Politics rolled into Sac City on Friday, and Zach Lahn made it clear he’s running on more than a policy sheet. He’s running on a culture message.
More than 70 people filled the Sac City Rec Center as the Republican gubernatorial candidate from Belle Plaine outlined his “Iowa First” platform — a message he says is centered on protecting Iowa’s culture while confronting long‑term challenges he believes are reshaping the state’s future.
Lahn told the crowd that many political fights — from school debates to public safety — are symptoms of something deeper.
He said Iowa’s culture is rooted in safe communities, strong families and institutions that work — and argued those values are threatened when politics becomes driven by special interests or national narratives.
Lahn’s platform centers on five issues: keeping young people in Iowa, preserving agricultural heritage, strengthening public education, improving health outcomes and confronting water quality concerns.
On retaining young Iowans, he said the state can’t thrive if its next generation leaves.
He proposed a homebuying incentive tied to income taxes for graduates who stay in Iowa — a plan he says would help young families put down roots.
Lahn also warned about the growing share of Iowa farmland owned by out‑of‑state interests, calling it a cultural and economic threat.
He said Iowa needs “human‑level disclosure” of land ownership to enforce existing laws and protect family farms.
Education was another major theme. Lahn, who spent eight years building hands-on learning schools, argued Iowa’s decline in national rankings isn’t about funding.
He called for more innovation, apprenticeships and flexibility in public schools, saying students should graduate with a clear sense of purpose and preparation.
Health and water quality rounded out his platform. Lahn referenced his recent online debate with his opponent, Democrat Rob Sand of Des Moines, over COVID‑19 vaccines and cancer treatment, saying his focus is on long‑term health outcomes and environmental risks.
He pointed to saturated buffer projects — including research at Bear Creek in Story County — that have shown dramatic nitrate reductions, and said Iowa should expand incentives for farmers and urban areas to adopt proven conservation practices.
Lahn also addressed the growing fight over data centers in Iowa, saying the state should stop offering tax breaks to multinational tech companies and require them to pay their full share of infrastructure costs.
He said Iowa should negotiate tougher terms, including requiring data centers to cover their own electricity costs and protect water resources.
Throughout the event, Lahn returned to his core message: that Iowa’s culture — its sense of community, responsibility and tradition — is worth defending.
