Meet Rob
Rob Sand was born and raised in Decorah – home to the Vikings and some of the best pizza in the state. Rob’s roots in Iowa span generations – his dad’s family has been in Winneshiek County since getting off the boat from Norway. Rob grew up fishing and hunting in the area with his dad, and found his passion for public service during high school working to get a skatepark built in his community. Growing up in small-town Iowa will always be an important part of who Rob is.
Rob started his career in public service as an Assistant Iowa Attorney General and Iowa’s chief public corruption prosecutor, locking up scammers, taxpayer abusers, and thieves, as well as violent criminals and well over a dozen sexually violent predators – putting away some of the worst of Iowa’s sexual offenders. He prosecuted all criminal cases related to the Iowa Film Office tax credit scandal and numerous crooked politicians – from both parties. He also uncovered and prosecuted the largest lottery rigging scheme in American history, which he wrote about in his true crime book, The Winning Ticket.
The people of Iowa have elected Rob twice as State Auditor, first in 2018, defeating an incumbent Republican and becoming the first Democrat to hold the office since the 1960s, and again in 2022 where he was the only Democrat reelected statewide. Since taking office, Rob has served as a trusted leader and government watchdog with a record of rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse, holding members of both parties accountable, and doing what’s right for Iowans. In his first term as Auditor, Rob uncovered more waste, fraud, and abuse in a single term than any other State Auditor in Iowa history, and has uncovered more than $29 million in misspent money since taking office.
Additionally, in his first term Rob coined PIE – the Public Innovations and Efficiencies program, which awards cities, counties, and school districts across the state for their efficiency efforts. Rob’s program is so effective that all Iowa counties are participants, and it has been copied in two other states – including by the Republican State Auditor of Mississippi.
Rob works with both parties to get things done for Iowans. In the State Auditor’s Office, Rob had both an Independent and a Republican in senior leadership positions, and promoted – not fired – employees who made campaign contributions to his political opponents. For Rob, it’s not about right versus left, but right versus wrong, and he always stands up for what’s right, even when he stands alone. Rob has brought Iowans together from across the state – and across party lines – who believe in his vision for a better Iowa, and are standing with him as he takes his fight to the governor’s office.
As governor, Rob will lower costs and protect taxpayer dollars, restore the public’s trust in our government, continue rooting out corruption, and fight to improve the lives of Iowa families and solve some of our toughest challenges. He’ll work to create more opportunities for Iowans across the state and help Iowa families not just get by, but thrive and live healthy lives.
When he’s not busy working for Iowans and fighting corruption, you can find Rob bowhunting, fishing, biking, spending time with his family, or taste-auditing pizza at the nearest Casey’s. Rob and his wife Christine have two sons and a dog, Pow.
Meet Dave
Dave Muhlbauer is a fifth-generation family farmer, lifelong Iowan, and local leader who is currently serving in his eighth year on the Crawford County Board of Supervisors. Dave is joining the ticket as the nominee for lieutenant governor and supporting Rob Sand because he knows that Iowans are ready to rotate the crops after a decade of one-party control that has left Iowans worse off.
Dave will work hand-in-hand with Rob to fix our broken political system and tackle the toughest challenges facing Iowans on day one, like rebuilding our economy, strengthening public education, and helping Iowans live better, healthier lives. He’ll stand up for farmers, workers, and local governments that have been forgotten about by the state and federal insiders for too long.
Born and raised in Manilla, Dave has been farming his entire life – his family has been farming in western Iowa for five generations, planting corn and beans and also raising livestock, including cattle and hogs. Growing up, Dave attended the IKM Community School District where he played football, wrestled, and participated in FFA. He helped around the family farm and baled hay for neighbors.
After high school graduation, Dave briefly attended Wartburg College. While there, he played rugby, which is how he met his wife, Linda. Dave eventually decided to leave Wartburg to return home and continue the family tradition of working on the farm, which he’s done ever since. He farmed with his dad as partners for over 20 years and took over the family operation in 2020 after his father passed.
In 2016, Dave was first elected to the Crawford County Board of Supervisors, following in the footsteps of his dad and grandpa and continuing the family’s commitment to public service. Dave is now finishing his second term as a Supervisor.
From conversations with community members at the grocery store, local restaurants, school functions, church, and everywhere in between, Crawford County residents know they can take their problems to Dave and have their voice heard. Like many local leaders, Dave has been frustrated with the direction the state has taken over the last decade of one-party control, eroding local government’s ability to effectively serve their neighbors. As governor and lieutenant governor, Rob and Dave would bring those days to an end and make sure all Iowans’ voices are heard.
Outside of farming and his time as a county supervisor, Dave enjoys spending time with his family, riding horses, and playing cards with the guys on the farm. He and his wife have three children and a dog.