Randy Feenstra

Former Republican Gov. Terry Branstad said he met with GOP gubernatorial nominee Zach Lahn following his upset primary victory and came away "impressed," despite endorsing Lahn's top opponent ahead of the election.

"I’m very pleased and honored to support the nominee," Branstad told the Des Moines Register in an exclusive interview. "I think he’s smart, he’s articulate, he’s a hard worker and I think he’s got a good chance."

Branstad endorsed and campaigned with Lahn's top primary opponent, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, during the five-person primary race.

Feenstra entered the race as the perceived frontrunner but fell short on election night.

Branstad, who is the longest-serving governor in American history, said he was "surprised" at the outcome and noted how close the final tally was. Lahn won with 37.8% of the vote over Feenstra's 37.1%.

Branstad said he decided to back Feenstra after working with him on tax issues in the Legislature and after supporting Feenstra's 2020 primary challenge to former Republican U.S. Rep. Steve King in the 4th District.

"He’s been a team player and a hardworking Republican," Branstad said. "We had five good candidates, and he was my choice."

Branstad said he didn't know Lahn before this election. But he likes that he grew up in Sioux City and returned to the state to buy his family's farm in Belle Plaine.

"He’s humble," Branstad said. "I think that’s good. Iowans like leaders that are humble and hardworking, and I think he’s both."

Branstad said he told Lahn he'll need to work hard to help overcome the financial advantage that Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand brings to the general election race.

Sand has reported raising about $28 million so far this election cycle — a number that includes about $11.5 million from his wife and wealthy in-laws.

Branstad, who never lost an election, said he found his success by traveling the state to talk directly with Iowans.

"I went to every county every year, election year or not," he said. "I really got to know a lot of people. And I was even able to win over people that weren’t for me to begin with."

He said he thinks that's where Feenstra fell short in his primary bid.

"I was disappointed that he didn’t participate in the debates," Branstad said. "Now, I know he had a difficult situation because he’s a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and (Republicans) have a very small margin. So there's some events he just couldn't get to because he had to be there to vote. But there were some debates on weekends. There were some events that he didn’t get to that they should've got to."

Feenstra struggled to connect with Republican grassroots activists and held few public events. Those choices drew the frustration of primary voters who ultimately turned instead to Lahn's insurgent candidacy.

"I never lost an election because nobody ever outworked me," Branstad said. "I went anywhere and everywhere. And I don't think that he did that quite as well."

But Branstad acknowledged that Sand appears to be following his campaign-everywhere playbook. Sand recently embarked on his second 99-county public town hall tour of the election cycle, and he made the same trek each year as state auditor.

"I think he studied what I did — like I did with (Republican gubernatorial predecessor) Bob Ray. So he’s doing that." Branstad said. "The problem I have is he’s a liberal, and he’s trying to fool people into thinking he’s some kind of moderate."

Branstad said he expects the race to be "competitive." National elections forecasters have rated it as a "toss-up."

Branstad said he thinks Lahn, like Republican President Donald Trump, can attract a new voters who have not traditionally supported Republicans. But he said it will be critical for the party to make sure those Trump voters turn out to vote in a non-presidential election year.

"I think rural Iowa is key to this whole thing," he said. "And to Rob Sand’s credit, I think he recognizes his party has really abandoned rural Iowa, and he’s trying to let people think that he’s different than his party. But I don’t believe him."

Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register. She writes about campaigns, elections and the Iowa Caucuses. Reach her at [email protected] or 515-284-8244. Follow her on X at @brianneDMR.