With the recent poll showing Zach Lahn leading and Randy Feenstra right behind him, it brings up the discussion again asking, “Do we believe in polls now?” All cycle I have seen nearly everyone questioning who the favorite was to win the Republican Governorship primary from voices on the street to Polymarkets to unscientific polls.
For those that don’t remember 2016 was something of a hectic year in politics. It started with our very own Iowa Caucus where Ted Cruz won by 3 points in a very crowded field over second place Donald Trump. Cruz only won 5 of the 22 polls taken in January. Trump won the other 17 and 10 of them had him winning by 5 points or more; 3 of them over 10 points. It goes without saying that Hillary was, from a polling perspective, an overwhelming favorite in the 2016 general. I thought Hillary would take Iowa and the election, but it ended up showing me that I was being given bad data, both in polling and what I saw on the streets of Des Moines.
I’ve never been one to have my vote be swayed by polls or endorsements so maybe I am a bit different from the rest,but I have always voted, from 2008 to today, for the candidate that best represents what I want in a representative for any position. That is why I will still be voting for Adam Steen on June 2. He represents everything I believe and is the first candidate in my voting lifetime that I have 100% confidence he will run Iowa the way that I would want it to be run. I have gotten to know Adam before his run so some may say that shows bias,but I know Adam will truly be Iowa First and not Iowa First (part-time) like Lahn appears will be if elected. Everything Adam has accomplished (outside of baseball) has been done in Iowa. You don’t get much more Iowa First than that.
Zach Lahn will not get my vote in the primary cycle. Asstated above Zach will be part time Iowa First guy because of his obligations in other states. He has stated he would be in Iowa as much as humanly possible, but actions always speak louder than words. His actions, while not evil or immoral, have put him in a position where there will be times when Iowa is not first. Leaving the state is not a good look for someone who wants to be governor. Re-registering in Iowa to vote in 2024 is not a good look for someone who wants to be seen as an IowaFirst. Being an Iowan is more than just returning in time so you can meet governorship application deadlines. He says he is farmer, but we see no action of him actually being one. Owning farmland does not make you a farmer. Working on a farm as a child does not make you a farmer. My dad is a farmer, and I grew up working on a farm my whole childhood. When my father passes, I will become an owner of farmland. That in no sense will ever make me a farmer, and it would be shameful for me to call myself one.
All in all, everyone should be voting their conscience, not on polling or endorsements. Your governor should represent what you believe. That is what the primary is about and not about voting for a “winner”. The general election is about voting for a winner. Please make sure you keep the first things first.
– Alex Veenstra
