GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Zach Lahn Launches 10-Day Iowa Tour in Osage
By Kali Hanson
Published: Aug. 2, 2026 at 1:53 AM GMT+2
OSAGE, Iowa (KTTC) – With the November election fast approaching, a modest crowd gathered at the Mitchell County Fairgrounds on Saturday to hear a new political vision aimed at tackling the state’s most deeply rooted challenges.
Republican candidate Zach Lahn kicked off his 10-day tour of the state in Mitchell County, outlining a campaign focused on addressing what he calls systemic issues. Lahn spoke to supporters about key pillars of his platform, including:
- Investing in public schools
- Addressing Iowa’s high cancer rate
- Strengthening laws to prevent foreign nationals and corporations from buying up local farmland
“As people hear more of our message, they realize that this is not the traditional campaign, whatever party you’re in,” Lahn said. “It’s about solving the long-term issues. Because if I can’t solve the long-term issues, I’d rather be on my farm. And I think people can understand that and see that we’re here to take on the big problems.”
Lahn emphasized that his platform is built on Iowa issues rather than partisan ones, noting that his campaign is drawing interest across the political spectrum. Following the event, Lahn shared that independents and Democrats were among those asking questions about vital local topics like public education, water quality, and conservation.
That message resonated with Mitchell County Supervisor Pam Marzen, who has struggled to secure state funding for local initiatives.
“I really am excited to hear that somebody is wanting to rejuvenate our Iowa place here,” Marzen said. “I have a huge concern about as a county supervisor in trying to fund local programs, that those funds come back from the state level and we were able to do our job.”
KTTC News reached out to Lahn’s opponent, Democratic nominee Rob Sand, for comment on the campaign stop, but his campaign declined to respond.
Iowans will head to the polls to decide the state’s next governor on November 8th.