Posted by Iowa GOP Team · March 02, 2026 3:25 PM
DES MOINES - Last week in the Iowa Legislature, Democrat State Senator and candidate for U.S. Congress Sarah Trone Garriott, voted against a bill requiring citizenship verification to vote in Iowa elections.
This comes as President Trump recently asked members of Congress at the State of the Union to stand if they agree that Americans citizens should be prioritized over illegal immigrants, and every single Democrat refused to stand.
Poll after poll shows Americans support voter ID and proof of citizenship requirements. It is common sense, yet Sarah Trone Garriott disagrees. By refusing to support citizenship verification, she is siding with illegal immigrants over Iowans and leaving our elections more vulnerable to foreign interference and less secure.
The numbers are clear:
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Echelon Insights: 76% of voters say requiring photo ID would make the midterm elections more fair. 67% of voters say requiring proof of citizenship would do the same.
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Yahoo/YouGov: 62% of Americans support requiring proof of citizenship in order to register to vote.
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Gallup: 84% of Americans support requiring photo ID to vote, and 83% support requiring proof citizenship when registering for the first time.
The American people agree. Secure elections matter.
“Leave it to radical woke warrior Sarah Trone Garriott to come down on the wrong side of an issue that a majority of Americans support. Verifying U.S. citizenship before voting is a basic safeguard for election integrity. Trone Garriott is no moderate. She is the poster child for her party’s far-left base. If elected, she will represent Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District as such. Iowans must reject this radical in November.” - Iowa GOP Spokesperson Jade Cichy
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Posted by Iowa GOP Team · February 26, 2026 9:48 AM
From Rock Rapids to Muscatine, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are working every day to keep Iowans safe by removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal immigrants from our communities.
Most Iowans agree that these criminals should not be here. Yet Democrat gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand remains conspicuously silent on whether he supports ICE’s work in Iowa.
That silence comes as prominent Democrats across the country call for slashing ICE’s budget or abolishing the agency altogether. Iowans deserve to know where Sand stands.
According to recent polling from Cygnal:
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73% believe entering the U.S. without legal permission is breaking the law.
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61% support deporting illegal immigrants.
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58% do not support defunding ICE.
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54% support ICE enforcing our federal immigration laws.
“Rob Sand’s silence speaks volumes. When dangerous criminals are being taken off our streets, the last thing Iowans want is a governor who won’t even say whether he supports the men and women doing that work,” said Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann. “Instead of standing with law enforcement and Iowa families, Rob Sand is ducking the question to protect his radical base. Leadership means choosing public safety over politics, and Rob Sand still refuses to do it.”
While it was difficult to narrow the list, ICE has arrested numerous illegal immigrant criminals in Iowa whose records make clear why enforcement matters:
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For a full list, check out the Department of Homeland Security’s "Worst of the Worst" website here.
While Rob Sand remains silent, his primary opponent, Julie Stauch, has declared “ICE does NOT belong in Iowa!”.
At Rob Sand’s next event, Iowans should demand clear, direct answers to these very simple questions. No word salads. No evasions.
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Do you support ICE’s work in Iowa?
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As governor, would you end our state’s cooperation with ICE?
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Do you support slashing ICE’s budget or abolishing the agency altogether?
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Should ICE deport those who are in our country illegally?
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Posted by Iowa GOP Team · February 24, 2026 9:47 AM
DES MOINES - Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann released the following statement reacting to President Trump’s State of the Union address where he gave Iowa a shout-out at the beginning of his speech:
“The state of our union is strong. President Trump is carrying out his mandate from the American people to reverse the disastrous Biden-Harris policies and advance his America First agenda. From lowering costs and strengthening our economy, to securing our border and deporting criminal illegal immigrants, the Golden Age of America is upon us. Our nation is safer, stronger, and more prosperous. This is only the beginning; and the wins will continue.”
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Posted by Iowa GOP Team · February 20, 2026 9:46 AM
As reported by Politico, a new poll shows far-left progressive Zach Wahls leading Schumer-establishment puppet Josh Turek by 7 points in the Democrat primary for Iowa’s U.S. Senate seat.
The poll also shows Wahls holding a 7 point advantage over Turek in net favorability, and undecided Democrat primary voters break 3-to-1 for Wahls.
Turek’s campaign has struggled to gain momentum in what has become a messy and closely watched contest, reportedly burning through cash while Wahls continues to solidify his position as the frontrunner.
