Transcript: Zach Lahn, Iowa GOP nominee for governor, on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Oct. 4, 2026, tell me about this news today

The headline refers to an interview that aired on CBS News’s “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” featuring Zach Lahn, the Republican nominee in the 2026 Iowa gubernatorial election.

CBS News

Background on the Candidate

• Who he is: Zach Lahn is an entrepreneur, former political operative, and businessman who scored an upset victory in the Iowa Republican primary, narrowly edging out U.S. Representative Randy Feenstra.

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• The General Election: He is facing Democratic nominee and current State Auditor Rob Sand in the November 2026 general election to succeed outgoing Republican Governor Kim Reynolds, in what forecasters view as one of the most competitive gubernatorial contests of the midterm cycle.

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• Political Profile: Lahn runs on an “Iowa First” populist platform aligned with the “Make America Healthy Again” movement. His platform blends staunchly conservative social stancessuch as strict abortion restrictions and school choice expansionwith populist economic policies, including sharp critiques of corporate agriculture monopolies, restrictions on foreign and corporate land ownership, proposed taxes/moratoriums on AI data centers, and health skepticism regarding mRNA vaccines and agricultural chemical usage.

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Focus of the Appearance

His interview with Margaret Brennan focuses on the key pressure points of the 2026 midterm election in Iowa and the broader Midwest:

• Agricultural Economy & Rising Costs: How inflation, farm input costs, tariffs, and commodity price fluctuations are impacting Iowa farmers and rural voters.

• Populist Governance & Agribusiness: Addressing his critique of “Big Ag” and pesticide usage in a major farming state, balancing agricultural production with public health and clean water concerns.

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• The High-Stakes Gubernatorial Race: His campaign against Rob Sand, defending Republican control of the statehouse, and appealing to independent and moderate voters given recent polling indicating a tighter-than-expected race in traditionally red-leaning Iowa.

  Wikipedia