Posted by Iowa GOP Team · February 04, 2026 10:31 AM
The Iowa GOP flagged the donation in a February press release, pointing to Hoffman’s well-documented history with Epstein. Hoffman, a longtime Democrat financier and founder of LinkedIn, is featured in Justice Department documents detailing plans to visit Epstein’s private island, his New Mexico ranch, and his Manhattan townhouse. One email from Epstein’s assistant about a 2014 itinerary includes the note, “Reid will take a Virgin America flight… to Fort Lauderdale,” part of travel arrangements described elsewhere in the documents as a trip to Epstein’s private island, Little St. James.
Further emails released by the DOJ show Epstein telling his assistant, “I have [Reid’s] passport. Found in the gift bag they had given me.” In another, Epstein casually references Hoffman in correspondence with Elon Musk, inquiring about holiday plans at St. Barts. Neither Hoffman nor any other figures mentioned in the documents have been charged with any crime related to Epstein.
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Iowa Republicans are calling on Sand to address the Hoffman contribution directly. “Will he return the money, or is this who he really answers to? Iowans deserve to know,” said Iowa GOP spokesperson Jade Cichy.
This donation follows a $50,000 contribution Sand previously accepted from Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, a billionaire Democrat described by the Iowa GOP as “one of the most liberal governors in the country,” whose administration has enacted policies including taxpayer-funded gender transitions for minors, sanctuary protections for illegal immigrants, a no-cash-bail law, and some of the strictest gun control measures in the nation.
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Reid Hoffman’s massive donations to Democrats, including $2 million to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and more than $15 million to the Wisconsin Democrat Party since 2019, have drawn media attention across the country.
Hoffman also notoriously donated $7 million to failed Democrat presidential candidate Kamala Harris with the expectation that she would fire FTC Chair Lina Khan. That raises an obvious question: did Hoffman’s donation to Rob Sand come with strings too?
Let’s be clear: the leading Democrat candidate for governor of Iowa taking a quarter-million dollars from a California billionaire mentioned 2,600 times in the Epstein Files is absolutely newsworthy. Yet Rob remains silent.
Iowans deserve to know:
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Does Rob Sand have any explanation for why he took hundreds of thousands of dollars from a well-known Epstein associate?
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What conversations happened before the donation? How did it come about? Were there any strings attached to this donation?
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Did Rob Sand speak to Hoffman directly, meet him at an event, etc.?
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Will Sand be returning the money?
“Democrat Rob Sand loves to brand himself as an ‘outsider’ who does things differently, and lectures Iowans about ‘right vs. wrong.’ But then he quietly cashes a $250,000 check from a morally bankrupt California billionaire whose name appears 2,600 times in the Epstein files. Rob Sand is a phony, and thinks we’re all fools. Iowans deserve answers.” - Iowa GOP Spokesperson Jade Cichy
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Posted by Iowa GOP Team · February 03, 2026 2:00 PM
Well this is awkward.
According to the latest fundraising reports, far-left progressive Democrat Zach Wahls has officially outraised the Democrat establishment’s handpicked candidate, Josh Turek, in the race for the U.S. Senate.
The Democrat primary is devolving into a full-blown intraparty brawl, and it’s getting uglier by the day. As reported last week by Townhall:
"While Wahls is the Mamdani candidate in this race, Josh Turek is Chuck Schumer's choice for the Senate and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC). In fact, the DSCC has warned consultants against working with Wahls and Sage in the race, and even threatened to cut vendors out of contracts.”
Turns out being Chuck Schumer’s top choice isn’t exactly a winning pitch anymore. Iowa Democrats don’t seem thrilled about being told who their candidate is, especially by Washington insiders.
The reality is hard to ignore: the old guard establishment of the Democrat Party is on life support. Far-left progressives aren’t the rebellious fringe anymore, they are the party.
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State Sen. Zach Wahls outraised state Rep. Josh Turek in Iowa's Democratic U.S. Senate primary in the most recent fundraising quarter — but Republican favorite U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson has raised more than both Democrats combined.
The latest federal campaign finance reports, which cover Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, show Wahls and Turek vying for frontrunner status in the Democratic primary, while fundraising for former Knoxville Chamber of Commerce Director Nathan Sage has fallen off.
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But in the latest quarter, Turek raised just shy of $678,000 while spending $931,000, leaving him with $398,000 in the bank as of Dec. 31.
Meanwhile, Wahls, of Coralville, had his best quarter, raising $742,000 and spending $594,000, leaving him with $733,000 cash on hand.
