Johnston, Iowa (RI) — Three of the Republicans running for governor met for a live debate on Iowa PBS Tuesday night.
While touting their own views on a variety of issues, they also took aim at Randy Feenstra, the perceived frontrunner in the race who was not there, and at Rob Sand, the Democrat who’s running for governor.
Adam Steen, a former state agency director, says he jumped into the race because Feenstra isn’t the right candidate to face Sand in November.
Eddie Andrews, a member of the Iowa House, noted Feenstra’s absence from the debate stage.
A spokesman for Feenstra says the congressman is in D.C. this week to work on the Farm Bill, which may come up for a vote.
Brad Sherman, a pastor from Williamsburg, says some Republican grassroots voters are restless and view Feenstra as the establishment’s choice.
Sherman announced his campaign for governor early last year when Governor Kim Reynolds was preparing to run again.
All three candidates said they disagreed with Governor Kim Reynolds’ veto of a bill backed by property owners who don’t want a carbon pipeline running through their land.
However, Steen, who worked in the Reynolds Administration for five years, says Reynolds has been a champion of conservative issues.
Steen says that during his time leading the state’s human resources and property management agency, he interacted with Sand, the state auditor.
Andrews says Reynolds is a hard worker and a good leader.
Andrews also opposed the governor’s reorganization of Area Education Agencies.
All three candidates say state law should make all abortions illegal by declaring that life begins at conception, but only Sherman went one step further, suggesting abortion should be considered a crime.
Andrews says he believes life begins at conception, but prosecuting women for getting an abortion is a step too far for him.
Steen says mailing abortion pills into Iowa should be a crime.
Two of the candidates expressed concerns about the data centers operating and being built in Iowa. Andrews suggests the tax breaks for the facilities should be reexamined.
Brad Sherman says data centers use a lot of electricity.
Businessman Zach Lahn, the other GOP candidate for governor, called last night’s debate a farce because Feenstra wasn’t there, and Lahn declined the invitation to participate. Lahn says if Feenstra doesn’t agree to a one-on-one debate with him by Monday, Lahn will ask Rob Sand to debate.
KIWA Staff Photo
