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Dave Muhlbauer Kicks Off “Restore Local Control Tour” in Dubuque

For Immediate Release

Contact: press@robsand.com

Rob Sand for Iowa

7/30/2026

DUBUQUE, IA – Nominee for lieutenant governor Dave Muhlbauer launched the “Restore Local Control Tour” on Tuesday afternoon in Dubuque, the start of a statewide tour highlighting the challenges faced by local government leaders due to actions taken by out-of-touch insiders. Joined by local elected officials and community leaders from the area, Dave hosted a roundtable discussion about how the last decade of one-party control has left Iowa communities behind, and how the voices and powers of local leaders have been diminished.

Dave listened as leaders like Mayor Brad Cavanagh, Dubuque County Supervisor Ann McDonough, State Representative Lindsay James, State Senator Tom Townsend, former State Senator Pam Jochum, and others spoke about the disconnect between local government and state government. He shared his own experiences and frustrations as a Crawford County Supervisor, and he emphasized the need for better communication and a stronger relationship between local and state officials.

Read more about Dave’s roundtable below:

Telegraph Herald: Lieutenant governor candidate’s Dubuque roundtable focuses on local governance, state partnerships

  • Local elected officials discussed ways to better the partnership between Dubuque’s elected officials and state lawmakers at a roundtable with a candidate for lieutenant governor on Tuesday in Dubuque. 

  • Dave Muhlbauer, a farmer and Crawford County supervisor, was selected last month as gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand’s Democratic running mate. Tuesday’s roundtable kicked off the campaign’s “Restoring Local Control” tour and was the first of several events planned throughout the state.

  • “We know each other on a personal level,” Muhlbauer said of his role on the board of supervisors. “We see the issues and the challenges that we’re facing, and we get to work on them. And part of that is, we stress to state government our needs, and we just feel like we haven’t been heard.”

  • The sentiment was echoed by most of those in attendance. Dubuque Mayor Brad Cavanagh and Dubuque County Supervisor Ann McDonough said their respective bodies of local government boast a strong relationship, but often the workings of state government feel like a disconnected third party. 

  • Muhlbauer said he looks forward to continuing a working partnership with Dubuque’s elected officials throughout his campaign. 

  • “These local leaders in Dubuque are similar to us in Crawford County,” Muhlbauer said following the event. “We want our voices to be heard; we want to work with the state on how we (can) best serve our citizens and our communities. … But we need to have that communication and that bridge to be built back so that we work together.”

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