Citizen-run Iowa accountability project. We follow the money, check the claims and link the receipts. Independent. Biased in favor of the truth.

Iowa, USA
Joined September 2026
1/8 👋 A quick introduction to Iowa First Check. We’re an independent citizen-journalism project tracking Iowa’s 2026 governor’s race between Rob Sand and Zach Lahn. Our goal is simple: keep facts, records and context in the discussion. iowafirstcheck.com
2
5
237
More than 1 in 20 Iowans have faced a cancer diagnosis. Zach Nunn has mentioned cancer on his campaign Twitter six times. About 1 in 1,092 students in Iowa identify as trans female. Nunn's campaign Twitter has mentioned the girls' sports issue ten times this year.
When Iowa parents asked Sarah Trone Garriott to keep boys out of their girls’ sports and locker rooms, she voted no. The best way to make sure Sarah can't do the same thing in Congress is to bank your vote early. Find your location, make a plan, and make your voice heard. ⬇️ Go to sos.iowa.gov to find your polling location.
2
14
.@millermeeks things voting for the Epstein file release (once it polled well) but not doing anything to ensure the files are actually released — AND EVEN BETTER PEDOPHILES BROUGHT TO JUSTICE NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY ARE WORTH — is enough, apparently.
Clearly this bill was not sufficient as no additional charges have been filed. What are you planning to do to actually bring justice to these victims abused by rich and powerful men?
1
2
15
Zach Lahn is cosplaying as a poor, normal dude again.
🔥 WATCH: Zach Lahn calls out CNN for repeating billionaire Rob Sand's lies about his family: "What you're reporting on is $15 million in attack ads spent by a Democrat candidate... Yesterday, some of his more deranged supporters were actually tracking my plane, which only had my minor children on it— something that, in many cases, would warrant a restraining order, but in this case, it's actually warranting a question from CNN."
6
78
Definitely not a bot, just an Iowan who hasn't lost their fucking common sense.
2
16
Also this context
This award was for the fy22-23. Iowa city started fudging books/taking out unauthorized loans, etc the following fiscal years. Dept of Education is frontline oversight of schools using private auditors/& compliance.
1
48
Yeah because people are tired of Israel having more power in politics than Americans. Unfortunately they will just start operating in the dark.
"AIPAC announced on Wednesday that, after three cycles of direct political involvement through its political action committee AIPAC PAC, it will no longer issue endorsements or directly earmark contributions to candidates, but said it will remain involved in political organizing and fundraising in other ways, including with its influential super PAC."
3
43
Casey’s pizza is bipartisan.
In Iowa, Casey’s is where you fill up and grab breakfast pizza on the way to work.  I got a behind-the-scenes look at how everything that goes into those breakfast pizzas makes it from the warehouse in Ankeny to your hometown store. Thanks to the team at Casey's for having us! 🍕
1
40
We also know the state auditor doesn’t automatically audit every school district. The @IowaGOP could change this if they don’t want schools picking their auditor. 🤷‍♂️ iowafirstcheck.com/fact-chec… @ZachLahn could just talk about Rob’s policies and argue why your’s are better.
📸 PICTURED: Rob Sand in 2023 presenting his "PIE Award" for fiscal efficiency to Iowa City Public Schools. Since then, we've learned that they violated state law by moving $38M without required board approval. They also overspent their capital projects fund by $45M over the last four fiscal years. They've now had to take out an $8M loan just to meet their cash-flow needs in the current school year. Our state's third largest school district has spent years wasting our money and the 'Auditor' gave them an award for it.
1
1
41
1/ Iowa’s latest early-voting update: 167,251 ballots received—up 41,964 from yesterday. That’s 22.4% ahead of the comparable 2022 report, with 12 days until Election Day. Explore your county: iowafirstcheck.com/early-vot…
1
2
75
2/ Who’s driving the growth over 2022? No-party voters: +57.7% Republicans: +20.8% Democrats: +14.9% Democrats account for the largest numerical increase, narrowly ahead of no-party voters. These are voter registrations—not votes for candidates.
1
23
3/ Some county standouts for ballots received versus the same point in 2022: Pottawattamie: +106% Story: +70% Warren: +67% Johnson: +45% It crosses party lines: Republican returns more than doubled in Pottawattamie; no-party returns more than doubled in Story and Warren.
14
How much were your homes in Kansas and Montana worth? Which wealthy family did you marry into days after your first marriage ended? Most of your post is vague and unsourced but beyond that: You are both obviously wealthy. Maybe release tax returns/disclosures. Put up or shut up.
Replying to @ZachLahn
Rob’s supporters are commenting on this criticizing my ownership of a small plane, while overlooking him being the wealthiest candidate for IA Governor likely ever. - $77m home in Aspen (recently sold) - Private jets - Family yacht - Multimillion dollar home in NW Iowa - $200k vehicles. It is a derangement syndrome in its own class. wsj.com/real-estate/luxury-h…
13
289
.@ZachLahn literally owns his own plane and STILL can't hold public events in all 99 counties. Schmuck.
2
4
17
255
More flights. A fuller picture. And yes, more maps. We’ve filled in historical flight records missing since the June 25 identifier change and given our aircraft log a refresh. Explore the updated record: iowafirstcheck.com/flight-lo… #ZachLahn #RobSand #Iowa
2
2
7
584
Be a man and actually address how often you are in Kansas, and will be, and people will be less interested in trying to obtain the answer through flight tracking data. 🤷‍♂️ If you think it isn’t relevant how often you will be in Iowa, then you are dumb.
You’re tracking the location of my minor children. I’m not on the flights. Example: today, while I was in Winterset, Red Oak, and Sidney the plane went to pick up my kids. @RobSandIA has given permission for his supporters to track my children. As I’ve said it’s despicable.
3
15
264
Why does so much of @ZachLahn's money come from PACs/outside of Iowa? It's disgusting how much money is in our political system today, regardless of party. But he's the one trying to pretend he's just a small-town farm boy. Individual donations have barely budged for him, too.
That'll happen when you're a billionaire. But, all the money in the world won't stop the Iowa First movement. Rob Sand will learn the hard way in 13 days that Iowa is not for sale.
1
1
6
96
H/T to MeidasTouch for their reporting. We've now pulled additional historical flights since June 25 under a second identifier that appears linked to Lahn’s plane, which just completed a flight from Des Moines to Wichita, KS, as a matter of fact. iowafirstcheck.com/flight-lo…
3
1
15
437
Exactly. So many important issues facing Iowa today ... and @ZachLahn @LahnHQ continue to focus on this absurd nonsense. See for yourself: iowafirstcheck.com/money.htm…
Replying to @LahnHQ
You self loaned your campaign $2.5 Million and 81% of money came from outside Iowa. It’s not like you’re a peasant married to an ex-Koch wife and apparently Iowa is for sale
34
Objectively, only an absolute fucking moron incapable of independent thought would determine Rob Sand is a billionaire. It's just a insanely stupid talking point. Facts are facts. Both candidates obviously have done well for themselves and are connected to wealthy families.
That'll happen when you're a billionaire. But, all the money in the world won't stop the Iowa First movement. Rob Sand will learn the hard way in 13 days that Iowa is not for sale.
30
New Cook Political Report poll: Rob Sand 54%, Zach Lahn 43%. With that added, our weighted polling average now has Sand ahead by 7 points, 50.8%–43.8%. See the polls, methods and how we calculate the average: iowafirstcheck.com/polls.htm…
33