2026 gubernatorial Overview
Candidate Overview
The summaries below provide a snapshot of each candidate’s positions, actions, and involvement related to medical freedom.
Information may include legislative activity, public statements, endorsements from outside organizations, pledge participation, and engagement with Informed Choice Iowa. Where noted, candidates may have signed Dr. Mary Talley Bowden’s Medical Liberty Pledge, which is linked for voters who wish to review it directly.
For candidates with a legislative record, this reflects sponsorship, floor management, and advocacy on relevant bills. For non incumbents, information is based on public statements, debate positions, and known involvement.
Informed Choice Iowa does not endorse candidates for public office. Our goal is to provide clear, factual information to help voters understand where candidates stand so they can make informed decisions.
Zach Lahn-R
Endorsed by MAHA Action and Stand for Health Freedom for his positions on medical freedom. He has signed Dr. Mary Talley Bowden’s Medical Liberty Pledge, upheld medical freedom for families and students at his school in Kansas during the COVID pandemic, and has attended an Informed Choice Iowa conference.
Eddie Andrews-R
Since being elected in 2020, Eddie Andrews has sponsored legislation, managed bills, and advocated for medical freedom issues including emergency powers reform, vaccination status discrimination protections, parental consent for vaccination, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, removing Certificate of Need barriers for birth centers, health data privacy, increased exemption notification, and codifying parental rights into Iowa law. He has also signed Dr. Mary Talley Bowden’s Medical Liberty Pledge, attended numerous Informed Choice Iowa conferences, and completed the Stand for Health Freedom candidate survey.
Brad Sherman-R
Elected in 2022 after concerns over the handling of the COVID pandemic prompted him to run, Brad Sherman has sponsored legislation related to emergency powers reform and protecting medical sovereignty from international organizations. He has also advocated for medical freedom legislation including the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, exemption notification, and removing Certificate of Need barriers for birth centers. He has also signed Dr. Mary Talley Bowden’s Medical Liberty Pledge, attended numerous Informed Choice Iowa conferences, and completed the Stand for Health Freedom candidate survey.
Adam Steen-R
Adam Steen has stated in debates that he supports complete medical freedom and parental rights. He has attended a medical freedom event hosted by Informed Choice Iowa within the past year. He does not currently have a voting record or track record of handling medical freedom issues during the pandemic. He has not signed Dr. Mary Talley Bowden’s Medical Liberty Pledge and has not committed to reforming Iowa’s emergency powers laws. He has completed the Stand for Health Freedom candidate survey.
Randy Feenstra-R
Randy Feenstra has not signed Dr. Mary Talley Bowden’s Medical Liberty Pledge. While serving in Congress and previously in the Iowa Senate, he has not been listed as a sponsor on medical freedom legislation related to issues such as banning WHO funding, repealing the 1986 liability protections for pharmaceutical manufacturers, ending PREP Act immunity, restricting funding for vaccine or mask mandates, banning vaccine passports, or reinstating armed forces members who refused COVID vaccines. He also did not take a vote on a medical freedom bill while serving in the Iowa Senate and did not complete the Stand for Health Freedom candidate survey.
Rob Sand-D
Rob Sand has not signed Dr. Mary Talley Bowden’s Medical Liberty Pledge and has not held legislative office to take votes on medical freedom legislation. He did not complete the Stand for Health Freedom candidate survey and has not made public statements outlining his position on medical freedom. During the COVID pandemic, he used his role as State Auditor to encourage mask use, adherence to gathering limits, and sought access to private medical records to audit COVID testing data.