Debate Season Ignites Focus on Iowa’s Cancer Crisis

As the debates began in Iowa’s intense gubernatorial race, a question emerged that seemed to resonate with the candidates.

“What are the immediate and specific steps you would take to address Iowa’s cancer crisis?” The moderator directed this question to Democrat Rob Sand and Republican Zach Lahn, both of whom emphasized the importance of this issue for their campaigns, followed by mutual accusations of inaction.

Just two weeks later, the discussions around Iowa’s high cancer rates, connected to agricultural pollution, resurfaced in a Senate debate.

It’s noteworthy that this topic would have seemed out of place just a few years ago in Iowa, the leading state for corn and hog production.

Now, however, “Big Ag” has turned into a contentious political issue amidst what many are calling a public health emergency. Iowa ranks second in the nation for cancer rates, and it’s among the few states where those rates continue to increase.

For the first time in Iowa’s political landscape, both major parties have integrated plans to address environmental factors contributing to cancer into their campaign platforms. Candidates from both sides are making pledges related to this pressing concern.

In the gubernatorial race, Lahn, a farmer-turned-candidate sponsored by the “Make America Healthy Again” faction of the GOP, is competing against Sand, a moderate lawyer, with promises to improve water quality and establish stricter regulations on chemicals.

In the closely contested Senate race, Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson and Democratic State Representative Josh Turek struggled with similar questions, both demanding increased funding to ensure clean drinking water.

This year, approximately $30 million has been allocated for ads in Iowa that reference cancer, compared to just one ad costing under $200,000 in the last midterms in 2022.

“Just nine months ago, I was the only one addressing this, and now every candidate is focused on it,” noted Chris Jones, a long-time advocate for water quality and now a Democratic candidate for the state agriculture secretary.

Yet, both parties seem to grapple with the delicate task of critiquing “Big Ag” practices while recognizing Iowa’s economic dependence on agriculture. Jones argues that Democrats have not taken enough initiative against these powerful agricultural interests, allowing Republicans to gain traction with their pro-agriculture stances. He has advocated for more regulatory measures and a reduced reliance on corn and soybean farming.

“This should be a natural issue for Democrats: a clean environment,” he expressed, while also criticizing the party for, well, being hesitant to engage with it.

Meanwhile, divisions within the Republican Party, as suggested by Sara Schreiber from the League of Conservation Voters, are undermining its credibility. Some advocates within the MAHA movement have expressed disappointment with Trump’s failure to meet their expectations.

“They expect elected officials to address their health and environmental concerns, and they aren’t strictly partisan,” she pointed out.

The Iowa Health Department links the skyrocketing cancer rates to various lifestyle factors, like obesity and smoking, but it also admitted that environmental factors could contribute to the issue, which resonates with Iowans concerned about cancer in their communities.

Many environmental advocates and farmers highlight the significant nitrate levels from livestock manure runoff entering Iowa’s waters as a primary contributor.

A recent state cancer report showing Iowa’s alarming rise in cancer rates — the fastest in the country — has prompted a shift in public perception, according to Zach Smith, a farmer and founding member of the Lobe Rangers, an advocacy group pushing for greater governmental regulation on environmental toxins.

“There’s been a surge of energy surrounding this issue, but we need to translate that energy into meaningful legislation,” Smith stated, expressing his intent to mobilize the public to vote.

The fact that the state’s Republican Party is focusing on environmental matters this election illustrates both the magnitude of the issue and the evolving political alliances.

“It used to be a topic for liberal ‘tree-huggers,’” remarked James Hepp, another founder of the Lobe Rangers and a Republican. “Now discussing environmental issues feels like simply being an informed citizen.”

Many Iowans spoke of the momentum driven by the MAHA movement, which rallied behind Lahn, enabling his unexpected primary win against GOP Rep. Randy Feenstra, who had Trump’s endorsement.

MAHA Action, which is led by a long-time ally of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has invested $1.5 million in Lahn’s campaign, touting him as their first endorsement for 2026.

“MAHA was the first to support Zach Lahn, and Iowa Republicans proved our faith was justified,” Lyons stated. “November will be our test.”

