Iowa governor race: Democrat Rob Sand's church draws attacks from Republican Lahn campaign

Right · 2Fox News and Breitbart reported on 12 October 2026 that Rob Sand, Iowa's state auditor and the Democratic nominee for governor, attends Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ in Des Moines, a congregation with progressive positions on LGBTQ+ issues and abortion. 1 2 Right · 2Fox News said a local journalist placed Sand there regularly as of late 2025; Breitbart cited Iowa columnist Chuck Offenburger for his attendance. Neither outlet quoted Sand or the church on the specifics of his membership. 1 2 Right · 2Both outlets say the church describes itself as an "LGBTQ+ Open and Affirming" congregation and says it takes the Bible seriously rather than literally. Fox News says it has held that status for more than 30 years, and Breitbart dates its adoption of the policy to 1993. 1 2

Right · 2According to advertisements and church posts cited by both outlets, Plymouth hosted a concert by the drag performer Flamy Grant in May 2025 and promoted a "family friendly" drag event about a year later. Fox News dates the later event to about a year after the concert, and Breitbart dates it to February 2026. 1 2 Right · 2Both report that the church invited the transgender pastor Paula Stone Williams as a guest pastor in 2023, and that its pastors joined a February 2025 protest at the Iowa statehouse in support of transgender people. 1 2 Right · 2The outlets also point to the church's Our Whole Lives sexuality-education programme, co-published by the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ. Fox News says classes begin in first grade. Breitbart describes a module for 5- to 7-year-olds that covers gender identity and recommends books such as "Jack (Not Jackie)". 1 2

Right · 2They further report that the church held a prayer vigil supporting abortion access in May 2022 and attended a July 2023 rally at the statehouse against abortion restrictions. 1 2 Right · 2A spokesperson for Republican nominee Zach Lahn told both outlets that the material is "disturbing" and "right in line with Rob Sand's liberal views," adding that Sand's values are "NOT Iowa values." 1 2 Right · 1Sand's campaign told Fox News that he attends church weekly in Iowa, unlike Lahn, and that he prefers traditional services with liturgy and classic hymns. It said he has never found a church where he agrees with everything. 1

Right · 1The campaign also attacked Lahn over FirmTech, a maker of wearable sexual wellness devices in which Lahn was once an investor. Lahn says the product was first developed to monitor cardiovascular health and that he divested before the marketing shifted, and he says he lives full time in Iowa despite regular flights to Kansas. Lahn's campaign did not say where he attends church. 1 Right · 2Both outlets place the story in a competitive race. Fox News calls it one of the most hotly contested governor's races in the country and says Sand has cultivated a moderate image while quoting scripture on the trail. Breitbart says Sand leads by an average of over 8 points in RealClear Polling and presents himself as a "governor for all" who is tired of the culture war. 1 2