Just over a month ago, I wrote about why I was supporting Zach Lahn for governor. At the time, many people still viewed his campaign as a long shot. He entered the race later than everyone else, had never held political office, and lacked the institutional support behind several other candidates. However, there has been a clear shift in the race, and today, with only days remaining before the June 2nd primary, it is becoming increasingly clear that something significant is happening in Iowa politics.
This race has narrowed. The momentum is real. And whether people want to admit it or not, Zach Lahn has emerged as one of the clear frontrunners for the Republican nomination for governor. Over the last several months, I have traveled to events, spoken with voters, knocked over 1000 doors, watched the campaigns closely, and paid attention to where the energy is. One thing has become impossible to ignore: no candidate in this race has built grassroots enthusiasm faster than Zach Lahn.
Republicans cannot afford to misunderstand the moment we are in. Iowa voters are frustrated. Young voters are tired of rehearsed talking points, of consultant-driven campaigns, and especially of politicians who avoid difficult conversations. People want someone willing to confront the issues that have quietly damaged this state for years (the cancer crisis, corporate consolidation, eminent domain abuse, the rising cost of housing, and the reality that too many young families no longer see a future here). For months, Zach Lahn has centered his campaign around those issues while many others avoided them entirely. Now, as his campaign has gained traction, the conversation across the race has shifted toward the very concerns he was raising from the beginning. Whether or not Zach Lahn ultimately wins this race, the Iowa First movement has already made a lasting impact on this state. It has elevated issues that matter deeply to ordinary Iowans, and because of that, the political conversation in Iowa has changed for the better.
There is another reason this momentum matters: campaigns are ultimately tested by whether supporters are willing to invest in them. Despite entering the race later than every other major candidate, Zach Lahn is the only Republican candidate in the field to out-fundraise Randy Feenstra. Fundraising is often the clearest indicator of belief in a campaign’s ability to win. It shows that supporters are not applauding from the sidelines, but willing to put their full support behind this movement. The Iowa First message has inspired Iowans to get on board with Zach Lahn and fight to preserve the heritage of our great state. Only his message is strong enough to carry through both a contested primary and a general election, and the money reflects that truth.
In my first letter, I explained that Zach made me care about politics again. Since then, I have watched countless others, especially younger conservatives, begin paying attention for the first time as well. A campaign capable of activating new voters is a campaign capable of changing the political landscape of this state. Zach Lahn is not just running the strongest grassroots campaign in this race. He is building a movement capable of carrying conservative energy into November and beyond.
So I ask you all to consider voting Zach Lahn for Governor on June 2nd. Spend time in prayer and in God’s word, and then look at what each campaign has been able to accomplish. Look at what each candidate stands for. And look at which candidate has the momentum to defeat Rob Sand in November. Then go vote.
God Bless you All,
- Mike Rupp