supervisor Dave Muhlbauer as his running mate for the 2026 gubernatorial election, looking to mount a serious challenge to Republican dominance in the state.

A Fifth-Generation Farmer Enters the Race

Muhlbauer, a fifth-generation western Iowa farmer currently serving his second term on the Crawford County Board of Supervisors, will join Sand on the Democratic ticket. The pick brings a rural voice to a campaign led by the only Democrat holding statewide elected office in Iowa.

The Muhlbauer name carries political weight in Iowa. His father, former state Rep. Dan Muhlbauer, represented Manilla from 2011 to 2014, and his grandfather Louis Muhlbauer served in the state legislature from 1983 to 1992. Dave Muhlbauer previously launched a bid for the U.S. Senate in 2022, seeking to challenge Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, but exited the race before the Democratic primary.

Team Sand Pushes Rural Appeal

The Sand campaign is clearly banking on Muhlbauer's agricultural roots to appeal to voters outside the Des Moines metro area. In Monday's campaign announcement, Muhlbauer leaned into his farming background.