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In a memo released Feb. 2, the Wahls campaign said the fundraising reports show he is "the clear Democratic frontrunner."
The memo notes that Wahls raised more than $2 million during all of 2025, compared with just shy of $1.7 million for Turek.
And it calls the fact that Turek spent more than he raised in the latest quarter "a glaring warning sign that his campaign is not built for the long haul."
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“It’s more clear than ever before: Iowa Democrats are fed up with Schumer-backed establishment candidates like Josh Turek and are gravitating toward far-left progressives like Zach Wahls,” said Iowa GOP Spokesperson Jade Cichy. “No matter who limps across the finish line, they’re headed for a loss in November. Make no mistake, this seat stays red.”
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Posted by Iowa GOP Team · February 03, 2026 10:16 AM
| Sand talks like a hometown watchdog, but his campaign is funded by Epstein-connected megadonors. |
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They were linked in alright.
Newly released Jeffrey Epstein emails reveal LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman discussing visits to Epstein’s infamous private island, his New Mexico ranch, and his New York apartment.
“Reid will spend the night at 71st,” according to one email from Hoffman’s team included in the latest Justice Department dump of Epstein files, in reference to his Upper East Side townhouse.
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In 2023, Hoffman visited to Epstein’s former Caribbean private island, Little St. James, also known as “pedophile island,” The Post previously reported.
In one bizarre 2016 email, Hoffman, a top Democratic fundraiser, sounded thrilled to recover an important personal item that somehow got buried in swag.
“Saida, please tell reid that i have his passport. Found in the gift bag they had given me,” Epstein wrote.
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| “Rob Sand loves to talk about ‘small-dollar donors,’ but his campaign is bankrolled by coastal billionaires, wealthy insiders, and political elites,” said Iowa GOP Spokesperson Jade Cichy. “Now we learn he cashed a $250,000 check from an Epstein-connected megadonor. Will he return the money, or is this who he really answers to? Iowans deserve to know.”
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Posted by Iowa GOP Team · February 02, 2026 2:39 PM
Heading into the midterms, Iowa Democrats aren’t building momentum. They’re nearly $200,000 in debt.
While Republicans organize, recruit strong candidates, and prepare for another round of wins, Democrats are struggling to pay their bills. No amount of DC spin or friendly headlines can change that reality. Even their own donors don’t seem convinced.
If the party can’t fund itself, it’s hard to see how they plan to compete statewide.
And if they’re desperate for cash, maybe Rob Sand can help. After all, he’s already leaned on his millionaire wife and in-laws for millions. What’s a few more?
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The Iowa Democratic Party is carrying nearly $200,000 in debt after repaying money tied to disgraced cryptocurrency executives, according to the party’s latest state financial disclosure report.
The filing shows the party took out two loans totaling $200,000 in October, made a $2,500 payment — leaving $197,500 in outstanding debt --- and issued a $200,000 check to the FTX Recovery Trust that same month. The repayment traces back to a $250,000 campaign contribution made in June 2022 by Nishad Singh, a former executive of the now-bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX.
Singh pleaded guilty in 2023 to conspiracy to commit securities fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to violate campaign finance laws as part of the federal prosecution of Sam Bankman-Fried, whose companies collapsed amid what prosecutors described as widespread fraud. Federal authorities have since sought the return of political donations made by FTX executives so the money can be used to compensate victims.
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The Iowa Democratic Party’s recent financial disclosure reflects one such repayment, part of a broader national effort to claw back political donations connected to the FTX fraud.
“In June 2022, the Senate Majority Fund received a contribution for $250,000. The Iowa Democratic Party first learned that federal prosecutors were seeking records or repayment related to FTX-linked donations on Dec. 12, 2022,” Iowa Democratic Party spokesperson Paige Godden wrote in an email in response to questions submitted by The Gazette.
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| “While Iowa Republicans gear up for another win, Iowa Democrats are busy fundraising just to keep the lights on, nearly $200K in the hole and counting,” said Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann. Guess the DC hype machine doesn’t actually translate to donations, unless Rob Sand’s family fortune wants to spot them another casual $7 million.”
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Posted by Iowa GOP Team · January 30, 2026 10:02 AM
DES MOINES - Rob Sand didn’t just accept a donation. He cashed a $50,000 check from Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, a billionaire Hyatt heir and one of the most liberal governors in the country. For Iowans wondering whose priorities Sand is aligned with, the answer is written right on the check.
