Iowa's GOP Rep. Randy Feenstra plans to announce run for governor, sources say

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Iowa Republican Rep. Randy Feenstra plans to denote a tally for politician arsenic soon arsenic this week, 2 sources told CBS News, mounting the signifier for what could go a politically tense superior contention successful the GOP.

The authorities volition person an unfastened contention for politician adjacent twelvemonth owed to Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds' announcement past month that she would not question different term.

The introduction of Feenstra, who has represented Iowa's 4th Congressional District since 2021, could acceptable up a imaginable high-profile Republican superior that whitethorn travel to see Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird—widely regarded wrong GOP circles arsenic President Trump's preferred choice, if she decides to leap into the fray.

Meanwhile, connected the Democratic side, Iowa authorities auditor Rob Sand entered the contention for politician Monday morning. A Democrat has not won the Iowa governor's bureau since 2006, giving the near agelong likelihood astatine being capable to interruption the GOP's widening winning streak successful the politically important Midwestern state.

Feenstra's expected run and Sand's bid people the archetypal large moves towards the bureau connected some sides and successful crook marque them the starring candidates successful their respective enactment primaries astatine this aboriginal point.

Other imaginable GOP candidates are U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn; Mike Bousselot, a authorities senator; Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig; authorities typical Bobby Kaufmann; and Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley.

The Iowa contention could beryllium 1 of the astir intimately watched gubernatorial races successful the authorities and nationally adjacent year. Iowa is simply a grooming crushed for operatives and statesmanlike hopefuls looking to 2028. Unlike galore different states, governors successful Iowa are not term-limited which tin restrict the quality of ambitious candidates to effort to triumph an unfastened spot statewide. That means adjacent twelvemonth volition connection a relatively uncommon accidental for Iowa politicians.

A spokesperson for Feenstra did not respond to requests for comment.