His performance has become an embarrassment for Chuck Schumer and the DSCC, who appear to have facilitated a backroom deal to secure an endorsement from former candidate Nathan Sage in a desperate effort to boost his campaign.
“As far-left progressive Zach Wahls establishes himself as the front runner, it’s clear that being a Chuck Schumer-aligned Democrat is no longer a winning pitch to Iowa Democrats. Iowans don’t like being told who they need to support by the out-of-touch D.C. Democrat establishment.” - Iowa GOP Spokesperson Jade Cichy
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Posted by Iowa GOP Team · February 18, 2026 9:54 AM
DES MOINES - Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann released the following statement regarding the passing of former Iowa First Lady Billie Lee Ray:
“My deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the family of former Iowa First Lady Billie Lee Ray. She represented the very best of Iowa, and her philanthropic work left a lasting impact on our state. My earliest memories of Iowa politics involved Governor Ray and First Lady Ray. A woman of dignity, class, and grace, her legacy of service will not be forgotten.”
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Posted by Iowa GOP Team · February 18, 2026 9:51 AM
Well, that was unexpected.
In a surprising turn in Iowa’s Democratic U.S. Senate primary, political outsider Nathan Sage suspended his campaign and endorsed Josh Turek.
This is the same Josh Turek that Sage repeatedly criticized as Chuck Schumer’s “handpicked candidate.” The same Turek that Sage tied directly to the D.C. Democrat establishment. At one point, Sage even said he would not support Schumer if elected to the U.S. Senate and called for new leadership in Washington.
Now he’s backing Schumer’s preferred candidate. So what changed?
Sage didn’t have to endorse anyone. He could have stepped aside and allowed primary voters to decide. Instead he made the deliberate choice to support the very candidate he framed as a symbol of everything wrong with Washington politics.
Iowans, especially Democrat primary voters, deserve answers:
At the same time, Turek’s campaign is struggling to gain traction in a competitive primary, reportedly burning through cash while trying to consolidate support as Zach Wahls establishes himself as the frontrunner. His campaign has largely downplayed its national backing, despite months of coverage tying him to Schumer and Washington insiders.
This sudden endorsement only raises more questions.
Democrat primary voters now have to decide whether they’re comfortable with what appears to be backroom maneuvering in a race that was framed as a choice between grassroots voices and the Washington establishment.
“Iowans watched Nathan Sage build an entire campaign around opposing the D.C. Democrat machine and Chuck Schumer’s influence. Now he’s endorsing Schumer’s handpicked candidate. That’s a stunning reversal, and voters deserve to know why. What changed?” - Iowa GOP Spokesperson Jade Cichy
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Posted by Iowa GOP Team · February 05, 2026 9:50 AM
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DES MOINES - Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann provided the following update on protecting Iowa’s First in the Nation Status at the Republican National Committee’s Winter Meeting in Santa Barbara, California:
“I’m honored to serve as Chair of the Republican National Committee’s Presidential Nominating Process Committee. At our recent meeting in Santa Barbara, the committee unanimously voted for my report preserving the carve-out system, and presented it to the full RNC. This marked a critical first step in securing Iowa’s First in the Nation Status through 2028.”
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From left to right: Drew McKissick, South Carolina GOP Chair; Michael McDonald, Nevada GOP Chair; Bill O’Brien, RNC New Hampshire National Committeeman; Jeff Kaufmann, Iowa GOP Chair
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For background:
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In October 2025, President Trump and RNC Chairman Gruters appointed Chairman Kaufmann to lead the highly influential Presidential Nominating Process Committee. The committee is responsible for making recommendations to the RNC on the scheduling of primaries and caucuses in 2028, a key factor in protecting Iowa’s First-in-the-Nation status.
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This marks Chairman Kaufmann’s second time leading the committee. He previously served as chair during the 2024 presidential election cycle, when the party nominated President Trump, who went on to win a second term in the White House.
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Under Chairman Kaufmann’s leadership, the committee unanimously approved his report preserving the carve-out system – ensuring Iowa goes first, followed by New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina. The report was presented to the full RNC and will be acted upon later this year.
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Chairman Kaufmann is leading the charge to secure Iowa’s FITN status, which is not guaranteed and requires a dedicated, strategic effort. His leadership ensures that Iowa remains a crucial early voice in the 2028 presidential nomination process.
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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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