However, there’s a sense of skepticism around the party’s dedication to the cause. Lahn has faced challenges relating to GOP decisions in Washington, such as the Trump administration prioritizing increased domestic pesticide production while loosening many environmental regulations.

Speaking on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Lahn said, “I was among the first to voice my concern about the executive order on US pesticide production, and I believe if we could advise the president, he would reconsider.”

Still, David Murphy, a Democrat aligned with the MAHA movement who previously supported RFK Jr., remains doubtful of Lahn due to the disappointing GOP record regarding MAHA efforts in Trump’s time.

“The Trump administration squandered a significant opportunity that RFK Jr. backed,” remarked Murphy, a fifth-generation Iowan now involved in Jones’ agricultural campaign.

In the highly competitive Senate race, Turek’s supporters — him being born with Spina Bifida linked to his father’s exposure to Agent Orange during Vietnam — have raised concerns against his Republican challenger.

In a recent ad, Dr. Selden Spencer from Huxley criticized the rising cancer rates in Iowa, noting the national trend of declining cancer rates. “As a doctor, I can’t overlook what’s happening here,” he stated.

The ad further criticized Hinson for accepting donations from assumed polluters.

Hinson’s campaign, when questioned about the ad’s claims, did not provide a response. Nonetheless, she partnered with Democratic Rep. Hillary Scholten of Michigan to propose legislation aimed at enhancing access to early cancer detection screenings.

Hinson shared on social media, “Numerous Iowa families, mine included, have been affected by cancer. We must take all actions possible to confront Iowa’s increasing cancer rates.”

Republicans, too, face internal challenges fueled by the MAHA movement, especially when prioritizing business interests versus public health.

Another point of division is glyphosate, an herbicide better known as RoundUp. While many in Iowa attribute health problems to nitrate levels resulting from manure, there are significant disagreements on glyphosate between farmers and MAHA advocates, who argue it significantly contributes to cancer risks nationwide.

“The exposure to glyphosate has been widespread, as it’s necessary for many farmers,” Smith noted. The controversy over the herbicide has created a rift that alienates farmers from the larger MAHA agenda.

Science surrounding glyphosate and its health implications is far from conclusive. The Environmental Protection Agency is currently reviewing its safety guidelines, but the topic has been intensified by Kennedy’s history of fighting against widespread pesticide use.

Iowa’s agriculture secretary candidate, Mike Naig, has publicly criticized Lahn on this issue, indicating the complexity of the matter and cautioning against turning it into a political weapon.

“It is a multilayered issue, and regarding it as merely political can be perilous,” Naig warned back in August.

Contrastingly, Democrats are intensifying their focus on the issue. “It’s not surprising that a robust MAHA movement arose in Iowa, given the high cancer rates,” noted Lauren French from the Senate Majority PAC, the Democratic super PAC steering ads in the Turek-Hinson race.

Although the growing movement currently leans Republican, French observes a potential opening for Democratic engagement. Conversations surrounding Big Ag chemicals tie into broader concerns of corruption, another significant voter issue this election cycle.

“The challenge for Republicans in Iowa is that they have a history of siding with the industries polluting our water,” she remarked.

Some Democrats are not without scrutiny either, as Lahn has accused Sand of being influenced by agricultural interests, including taking contributions from donors “caught polluting drinking water” — allegations strongly disputed by Sand’s campaign.

As the election draws near, Sand has organized discussions with cancer survivors in West Des Moines to outline his plans for addressing this issue and pledged to establish a Cancer Task Force.

“Rob Sand is the only candidate offering a solid plan to tackle these pressing concerns,” stated Emma O’Brien, the deputy campaign manager for Sand. “In contrast, Zach Lahn endorses the One Big Beautiful Bill, which reduces funding for cancer research and seeks to ban mRNA vaccines, both of which show promise in cancer treatments.”

Lahn’s campaign, however, has not responded to requests for comment from CNN.

A recent poll from the Cook Political Report indicates that Sand leads Lahn in the gubernatorial race.

In the Senate race, a CNN poll shows the competition is extremely close.