With the midterms just one week away, Iowa Gubernatorial candidates Rob Sand (D) and Zach Lahn (R) went face-to-face in their third debate of the season. Both candidates are competing to replace Gov. Kim Reynolds, who chose not to run for reelection after nine years.
As Sand and Zahn settled into their podiums ahead of the debate, both were given one minute to provide their opening remarks. Sand, who has heavily emphasized cross-partisan viewpoints through his campaign, did just that to kick off the evening debate.
“There are a lot of people in leadership in both the democratic and republican parties who are more interested in beating each other than they are in solving the problems ordinary people face,” Sand said.
Zach Lahn opened his remarks by emphasizing that he has never run for office or worked as a politician.
He followed by stating, “I see that family farms are dying off. I see that public education, which was once number one in the nation, is now in the bottom half. I got in this race to solve those problems.”
What came after was a discussion regarding Medicaid work requirements, mental health, and Iowa’s cancer crisis.
Zahn began the line of questions by providing his stance on Medicaid work requirements in the state of Iowa. He attributed his thoughts on current Medicaid issues, such as benefits going to illegal immigrants, to the Medicaid expansion enacted by the Obama administration and the Affordable Care Act.
Zahn added, “I think there’s protection and technology we can use to make sure that only the people eligible for these benefits can get these benefits.”
Sand noted that issues regarding Medicaid work requirements are a “federal obligation.”
He highlighted the importance of a work requirement over a paperwork requirement. Sand believes the process to receive benefits should be faster and smoother for hard-working individuals.
One of the largest issues weighing on Iowans’ minds is the lack of rural hospitals. Sand reflected on a moment last year when his home was broken into by a man diagnosed with schizophrenia.
“The problem is we haven’t paid enough attention to people with mental health issues, and sooner or later their mental health issues become our problem, too,” Sand said.
He added that he is in favor of ending Medicaid privatization, and the policy has raised costs and forced mental health practitioners to shut their doors across the state of Iowa.
Zahn voiced his support for funding mental health facilities and added, “We have to prioritize growth. If we don’t, we are just going to continue putting money into something that is not getting the return we would like it to have and not be able to open the mental health facilities to serve the people who need it.”
Besides mental health and Medicaid work requirements, Iowa’s cancer rates are rising, and Iowans are concerned. High nitrate rates in the state’s water systems have been linked to increased cancer risks. A recent study done by the University of Iowa found pollutants nearly doubled in central Iowa rivers in the last 50 years.
Although Sand referenced the recent studies done by the University of Iowa, he recognizes that smoking, drinking, and a lack of exercise are attributed to the statistics. Sand advocated for IWILL funding, a constitutional amendment passed by Iowans to increase water quality and natural resource funding.
Zach Lahn also pointed to high nitrates as a contributing factor and stated he will also push for IWILL funding.
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