Sand has tried to run from his Democrat affiliation, pitching himself as a “moderate” and “independent-minded” candidate. But independent candidates don’t take $50,000 checks from one of the most far-left governors in America. Rob does not get to claim fiscal conservative values while taking money from Chicago liberals.
Rob Sand is not running to lead Iowa. He is auditioning to import Illinois’ failures west of the Mississippi.
This is the record of the Illinois governor now financing Rob Sand’s campaign:
Now the governor responsible for these failures is personally financing Rob Sand. This was a deliberate investment by an Illinois liberal power broker, and Rob Sand chose to take it.
“Rob Sand took a big check from the extreme liberal Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, the state that people and businesses are fleeing because of high taxes and woke failed policies,” said Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann. “That check isn’t just money; it’s a handshake contract to bring Illinois’ governing to Iowa, and Iowans should reject it.”
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Posted by Iowa GOP Team · January 27, 2026 5:34 PM
DES MOINES - Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s speech in Clive, Iowa on January 27, 2026:
“Today, President Trump highlighted the progress Iowa families are experiencing first-hand: lower costs, meaningful tax relief, and renewed opportunities for homeownership.
By choosing to stop in Iowa first, he underscores that making life more affordable for Iowa families, farmers, and small businesses is a top priority for his administration.
President Trump is delivering results today while laying the groundwork for an even stronger future for Iowans. Here’s to three more years of WINNING!”
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As President Donald J. Trump visits Iowa today, he returns to a state that is clearly winning again under his leadership — even as work remains to fully reverse the economic damage of the Biden years. President Trump will not rest until every American is better off than ever before, yet meaningful relief is already reaching Iowans through sharply lower gas prices, robust economic growth, improving home affordability, tax savings, and policies that put working families first.
Iowans are clearly better off under President Trump and Republican leadership:
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Iowa’s average gas price stands at $2.56 per gallon, with some stations even offering gas under $2 per gallon — down 46% from its record Biden-era high.
- Midwestern gas prices remain at their lowest since early 2021.
- Iowa’s economy is roaring ahead, with strong GDP growth outpacing the national average, fueled by agriculture, manufacturing, and smart policies.
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The average Iowa family is saving $3,139 on taxes this year thanks to President Trump’s landmark Working Families Tax Cuts.
- Iowans stand to see wages rise by up to $6,100 per person over the next several years.
- Iowa is receiving an investment of more than $209 million in rural health care thanks to Republicans — strengthening communities across the state.
- Home affordability is improving, with the median price of an Iowa home down 3.5% from last year — and trending lower.
- Iowa ranks among the top 10 for the lowest average electricity prices nationwide, delivering reliable, affordable power to homes and businesses.
- Iowa proudly remains the nation’s top producer of ethanol and biodiesel, benefiting from energy policies that support farmers and keep costs down.
The Trump Administration is also delivering for Iowa homeowners — putting vital tools to work after previous administrations ignored their potential. Over the past year:
- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have empowered over 22,000 Iowa families to purchase or refinance their homes.
- The Trump Administration has delivered more than $5.3 billion in mortgages through Fannie and Freddie, directly supporting these 22,000 Iowan families in achieving or maintaining homeownership.
- More than 55% of all first-time homebuyers in Iowa have relied on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac financing.
- Nearly 3,000 Iowa families have received critical mortgage assistance from Fannie and Freddie to stay in their homes amid recovery from Biden-era challenges.
- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have invested nearly $11 million in Iowa to rehabilitate and repair post-foreclosure properties, making them ready for new buyers and boosting local neighborhoods.
- In the Des Moines area — including around today’s rally site in Clive — Fannie Mae has helped nearly 3,700 families purchase or refinance homes, driving affordability right where Iowans live and work.
The proof is in the results: Lower costs, rising wages, protected jobs, and renewed strength mean Iowa families are winning again under President Trump — and the best is yet to come. Strong Republican leadership is delivering a brighter, more prosperous future, and today’s visit drives that message home loud and clear.
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Posted by Iowa GOP Team · January 26, 2026 5:33 PM
DES MOINES - Iowa GOP Spokesperson Jade Cichy released the following statement in response to Democrats Jennifer Konfrst and Taylor Wettach suspending their campaigns for IA-03 & IA-01:
“The Iowa Democrat Party is once again trying to decide primaries before voters ever have their say. Today’s coordinated announcements make their priorities clear: protecting party favorites, not empowering Iowans.
By attempting to anoint Christina Bohannan and Sarah Trone Garriott, party insiders are proving these candidates would serve as nothing more than mouthpieces for the Democrat establishment. Iowans are fed up with backroom politics, and they know Bohannan and Trone Garriott would be rubber stamps for the radical, far-left Democrat agenda.”
