Iowa’s Republican gubernatorial primary delivered an unexpected result Tuesday night, as Trump-endorsed Rep. Randy Feenstra lost to political newcomer Zach Lahn, a businessman. The outcome marks one of the few primary losses for a candidate backed by President Trump, who has seen his endorsements carry nearly every contested GOP race this cycle, NPR reported.
Farmers in Iowa have been disproportionately impacted by Trump administration policies including tariffs and the ongoing war in Iran, factors that may have shaped primary voters’ decisions, according to the public broadcaster’s account. The state, while controlled by Republicans at the governor’s office and in the legislature, has shown signs of shifting toward Democrats in recent elections, including backing Democratic candidates for president and Senate in the prior cycle.
Democratic primary voters in Tuesday’s contests appeared to engage in strategic selection, according to NPR, choosing candidates they believe will improve the party’s chances of winning general-election seats in November.