Trump’s Iowa Governor Pick Randy Feenstra Crushed by Zach Lahn — President’s Endorsement Streak Shattered

President Trump’s endorsement streak took a hit as Rep. Randy Feenstra conceded to businessman Zach Lahn in the Iowa GOP primary for governor, marking a significant defeat for the president in the primaries.

Lahn narrowly defeated Feenstra (R-Iowa) in a contest that had the congressman conceding before most media outlets even called the race. This loss comes after Trump endorsed Feenstra just days prior, well after early voting had already begun.

Prior to this setback, Trump boasted a flawless endorsement record across House, Senate, and gubernatorial races within the Republican Party. However, he had faced some defeats in lower-tier races, particularly in state legislative contests.

Lahn garnered support from the Make America Healthy Again faction and aligned himself with the right wing of the Republican Party, receiving backing from former Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa). King had previously lost to Feenstra in a GOP primary back in 2020.

King and various outside groups attempted to label Feenstra as weak on immigration, which may have contributed to his downfall.

Now, Lahn prepares for a challenging general election against Democratic state auditor Rob Sand, who has gained notoriety for his critiques of both major political parties despite being a Democrat. Sand stands as the only statewide elected Democrat in Iowa.

Democrats have not secured a major top-of-the-ticket victory in Iowa since former President Barack Obama in 2012. Yet, there is cautious optimism among Democrats regarding their potential performance in the upcoming gubernatorial and Senate races.

Trump’s endorsements have proven highly effective this election cycle, resulting in the ousting of multiple incumbent Republicans, including Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Senators Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas).

This defeat marks the first time in over a decade that an incumbent senator has lost their primary.