(Atlantic) Republican candidates for Governor, U.S. Senate, and State Auditor addressed a range of issues during a GOP forum Tuesday night at the Cass County Community Center in Atlantic, hosted by Republican groups from Adair, Audubon, Cass, Montgomery, and East Pottawattamie counties.
U.S. Senate candidate Jim Carlin—an Army veteran, Iowa attorney, and former member of both the Iowa House and Senate—attended the event. His opponent, Ashley Hinson, who currently represents Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, was unable to be there due to her responsibilities in Washington, D.C.
Both Republican candidates for State Auditor, Abigail Mass and Chris Cournoyer, participated in the forum. Also present were three of the five Republican gubernatorial candidates: Adam Steen, Brad Sherman, and Eddie Andrews. The other two candidates, 4th District U.S. Congressman Randy Feenstra and Zach Lahn were not in attendance but had representatives deliver opening remarks on their behalf.
The following Gubernatorial candidates provided these opening remarks.
Adam Steen is the former Director of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services, and a businessman for five years before resigning to run for Governor. Steen says his campaign focuses on freedom, protecting property rights, and delivering real leadership that works for every Iowan. Steen says his campaign emphasizes cutting waste, protecting kids, and defending Iowa values. He says he is ready to fight for Iowa’s freedom and is committed to making tax dollars work and refuses to let government waste them.
Brad Sherman says he is running on making education great again in Iowa, defending fundamental rights, strengthening the economy, 2nd amendment rights, repairing the mental health system, eradicating human trafficking in Iowa, stopping eminent domain, and life.
Eddie Andrews says he is running on protecting your property rights, voted to stop eminent domain, stood against the carbon pipeline expansion, fought back against carbon sequestration schemes, worked to restrict foreign ownership of Iowa land, and protected Iowans’ land from surveillance and trespass. He also emphasizes education reform, a seven-year property tax reform, mental health, clean water, and cancer.
Zach Lahn is a farmer, and a businessman, investing in Iowa. He states on his website, he does not answer to donors or corporations — only to God, his family, and the people of this state. “I believe Iowa can be a beacon — the safest, freest, most family-centered state in America. That future won’t come from consultants or career politicians. It will come from courage rooted in place, history, and duty.” Audubon County Board of Supervisor Heath Hansen represented Lahn, who could not attend the forum. Hansen passed along this message.
The fifth candidate, Randy Feenstra, currently serves as Iowa’s 4th District Congressman in Washington, D.C. Due to his responsibilities in the nation’s capital, he was unable to attend the forum.
On Thursday, we will hear remarks from U.S. Senate Candidate Jim Carlin, and opening comments from Ashley Hinson’s representative. We will also have additional remarks from the three Gubernatorial candidates, as well as Abigail Mass, and Chris Cournoyer.
