Zach Lahn, a businessman running on a Trump-style platform, defeated Randy Feenstra, a three-term Iowa congressman endorsed by former President Donald Trump, in the Republican primary for Iowa governor held on June 2, 2026 [1, 2]. Lahn campaigned with slogans such as "Make Iowa Healthy Again" and "Iowa first," focusing on limiting foreign and out-of-state ownership of Iowa land [1].
Lahn secured support from Turning Point USA and grassroots conservatives who viewed Feenstra as part of the Washington establishment disconnected from Iowa voters [1]. Feenstra conceded the race on the night of June 2, marking a setback for Trump’s political endorsements in the crucial week prior to the primary [1, 2].
Trump has remained mostly out of the public eye over the six days before the vote, appearing only in prerecorded interviews and posts on his social media platform Truth Social [1]. Separately, the Trump administration abandoned plans for a $1.8 billion fund intended to compensate those allegedly targeted by political investigations [1].
Lahn’s victory shifts the race toward a candidate aligned with populist conservative voters and grassroots activists in Iowa. The next step will be the November general election, where Lahn will face the Democratic nominee for governor.
