Rob Sand questions how much opponent vetted running mate following news of criminal investigation
Rob Sand questions how much opponent vetted running mate following news of criminal investigation # Rob Sand questions how much opponent vetted running mate following news of criminal investigation ##### Lahn campaign denies Derek Wulf committed fraud By Dave Price Published: Sep.
ktiv.com · Dave Price · September 9, 2026
Rob Sand questions how much opponent vetted running mate following news of criminal investigation
# Rob Sand questions how much opponent vetted running mate following news of criminal investigation
##### Lahn campaign denies Derek Wulf committed fraud
By Dave Price
Published: Sep. 8, 2026 at 10:05 PM CDT| Updated: 1 hour ago
PELLA, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa State Capitol Bureau) — Rob Sand, the Iowa Democratic candidate for governor, questioned whether his Republican opponent, Zach Lahn, thoroughly vetted state Rep. Derek Wulf before choosing him as his running mate.
On Tuesday before an event in Pella, Sand answered reporters’ questions about Wulf’s financial situation regarding his farming operation as well as the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Department confirmation that there is an active investigation concerning Wulf.
“I think what we’re seeing here is a continued lack of doing their (Lahn campaign) homework, and someone makes it appear like they’re not qualified to run the state of Iowa,” Sand said.
#### Investigation follows unpaid bills allegations
A judge placed Wulf’s farm and home into receivership after legal proceedings that lasted throughout the year over unpaid bills.
A Des Moines Register story published last Friday quoted people who said they did business with Wulf’s farming operations near Hudson and that he failed to pay his bills and wasn’t truthful about the circumstances.
“I think there’s fair questions about what’s going on there, particularly when it comes to the point where there’s a criminal investigation,” Sand said.
#### Lahn campaign response
Lahn’s campaign has denied that Wulf committed any crime. The campaign said Wulf has paid back his debts and is in the process of refinancing.
The campaign sent this response to Gray Media Iowa following Sand’s comments:
“Rob Sand is taking his cues from a false Des Moines Register hit piece that stitched together resolved disputes, paid debts, and contested allegations to manufacture a scandal, because apparently attacking an Iowa farmer is easier than defending his own record.”
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