REAL DUBUQUE NEWS (RDN)
Preview: Sand and Lahn meet Tuesday for final governor debate
LOCAL NEWS WIRE • October 26, 2026
Democrat Rob Sand and Republican Zach Lahn meet Tuesday night for the third and final debate in Iowa's open governor's race, with the Iowa 3rd District debate following at 9 p.m.
KEY FACTS & RECORD HIGHLIGHTS
- Sand vs. Lahn governor debate: Tuesday, Oct. 27, 6:30 p.m. CT, 90 minutes, KCRG-TV9 + The Gazette, Cedar Rapids; third and final debate of the race.
- Oct. 21 Iowa PBS debate called off after Sand withdrew following his brother-in-law's death; campaigns could not agree on a reschedule; Oct. 29 is disputed, not scheduled.
- Polling averages: Sand leads by about 7 points; Republicans hold a registration edge of about 180,000; analysts rate the race 'leans' Democrat.
- Themes through two debates: state budget shortfall, school funding, attacks over Lahn's part-time Iowa residency.
- Early voting underway; Election Day Tuesday, Nov. 3.
- IA-03 debate: Tuesday, Oct. 27, 9 p.m., Nunn (R) vs. Trone Garriott (D), KCCI Des Moines ch. 8.1, streaming on Very Local, Amanda Rooker asking questions; their only televised debate.
- Real Dubuque News will recap both debates Tuesday night.
REAL DUBUQUE NEWS (RDN)
CEDAR RAPIDS: Democrat Rob Sand and Republican Zach Lahn meet Tuesday night for the third and final debate in Iowa's open governor's race. The 90-minute debate, hosted by KCRG-TV9 and The Gazette, starts at 6:30 p.m. CT in Cedar Rapids.
How to watch: on KCRG-TV9, with streaming on the station's website and app and coverage from The Gazette.
The stakes: Sand leads by about 7 points in the polling averages, but Republicans hold a registration edge of about 180,000 in Iowa, and national analysts rate the race "leans" Democrat. Through two debates the themes are set: the state budget shortfall, school funding, and attacks over Lahn's part-time Iowa residency. Early voting is already underway, and Tuesday is the last debate before Election Day on Nov. 3. The Oct. 21 Iowa PBS debate was called off after Sand withdrew following the death of his brother-in-law, and the campaigns could not agree on a reschedule, which makes Tuesday the finale.
Also Tuesday night: at 9 p.m., Republican U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn and Democrat Sarah Trone Garriott debate in Iowa's 3rd Congressional District race, airing on KCCI in Des Moines and streaming on Very Local.
Real Dubuque News will recap both debates Tuesday night.