Trump-backed Randy Feenstra concedes to MAHA-backed Zach Lahn in Iowa GOP primary for governor

2026 ElectionTrump-backed Randy Feenstra concedes to MAHA-backed Zach Lahn in Iowa GOP primary for governorNBC News has not projected the result. Democrat Rob Sand was unopposed in his party primary ahead of a general election that’s expected to be competitive.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Iowa Republican gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn speaks during the Republican Party of Polk County’s Lincoln Dinner on March 26, 2026, in Des Moines.Cody Scanlan / USA Today Network via Imagn fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJune 2, 2026, 11:50 PM EDTBy Jonathan AllenRep. Randy Feenstra conceded to businessman Zach Lahn in Iowa’s Republican primary for governor Tuesday night, as party voters rejected President Donald Trump’s late endorsement in the race.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.NBC News has not projected a result in the primary. But Billy Fuerst, a spokesperson for Feenstra’s campaign, confirmed that the congressman has conceded to Lahn.Up to this point, no Trump-backed candidate for governor, House or Senate has lost a primary in the 2026 midterm elections so far.Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, walks up the House steps in 2024.Bill Clark / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images fileWith 98% of the expected vote counted, Lahn had 37.8% of the vote to 37% for Feenstra.If no candidate had won at least 35% of the vote, the contest would have been thrown to a state convention later in the month.Lahn aligned himself with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement, and an outside group supporting him has painted Feenstra as soft on immigration.He also appeared to benefit from an endorsement of his own — that of former Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, who lost in a bitter 2020 House primary to Feenstra. Lahn was leading Feenstra in 11 of the counties King won in that contest when the race was called.The congressman portrayed himself as a loyal ally of Tr...