Gov.-Elect Rob Sand Adds Republican, Independent to Transition Team

Iowa Gov.-elect Rob Sand announced new members of what he termed his “tripartisan” transition team Monday, adding a Republican and an independent to his transition team during a news conference at the Iowa Capitol.

Sand won the Nov. 3, 2026 election, setting the stage for Iowa’s first divided government in a decade.

The newly named transition members include former Iowa GOP chair Mike Mahaffey and state Rep. Brian Lohse. Lohse is an independent who previously served as a Republican state lawmaker before detaching himself from the party following a primary loss in June 2026.

They join Elisabeth Buck and Morgan Miller, who were previously announced as co-directors of the Sand Transition Committee. Buck brings prior transition experience from the administrations of former Democratic Govs. Chet Culver and Tom Vilsack, while Miller served as the political director of the Iowa State Education Association.

Republican and Independent to serve on Gov.-elect Sand's transition of power team — Story link in bio. pic.twitter.com/ZQEMxVzJpa

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This collective will assist Sand in getting ready to assume gubernatorial powers, alongside authority over a large portion of the state government framework via boards, commissions, and agencies. Sand pointed to Iowa’s historical traditions of nonpartisan work, such as the state’s merit-based judicial selection system and independent redistricting commission, to explain the strategy.

“I think that the best things that we can do are the things that will last, because it’s not something that once you do it, well, years later the other party comes in and just undoes it,” Sand said.

“If we actually want to make progress as a state, we need to craft solutions that everyone can look at and say, ‘No, that’s a good thing that we did.’”

Sand also announced Abe Rakov would serve as his chief of staff. Rakov most recently served as executive director of End Citizens United and previously worked alongside Sand in 2018 as co-founder and executive director for the voting rights organization Let America Vote.

Rakov’s background includes working for former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander, a Democrat.

With Sand’s victory concluding a Republican trifecta at the Statehouse, the state is set to experience a divided government for the initial time in ten years. Whether the governor’s office can work with Republican majorities in the state House and Senate is uncertain.

House Speaker Pat Grassley expressed a cautious willingness to negotiate. He stated Friday that House Republicans are prepared to discuss measures that are “reasonable and responsible for Iowans,” though he added a caveat.

“we’re not going to be afraid to draw the line if there’s things that we think go too far or start to compromise our principles,” Grassley said.

Sand expressed confidence about working alongside the GOP-controlled Legislature, emphasizing that his campaign message centered on working together with Republicans and independents. He promised to invite any legislator who supports a bill that he signs to that bill signing ceremony.

“I’ll say this: I’m excited to get to work,” Sand said. “I know myself, I control myself. And any legislator that supports a bill that I sign is going to be invited to that bill signing ceremony. Credit given where credit is due.

I can’t guarantee you that the Legislature will want to get things done. I think they do, they have said they want to. And they’ve said that publicly, that they’ll be working with me on places where we agree. Good. Let’s go get stuff done. Time will tell.”