In one of the most hotly contested governor's races in the country, the Democratic nominee has been working overtime to cultivate a moderate image — while reportedly attending a church that openly embraces some of the progressive causes dividing voters in Iowa. Rob Sand, Iowa’s state auditor and its Democratic nominee for governor, regularly attended Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ, located in the state’s capital, as of late 2025, according to a local journalist. Over the years, Plymouth has hosted and promoted drag queen performances, invited a transgender pastor to serve as a guest pastor and openly supported abortion.
Sand has emphasized his faith on the campaign trail, repeatedly referencing Christianity and quoting scripture, at times successfully appealing to otherwise conservative Iowans. In addition to leaning on his faith, Sand has repeatedly described himself as independently minded, claimed to have voted for Republicans in the past and said that he sometimes prefers working with the GOP over Democrats, calling political parties "poison." "I am a Christian. But I’m not a party-based person," one voter is quoted as saying in a Sand press release.
"I like to vote for the person as opposed to the party. And to me, (Sand) just seems really honest and down to earth. And I enjoyed him." IOWA GUBERNATORIAL HOPEFUL ZACH LAHN TELLS 'RUTHLESS' DEMOCRATS ARE HIDING THEIR BAD POLICIES Sand's reported church attendance, however, connects him to a congregation whose progressive religious and political positions stand in contrast to the moderate image he has emphasized on the campaign trail.
Sand’s church is open about its progressive slant, with its "about" page featuring an image of churchgoers at a gay pride parade, noting that the church does not take the Bible literally and stating that it "has been an LGBTQ+ Open and Affirming congregation for more than 30 years." An image of the church included in a profile compiled by the United Church of Christ shows it flying a pride flag on its grounds, noting that the church "is a progressive powerhouse in the region." "Rob Sand goes to church weekly and does so in Iowa, unlike Zach Lahn. Rob’s faith is deeply important to him, and like many, he has never found a church where he agrees with everything, but does prefer traditional services with liturgy and classic hymns," a spokeswoman for his campaign told Fox News Digital. "Rob has always been independent-minded, and he isn’t going to take lessons in morality from a sex toy salesman who lives in Kansas." The mention of sex toys was a reference to FirmTech, a company that manufactures wearable sexual wellness devices and once counted GOP gubernatorial nominee Zach Lahn as an investor.
Lahn maintains that the product was originally developed to monitor cardiovascular health and that he divested before the company shifted toward more sexually suggestive marketing. Sand has also pointed to Lahn's regular flights to Kansas, arguing that they betray tenuous ties to the state he's seeking to govern. Lahn, meanwhile, says that he lives full-time in Iowa, explaining that the flights are a product of him needing to shuttle children from a previous marriage between the two states.
Lahn's campaign did not divulge where he attends church when asked by Fox News Digital. LGBTQ GROUP REVEALS WHICH DEM NOMINEE IS SPONSORING HALLOWEEN EVENT FEATURING DRAG SHOWS Plymouth’s progressive reputation is well-earned. In May 2025, Plymouth hosted drag queen "Flamy Grant" for a concert, according to advertisements for the event, bringing an artist whose broader catalog includes sexually explicit lyrics to the progressive Des Moines congregation.
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