Campaign Focus for Zach Lahn Ahead of Iowa Election

Iowa Republican gubernatorial nominee Zach Lahn stated on Saturday that his campaign will concentrate on rallying Republican voters and challenging Democrat Rob Sand on his policy stances in the month leading up to the election. He also credited Republican leadership for securing a significant $15 billion investment in a new steel plant for the state.

In an exclusive interview on Breitbart News Saturday, Lahn explained to host Matthew Boyle that this election is about more than just specific policies; it’s a broader cultural battle for both Iowa and the nation. “This is a fight for the culture of our state and our country,” he noted.

Boyle began the discussion by highlighting President Donald Trump’s announcement of the $15 billion steel plant in Iowa, calling it a “massive development.” He asked how Lahn would facilitate the project’s progress if he were to become governor.

“This is a huge announcement,” Lahn affirmed. The investment, primarily aimed at the economically struggling southeast Iowa, promises to generate manufacturing jobs and produce some of the “highest quality steel in America,” he said.

He remarked that Iowa won this investment due to its favorable governance and business environment, stating, “Illinois didn’t get it. Iowa got it because we have good, stable governance. We are very business friendly.” He credited both the legislature and the governor with fostering this atmosphere.

Lahn committed to continuing to promote business in Iowa if elected, adding that he would focus even more on supporting local businesses.

The new steel plant is projected to create around “2,000 new jobs” and could significantly impact southeastern Iowa for years to come. “This is a 40-, 50-, 60-year plant that we’re looking at that’s going to change a region of the state, and I think Iowa is very, very happy to get it,” he expressed.

When Boyle asked about the urgency of his election for those eager to see quick progress on the steel plant’s operation, Lahn pointed out Sand’s tax policies and political affiliations. “My opponent is beholden to very radical people on the left,” he asserted, noting that Sand has never supported any tax cuts implemented in modern history.

Lahn articulated the importance of collaboration with Trump for the success of the steel project, claiming it is essential to “be able to work with the president of the United States on this plan and this project.” He criticized Democrats on a national level for their unwillingness to work with Trump, even when it could benefit their constituents.

He suggested that resistance to Trump could have jeopardized Iowa’s chance to land the investment, arguing that it could have gone to a state perceived as more supportive. “It would have picked a state that was more friendly to the project,” he said, attributing the state’s current state to “the past 10 years of Republican leadership.”

When discussing his debate with Sand on Tuesday, Lahn indicated that he aims to confront Sand on issues the Democrat appears to avoid publicly, such as benefits for undocumented immigrants and support for the Green New Deal. “The voters of Iowa deserve to understand where my opponent stands on the issues that he will not talk about anymore,” Lahn remarked.

Lahn characterized Sand as “a radically liberal Democrat that is running as a moderate” and expressed confidence that the debate would allow voters to scrutinize those radical views. “I think we’re going to have a good and lively debate,” he anticipated. “I think it’ll be very productive.”

Boyle inquired about Lahn’s backing from Trump and Vice President JD Vance, as well as the polling landscape in the governor’s race. Lahn mentioned that a pre-election Iowa poll by Ann Selzer was significantly inaccurate, claiming she was “off by 16 points, I believe, nearly 17 points.”

He attributed current polling discrepancies to challenges in engaging Republicans in the polling process. “You cannot get Republicans to take the polls,” he lamented, speculating that polls were likely capturing more responses from Biden supporters than from Trump supporters in a state Trump won by a substantial margin.

“Just that fact alone means that you can’t trust the numbers that are coming out,” Lahn added. He maintained that polls could influence voter morale, emphasizing that they might either encourage Democrats or discourage Republicans.

Contrasting these polling issues with strong campaign event turnout, Lahn emphasized that “hundreds of people” have been attending his events statewide.

Reflecting on Vance’s recent visit to Council Bluffs, Lahn commented that the Vice President’s speech was “very rousing” and “energetic,” noting much of it centered on Lahn’s campaign because of its significance.

Lahn expressed hope for a visit from Trump to energize supporters, explaining that the election would hinge on voter turnout. “It really is a turnout battle for Iowa,” he insisted, emphasizing the need for Republicans to achieve a typical participation level for elections.

As Boyle discussed the number of registered Republicans in Iowa, Lahn confirmed that there are “over 180,000” more registered Republicans than Democrats, asserting that these are “real numbers.”

Lahn shared his strategy for the final four weeks of the campaign, highlighting the importance of direct engagement with voters. “Iowa is a retail politics state. It’s how we won the primary,” he underscored, reminiscing about his surprising primary victory and predicting his general election face-off would be equally remarkable.

He mentioned having held around “50, 60 town halls” during the primary, with a notable increase in attendee numbers from eight people at the first event to 200 or 300 at later gatherings. “You have to get in front of the people,” he pointed out.

Although he acknowledged the significance of fundraising and advertising, Lahn insisted that traditional media methods like TV and radio become less effective as the election approaches, particularly in light of expenditures on various local races.

“That’s what we’re going to be doing for the last 30 days of this campaign — is getting directly in front of the people,” he reiterated, noting that the state party and other organizations are focused on increasing voter turnout.

He recognized that these groups are committing more resources than ever to ensure Republican participation, stating, “because we just have to get Republicans to show up.”

While defending the accomplishments of Republican leadership, Lahn acknowledged that certain aspects still require attention. “We’ve had a Republican governor and legislature for 10 years, and I’m running on things we need to improve because there are things we need to improve,” he remarked.

Lahn framed the election as pivotal for Iowa’s future and overall quality of life. “We are fighting to preserve and protect the culture because this is not all just an economic discussion,” he said, emphasizing the question of what the state should look like moving forward.

When asked about the implications of national Democrats prioritizing South Carolina over Iowa in the presidential nomination process, Lahn expressed disappointment. “Well, yes,” he replied, asserting that the party has become “hardly recognizable” under “rich coastal elites” who disregard Iowa.

He stated that Republicans have sustained Iowa’s early position in the process by valuing the common sense and Heartland values inherent in the state.

As Boyle encouraged listeners’ involvement, Lahn shared a personal tidbit about his history with Breitbart, recalling his early writing experience there and mentioning Andrew Breitbart.

Addressing how listeners could contribute during the campaign’s final weeks, Lahn urged those with ties to Iowa to explain the election’s significance to others. “Right now, I have an opponent that’s running as a moderate, but has radically liberal views, and he’s not being honest about who he is,” he stated.

“If you’re in Iowa, make sure you’re getting in touch with your friends and neighbors and getting them to vote,” he advised. For those outside Iowa, he encouraged them to inform their friends in the state about the election’s critical nature.

Referring to the Senate race involving Republican Ashley Hinson and Democrat Josh Turek, Lahn recounted receiving a mailer that inaccurately suggested Turek would collaborate with Trump on border security.

Lahn accused Democrats of attempting to mislead Republican voters into believing they share similar viewpoints. “This is the type of lies that are being put out to try to fool Republicans into thinking that they’re one of them, and it’s happening all across the country,” he remarked.

He concluded by motivating listeners to vote and discuss the election with others, emphasizing the importance of fighting to safeguard the culture of both Iowa and the nation.