Rob Sand Brings 100 Town Hall Tour to Johnson County

With nearly 1,000 people in attendance, it was the campaign’s largest town hall to date.

DES MOINES, IA — On Monday evening, nominee for governor Rob Sand brought his annual 100 Town Hall Tour to Johnson County, where nearly 1,000 Iowans showed up to ask questions, hear directly from Rob, and take part in a tradition of Iowa government that too often gets overlooked: an open, public town hall.

During the town hall, Rob laid out his vision for Iowa’s future: focus on the problems affecting Iowans in every corner of the state and work with Republicans, independents, and Democrats alike to get things done for the people of Iowa. Rob told Johnson County voters that, as governor, he would veto culture war bills that divide Iowans, end Medicaid privatization that has driven up costs for patients and providers, and strengthen Iowa’s public schools.

Read more about Rob’s Johnson County stop below: 

Little Village: ‘We’re vetoing all the culture war bills’: Rob Sand brings his town hall campaign back to Johnson County

• “I want to start with something that I think is common sense,” Rob Sand told the more than 950 people gathered in the Main Lounge of the Iowa Memorial Union (IMU) on Monday night. “Most people know it, but they don’t hear a lot of people who are running for office say it. I think our political system is broken largely because it’s run by two private clubs.”

• “The reason that we struggle with high prices and high corruption and high costs and a water quality crisis and a cancer crisis is because our political system works to reelect incumbents, it doesn’t work to serve us,” he said. “And the more we take people in elected office and force them to serve ordinary people, by cutting off their avenues to serve insiders and special interest groups, the more they will do that.”

• “I feel that I have spent most of my life listening to politicians promise they’re going to do stuff they can’t do. And all that it does is undermine trust in the system … I’d rather be honest with you.”

• Sand finished by drawing a contrast between himself and Republican candidate Zach Lahn on issues such as women’s rights (Lahn supports passing a “personhood bill” that would grant a fertilized ovum the same essential rights as any Iowan, making all abortion and many forms of contraception illegal), the privatization of Medicaid (Lahn supports it), school vouchers (Lahn would expand the program) and mRNA vaccines (which Lahn would block the use of in Iowa). 

• “Basically, he looks around at where Iowa is right now and says, ‘keep going, this is great.’” Sand said. “I think it’s time for change, I think most Iowans are going to agree with me.”

The Gazette: Sand pitches political accountability, divided government at Iowa City town hall

• Democratic gubernatorial nominee Rob Sand closed a packed University of Iowa town hall Monday with a sweeping proposal to impose new restrictions and requirements on Iowa politicians, arguing the state’s political system rewards division and incumbency rather than accountability.

• More than 900 people attended the event at the Iowa Memorial Union, according to a head count provided by Sand’s campaign. Sand and Republican nominee Zach Lahn, a venture firm business owner from Belle Plaine, are competing in the Nov. 3 election to succeed Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, who is not seeking another term.

• Among those attending Monday was Jodi Linley, 50, of Iowa City, a Democrat and University of Iowa professor, who said she was drawn to Sand’s emphasis on working across political lines.

• “What I appreciate about Rob is that he isn’t afraid to get into a room and have hard conversations, and that he is willing to engage people on hard issues,” she said.

• Emilia Sorrell, 35, of Iowa City, a no-party voter and emergency room nurse, said she came to the town hall with an open mind but left confident she would vote for Sand.

The Daily Iowan: ‘Right wing, left wing, same bird:’ Rob Sand pitches bipartisanship

• Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand called for a return to bipartisan — even nonpartisan — government in Iowa during a campaign event in Iowa City, arguing one-party control has prevented the state from addressing issues ranging from water quality to healthcare to public education.

• “I pissed off a bunch of powerful people in both political parties as your state auditor, and I’d like to keep pissing them off as your governor,” Sand said.

• Sand said the state has fallen years behind in addressing water quality and argued improving Iowa’s environment could also contribute to minimizing the “brain drain.” 

• University of Iowa third-year student Kaitlyn Drinkard said Sand’s focus on Iowa’s water and environment stood out because of the role nature and outdoor activities play in communities across the state. 

• “I think that it’s really cool that he cares that much about small towns and also small-town activities,” Drinkard said. “There’s definitely a huge culture in Iowa that really revolves around nature.”