Iowa Democratic hopefuls steer clear of Kamala Harris as campaign strategy

Rob Sand, the Democratic nominee for Iowa governor, has indicated that his campaign does not want former Vice President Kamala Harris to endorse him or attend any of his events, according to a spokesperson. Senate hopeful Josh Turek echoed the same stance, saying his race against Rep. Ashley Hinson will proceed without Harris’s involvement. Both candidates cite the risk of appearing too left-leaning in a state that has voted heavily Republican in recent presidential contests, including a 13.2-point win for Harris’s opponent in 2024.

The Cook Political Report recently moved the governor’s race from a toss-up to a Democratic lean and the Senate contest to a toss-up, suggesting a potential shift for Democrats. University of Iowa political scientist Timothy Hagle noted the GOP’s roughly 190,000-voter registration advantage, reinforcing the need for a cautious approach. The distancing mirrors similar moves by other Democrats in red states, such as Alaska’s Mary Peltola rejecting a Harris fundraising email.