Written May 21, 2025 by Sondra Wilson

On Monday, May 12, Iowa’s well-respected State Auditor, Rob Sand, announced that he’s running for Governor in 2026. For many Democrats, this was the moment they’d all been waiting for. After all, he is the only Democrat who holds a state office currently – all the rest are Republican!

An Exceptional Auditor

As Auditor, Rob has played a crucial role of being a much needed thorn-in-the-side of corrupt state officials. For example, in 2022 he demanded that Kim Reynolds should return the $450,000 intended for COVID relief which she allegedly misappropriated to pay for 21 governor’s office staff members (PBS). Being called out publicly like this seemed to upset Republicans, because shortly thereafter passed SF-478, a bill that Rob called “the most pro-corruption bill in Iowa history”, .

In his opening video released on his official Facebook campaign page, Rob Sand for Iowa, he pointed out several very respectable accomplishments he’s made as State Auditor, such as:

As a criminal prosecutor, he went after violent crime, corruption, and uncovered the largest lottery-rigging scheme in American history;
Created an efficiency program that saved so much money for taxpayers that it got copied in two other states;
Took a solitary stand against tax dollars being used to pay for egregious sexual harassment settlements;
Uncovered a record amount of “waste, fraud, and abuse”.

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According to Iowa Starting Line, “[Rob’s] campaign reported raising more than $8 million at the end of last year, including approximately $7 million from family members and about 28,000 smaller individual donations. His wife, Christine, contributed $3 million, while his in-laws, Nancy and Nixon Lauridsen, provided another $4 million.

– the only Democrat who currently holds a state office –

The Lauridsens have funded Republicans for years

Rob seeks to placate Iowans who are being violated while coddling Republicans

After you know who funded his campaign, his vision for Iowa begins to fall apart. His campaign, which can perhaps best be followed via Facebook page , is largely built on emotional appeal. While Rob honestly seems like a very nice gentlemen who has performed exceptional work as State Auditor, he does not appear to have a concrete plan for the future of Iowa. Additionally, during a time when Republicans have flagrantly violated federal civil rights statutes, economically starved public schools, and

In his interview with the Des Moines Register, Rob stated that he wants an Iowa that is “Truer and better… not bluer or redder.”

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A Governor Who Protects Rights instead of Violating Them

Although I don’t yet have the funding other gubernatorial candidates do, what I do have is:

1. A comprehensive political platformthat is constantly being improved, which still much to-be-added from behind the scenes (stay tuned!). Other Candidates rely on rhetoric and platitudes instead of concrete plans, or promises to “go after” woke people, then attacking the rights of Americans they swore to protect. If you feel great about a different Candidate who is running for Governor, I challenge you to look closely at their *plan*. Do they have a plan that will help all Iowans? Don’t be fooled!

2. On March 31, 2025 I filed a massive class action lawsuit to obtain redress for several classes of persons. It is sad this has to happen, however instead of working on plans to improve the quality of life for Iowans, politicians across the state chose to focus on violating rights to appease lobbyists and special interest groups. Causes of action for each class of persons is as follows:

i. Violation of abortion rights due to the passing of HF 732. READ MORE.

ii. Homeless Des Moines residents who are being threatened, ticketed, arrested, and have been having their property bulldozed due to an anti-camping provision added to Ord. 16,382 last fall. Meanwhile zoning approval for Joppa’s Tiny Home Village has repeatedly been blocked by the same City Council who amended the ordinance in order to sic police and on homeless people, and terrorizing them with threats of jail and bulldozers. READ MORE.

iii. Transgender and nonbinary Iowans who are no longer safe in Iowa due to the passing of SF 418. The passing of this code – a blatant violation of 18 U.S.C. § 241 Conspiracy against rights – represents a continuing conspiracy which has been ongoing since 2019. READ MORE.

iv. Iowa’s blatantly-unconstitutional School Voucher Program is being used to siphon public tax dollars into private, religious institutions. READ MORE.

v. Additional sections of the suit have to do with severe injustices I have experienced over the years as a direct result of discrimination. This included remaining homeless and afraid to return to Iowa for approximately eight years following an off-the-record warning by and Ames police officer to leave the state for my safety. READ MORE.

vi. My spring semester at Iowa State University was sabotaged by several of the defendants. As a transgender woman, this is an example of the types of setbacks I face that the well-funded candidates do not have to deal with. READ MORE.

3. Cool campaign merch including Sondra Wilson for Iowa Governor t-shirts and limited edition DIY Citizen’s Arrest Kits!

4. Operation: Magna Carta II – Assuming the FBI doesn’t arrest the politicians who violated numerous federal laws cited the Criminal Complaint I filed (government officials don’t seem to eager to hold each other accountable, so please forgive my skepticism), then, as Governor, I will give them the opportunity to turn themselves in. If they do not, I will personally order the Executive Branch to stand down so that Iowans can peaceably make Citizen’s Arrests (that’s why you need the kit!!). No harassment. No excessive force. It is time to restore our *inalienable* right to due process in this country.

Why I’m running as a Democrat

I am a running as a Democrat because the values and platform of the Democratic Party of Iowa generally align with mine. I am grateful that the Democratic Party sticks up for the rights and safety of minorities, for access to healthcare for all, a strong public education system, clean environment, workers rights – the list goes on. What we see from Republicans today – a party that was founded on lifting black people up out of slavery – is a group of people who appear hellbent on kicking down minorities and ripping healthcare away from Americans. As a transgender woman, my position on the Republican Party is that public apologies are definitely in order.

Why I Have to Run

If I don’t run, I strongly doubt any candidate will suggest expanding Iowa’s Right to Garden Act. No one will come up with a real housing solution such as the Sensible Housing Act, and “making Iowa’s courts accessible to Iowans” (via the Justice Accessibility Act) will likely not be discussed in the political area. The public works program set to grow highly-efficient, automated gardens via the creation of Civilian Restoration Corps. will likely not be advocated for. Instead I fear we will hear the same talking points we usually hear, with the most urgent, pressing issues for Iowans not being discussed.

Above photo image from Field of Dreams used in accordance with Fair Use Doctrine.

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References

All images used herein, including copyrighted images, are being utilized for legitimate First Amendment purposes in accordance with the Fair Use Doctrine.

Rob’s announcement: https://www.facebook.com/robsandia/videos/717053214318939

Featured image; photo of Rob Sand from Iowa Starting Line, as found on “Rob Sand for Iowa” Facebook page on May 14: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1141917864642209&set=pcb.1141918051308857

Iowa Starting Line. (May 12, 2025). Smith, Oren Zachary.

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PBS. (May 1, 2022). Iowa Gov. Reynolds should return $450,000 in improperly spent COVID funds, says state auditor. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/iowa-gov-reynolds-should-return-450k-in-improperly-spent-covid-funds-says-state-auditor

Wilson says Republicans need “Held Accountable – Not Coddled”