"I'm not a party line guy," Rob Sand said as he launched a gubernatorial campaign. "I'm a right or wrong guy."

Melton, who lives in Webster City, ran in 2022 and 2024 against Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, of Hull, and lost by more than 30 percentage points each time. However, Melton has pointed out online and in campaign dispatches that his performance improved (by about 2.5 points) between the two cycles.

Democrat Rob Sand has announced a bid for the open Iowa governor’s race. He is looking to break up a long streak of Republican leadership in the state after a surprise announcement from Republican Gov.