“Rob Sand could almost pass for a Republican: He frequently quotes the Bible, owns two SIG Sauer handguns, goes deer hunting each fall and asks audiences to sing a few verses of “America the Beautiful” at the start of campaign events,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“The only Democrat elected to statewide office in Iowa, Sand is trying to jump to the governor’s mansion from his current state auditor post. In the process, he is offering a potential template for others in his party on how to compete in red-state America.”

Cook Political Report: “Democratic Auditor Rob Sand threw his hat in the ring for Iowa governor on Monday, elevating a Republican-held seat to a new competitive tier. Sand, 42, is the lone Democrat holding statewide office in Iowa and easily the strongest contender his party could have recruited for the open seat.”

“His candidacy warrants a rare ‘double jump’ rating change, shifting this contest from Solid Republican to Lean Republican.”

A new Des Moines Register poll in Iowa finds Fred Hubbell (D) heads into Election Day with a narrow lead over Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) in the race for governor, 46% to 44% among likely voters.

Said pollster Ann Selzer: “The data suggests these are two quality candidates and that they’re well-matched to their bases.”

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), who turned 85 years old in September, acknowledged the possibility his health could fail in the next few years and a Democratic Iowa governor would appoint a Democrat to succeed him in the Senate, the Des Moines Register reports.

A new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll shows Fred Hubbell (D) leading Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) in the race for Iowa governor, 43% to 41%, with Libertarian Jake Porter at 7% and another 9% undecided.

Iowa state Sen. Nate Boulton (D) announced he “is suspending his campaign for governor just weeks before the Democratic primary, following allegations of sexual misconduct from multiple women,” Politico reports.

“Boulton, one of the top tier candidates in the Democratic primary competing to face Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, was accused by three women of sexual misconduct in a report published by the Des Moines Register on Wednesday. Boulton did not deny the allegations, initially telling the paper that he did “not have the same recollection.”