Rob Sand

Rural areas in small towns, they want to know that their lives are understood by the person they're voting for. But it's bigger than that, too, because a lot of people slice and dice. They're like, oh, you know, they're too judgmental of those voters. We are not going to get them back as though, you know, we're all different.

Rural areas in small towns, they want to know that their lives are understood by the person they're voting for. But it's bigger than that, too, because a lot of people slice and dice. They're like, oh, you know, they're too judgmental of those voters. We are not going to get them back as though, you know, we're all different.

But a lot of the people in bigger cities in the suburbs in Iowa came from those small towns. And some of them were not excited to leave. They left because of economic opportunities that were better somewhere else. But they too want to know that somebody understands that part of small town Iowa. Tom Vilsack was the last candidate for governor in Iowa who was a Democrat.

But a lot of the people in bigger cities in the suburbs in Iowa came from those small towns. And some of them were not excited to leave. They left because of economic opportunities that were better somewhere else. But they too want to know that somebody understands that part of small town Iowa. Tom Vilsack was the last candidate for governor in Iowa who was a Democrat.

who had real small town roots. He had been a mayor in Mount Pleasant. And so I think that that is an indicator that that does make a difference for people.

who had real small town roots. He had been a mayor in Mount Pleasant. And so I think that that is an indicator that that does make a difference for people.

Good question. So it's actually a really good question because most states have a auditor, but it's not necessarily the same job in every state. In the state of Iowa, we are the taxpayer's watchdog. We audit state government every year, financial statement audit.

Good question. So it's actually a really good question because most states have a auditor, but it's not necessarily the same job in every state. In the state of Iowa, we are the taxpayer's watchdog. We audit state government every year, financial statement audit.

We also do public corruption investigations, which is how I got interested in the office because I had been doing most of Iowa's public corruption prosecution work. And then we also, as of 2019 in my first term, we do government efficiency promotion. So we have a government efficiency program that is so good at actually saving money that it has been copied in two other states. Pretty good.

We also do public corruption investigations, which is how I got interested in the office because I had been doing most of Iowa's public corruption prosecution work. And then we also, as of 2019 in my first term, we do government efficiency promotion. So we have a government efficiency program that is so good at actually saving money that it has been copied in two other states. Pretty good.

Pretty good. Yeah. And it's really about, at the end of the day, actually helping the people who are there in cities, counties, and school districts find new and better ways to save money, which I think is an effective way to save it. You need a little planning.

Pretty good. Yeah. And it's really about, at the end of the day, actually helping the people who are there in cities, counties, and school districts find new and better ways to save money, which I think is an effective way to save it. You need a little planning.

You need a little thoughtfulness, a little bit of working ahead to try to get people into the place where they can have an impact by giving them some ideas and trusting them to do the right thing to some degree.

You need a little thoughtfulness, a little bit of working ahead to try to get people into the place where they can have an impact by giving them some ideas and trusting them to do the right thing to some degree.

So I want to challenge the premise of your question, if I may, a little bit. Challenge away. And let's answer this question instead, because let's acknowledge Iowa is one of the slowest changing states in the entire country, right? So we have just a population base that is incredibly steady. It's getting a little bit older. We are not doing a good job of bringing new people in.

So I want to challenge the premise of your question, if I may, a little bit. Challenge away. And let's answer this question instead, because let's acknowledge Iowa is one of the slowest changing states in the entire country, right? So we have just a population base that is incredibly steady. It's getting a little bit older. We are not doing a good job of bringing new people in.

And at the same time, we're losing some younger folks, but it's all very slow. And so it's like, I wouldn't change overnight. It's the same people. And so the question that is better asked to describe what happened in Iowa is how were Barack Obama and Donald Trump the same? And the answer to that question is pretty straightforward.

And at the same time, we're losing some younger folks, but it's all very slow. And so it's like, I wouldn't change overnight. It's the same people. And so the question that is better asked to describe what happened in Iowa is how were Barack Obama and Donald Trump the same? And the answer to that question is pretty straightforward.

They were both outsiders who challenged their party's establishment and said, I'm going to do politics differently. And keep in mind that the Democratic Party,

They were both outsiders who challenged their party's establishment and said, I'm going to do politics differently. And keep in mind that the Democratic Party,