Rob Sand, the 33rd State Auditor of Iowa, has dedicated his career to fighting government corruption. He serves as the state’s chief advocate against taxpayer abuse, waste, and fraud, using both his background as a former public corruption prosecutor and his current auditing authority.
Sand’s corruption-hunting efforts have faced significant friction from the state’s Republican-majority legislature.
- Limits on the Auditor’s Office: In 2023, lawmakers passed legislation that curbed the State Auditor’s powers, restricting his office’s access to personal information during investigations and limiting his subpoena powers.
- Calls for Accountability: Sand has continually criticized these limitations, arguing that they enable corruption by allowing state agencies to legally hide documents from the auditor.
Sand has pushed for legislation mandating prison time for public employees who steal or misuse over $10,000 in public funds, and has advocated for stronger whistleblower protections. His overarching policy framework focuses on Banning stock trading for government officials and restoring the full powers of the Auditor’s office.
Cook Political has rated this race a Tossup.