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Posted by Iowa GOP Team · January 22, 2026 10:29 AM
DES MOINES - Rob Sand wants Iowans to believe his campaign is powered by grassroots, small-dollar support. The truth is far different.
A closer look at Sand’s latest fundraising report shows a campaign bankrolled by out-of-state coastal billionaires, Democrat megadonors, and political insiders. It’s a familiar pattern for Sand. In his last report, more than $7 million from his wealthy wife and in-laws formed the backbone of his fundraising. This time, that family money has been replaced by elite donors from New York, California, and Chicago stepping in to fill the gap.
Sand may call it “small-dollar” fundraising, but for the people funding him, six-figure checks are pocket change.
Some of Rob Sand’s large donations include:
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$250,000 Reid Hoffman, billionaire LinkedIn co-founder under DOJ investigation for ties to Jeffrey Epstein
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$200,000 Fred Hubbell, Des Moines Democrat insider and failed governor candidate
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$140,000 Nicholas Rowley, trial lawyer
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$103,500 Deborah Simon of Indiana, heir to billionaire mall tycoon Melvin Simon
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$100,000 Pamela and Harry Bookey, Des Moines real estate moguls
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$100,000 Gideon Friedman, New York real estate CEO
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$70,000 Mark Heising, California billionaire megadonor
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$60,000 Jeremy Liew, California venture capitalist
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$50,000 Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker
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$50,000 Blair Hull, Chicago businessman and megadonor
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$50,000 Amy Goldman Fowler, New York billionaire heiress
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$50,000 Timothy Urban, Des Moines real estate developer
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$50,000 David Spencer, California-based businessman and member of the Rockefeller family
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$40,000 Darshan Somashekar, New York tech entrepreneur
“Rob Sand wants Iowans focused on a splashy headline featuring the total of his fundraising, but not the truth,” said Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann. “If it’s not his rich in-laws bankrolling him, it’s a who’s who of South of Grand real estate moguls, coastal elites and Democrat mega-donors stepping in. That’s not grassroots. That’s a bought-and-paid-for campaign, and Iowans deserve to know exactly who owns it.”
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Posted by Iowa GOP Team · January 21, 2026 10:28 AM
The Iowa Democrat Party’s abandonment of rural voters can no longer be denied, its being openly admitted from their own ranks.
In a recent interview with CNN’s John King, Michele Pegg, Chairwoman of the Louisa County Democrats, acknowledged that the “Democratic brand is damaged” and conceded that party leadership is focused almost exclusively on “power places like Des Moines or Johnson County.” Her comments offer a candid and troubling assessment of a party that has lost touch with communities that once formed its foundation.
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A Year into Trump’s second term, Iowa voters offer clues for the midterm election
 CNN | January 19, 2026
“Trump carried Louisa County with 70% of the vote in 2024, math not lost on local Democrats.”
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“The county is the 1st Congressional District, the most competitive of Iowa’s four.”
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“But Pegg pulled no punches. She said the Democratic brand is damaged in rural areas and the party’s candidates had better put in the work to repair it.”
‘“I think that unfortunately there’s been a history of Democrats focusing on power places like Des Moines or Johnson County or some of the more university or non-rural areas,” Pegg said. “You know, people don’t even know where we’re at.”’
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Louisa County lies squarely within Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, raising a simple and reasonable question: when was the last time Democrat candidate Christina Bohannan actually showed up in Louisa County? If even the county party chair feels overlooked, it speaks volumes about how disconnected Democrats have become from rural Iowa.
“It’s no secret that the Iowa Democrats, including millionaire and two-time loser Christina Bohannan, have turned their backs on rural voters,” said Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann. “Bohannan can’t be bothered to visit rural Iowa, she’s too busy lounging around her Florida mansion. Republicans will always stand up for rural Iowans. They are not an afterthought – they are essential to the future of our state.”
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Posted by Iowa GOP Team · January 20, 2026 10:27 AM
DES MOINES — Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann released the following statement as President Trump marks one year into his second term:
“Today, we celebrate the first incredible year of President Trump’s second term. The President continues to deliver on his promise to Make America Great Again by securing the border, deporting criminal illegal immigrants, and reversing disastrous Biden-era policies to bring down inflation and make life more affordable for Iowa families. America is back like never before, and I can’t wait to see what comes next.”
White House: 365 WINS IN 365 DAYS: President Trump’s Return Marks New Era of Success, Prosperity
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