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Rob Sand Submits Record-Breaking 24,756 Petition Signatures to Officially Qualify for 2026 Ballot

For Immediate Release

Contact: press@robsand.com

Rob Sand for Iowa

3/9/2026

DES MOINES, IA – Today, candidate for governor Rob Sand submitted a record-breaking 24,756 petition signatures to officially qualify for the 2026 ballot, the most petition signatures ever submitted in Iowa election history. The signatures — more than seven times the minimum required — came from all 99 Iowa counties, and shattered both the previous gubernatorial campaign record by nearly 9,000 signatures and the all-time record by nearly 1,000.

This historic 24,756-signature haul spans every corner of Iowa, with signatures from all 99 counties. On top of that, more than 2,000 registered Republicans signed a petition, as well as 3,360 no-party voters, meaning that over one in every five signatures came from a voter of a different party. This demonstrates strong, cross-party support for Rob’s campaign for governor, and that Iowans across the state are ready for new leadership after a decade of one-party control. 

“I’m grateful to the record-breaking 24,756 Iowans who have put their trust in me and added their names to these petitions — Democrats, Republicans, independents, and everyone in between. Every single signature represents an Iowan that is tired of politics as usual and ready to turn the page on the last ten years of one-party rule,” said candidate for governor Rob Sand. “From day one, we’ve been traveling the state, having real conversations about our state’s toughest challenges, and working to build an Iowa that’s not redder or bluer, but better and truer. We’re keeping our foot on the gas to carry this momentum all the way to Election Day.”

This milestone demonstrates the strength of grassroots energy all across Iowa. Thousands of Iowans from every county and from all political stripes stepped up to make their voices heard, and that’s what Rob Sand’s campaign is all about — listening, working together, and focusing on the issues facing Iowan’s the most. With this kind of support behind him, Rob is ready to keep building on this momentum and continue putting people over politics, meeting voters where they are, and fighting every day to make life better for Iowans.

By the numbers: 

  • Total signers: 24,756
  • Registered No-Party signers: 3,360 
  • Registered Republican signers: 2,080
  • Over 1 in every 5 signers were not registered Democrats 
  • Signatures in all 99 Iowa counties 
  • Over 2,860 signers did not vote in the last race for governor 

To learn more about Rob and his campaign, visit RobSand.com.

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