Beyond the Podium: Zach Lahn discusses water quality, vaccine policy and endorsements
DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa is preparing to choose a new governor without an incumbent on the ballot after Gov. Kim Reynolds decided not to seek reelection.
Republican Zach Lahn and Democrat Rob Sand are running to replace her.
Iowa’s News Now Statehouse reporter Skylar Tallal sat down with Lahn for a one-on-one “Beyond the Podium” interview, where he discussed keeping young people in Iowa, water quality, vaccines and his response to groups that have declined to endorse him.
Asked what issue he would address first if elected, Lahn pointed to Iowa’s cancer rates and water quality.
“What is the most pressing issue that we face as a state?” Lahn said. “And in my view personally, I think that we have some financial issues we face, but one of the cultural issues that we really face is the cancer crisis and the water quality issues.”
Lahn said addressing those issues would require a long-term approach and called for funding the IWill program.
“So I believe that one of the very first things I'm going to do is start tackling that,” Lahn said. “Now that's a longer-term plan that we put in place, but we need to start by getting the IWill program funded.”
Lahn has also made keeping young Iowans in the state a focus of his campaign. He pointed to his own experience leaving Iowa before eventually returning.
Lahn proposed creating a program for people who graduate from an Iowa high school and either stay in the state or return after moving away.
“What I'd like to put in place is a program that says, ‘If you graduate from Iowa high school and you want to stay, or you've moved away and you want to come back, that there's a program you can sign up for where you actually don't pay any income taxes for a set amount of years and that those funds go into an account to help you with a down payment on your first home,’” Lahn said.
He also said Iowa should consider incentives for trade schools and professions facing workforce needs.
“We need people in the skilled trades. We need people in nursing and mental health professions,” Lahn said.
Lahn has previously criticized mRNA vaccines, particularly those used for COVID-19.
“My very firm belief is that there are benefits from vaccination, of course,” Lahn said. “But we have to be willing to call a spade a spade. When we know something's unsafe, we have to take action.”
Lahn said he believes Iowa has a role to play in vaccine policy but also said future mRNA technology could have benefits.
“Do I think that there's potential benefits from future mRNA technology? Of course there could be,” Lahn said.
During a Moms for Liberty primary debate in January, Lahn agreed when asked whether he would ban mRNA vaccines if elected.
Lahn has also emphasized Iowa’s cancer rates and water quality during the campaign, including their connection to agriculture.
The Iowa Farm Bureau PAC declined to endorse a candidate in the governor’s race while endorsing Republicans in other statewide contests.
Lahn said he was surprised by the decision and said people he spoke with told him his position on water quality played a role. Iowa’s News Now has not independently verified that explanation.
“The unfortunate thing that I was told by numerous people is it's because of my firm stance on water quality for the state,” Lahn said.
Lahn said he does not support addressing water quality through additional taxes or regulation and hopes the organization will reconsider.
“I was very disheartened by that because I think Iowans are just ready to solve the problem of water quality,” Lahn said. “And so I'm hoping that there can be a change of heart there.”
Early voting begins Oct. 14.
Lahn's interview is the second Beyond the Podium interview to air. You can watch his Democratic opponent Rob Sand's interview here.