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Emerson Poll Shows Rob Sand, Ashley Hinson Leading

By Drooid · Sep 12, 2026, 12:08 AM UTC · How we work

Center

Rob Sand Leads

On September 11, 2026, Emerson College/Nextstar Media poll showed Rob Sand ahead of Zach Lahn for Iowa governor and Ashley Hinson ahead of Josh Turek for Senate.
The results place both contests inside single-digit margins and prediction-market platforms Kalshi and Polymarket assign Sand roughly 78% and 77% chances of winning.
Earlier Emerson and other polls consistently showed Sand leading Lahn by one to ten points.

Left

Rob Sand Leads

On September 11, 2026, a poll showed Rob Sand leading Zach Lahn in Iowa’s governor race and Ashley Hinson ahead of Josh Turek in Senate race.
The poll highlights Iowans’ worry over rising costs and corporate practices, with Democrats framing the race around cost-of-living relief and corporate accountability.
Democrats blame hikes on GOP tariffs, Iran war, and Medicaid cuts in 2025 budget.

Blindspot

Rob Sand says Iowa’s rising prices are caused by Republican tariffs, the war in Iran, and Medicaid cuts in the 2025 budget bill, and he promises to hold agricultural and chemical firms liable for cancer rates and to veto culture-war legislation.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Left-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Center-leaning coverage.

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Rob Sand Leads

On September 11, 2026, Emerson College/Nextstar Media poll showed Rob Sand ahead of Zach Lahn for Iowa governor and Ashley Hinson ahead of Josh Turek for Senate.
The results place both contests inside single-digit margins and prediction-market platforms Kalshi and Polymarket assign Sand roughly 78% and 77% chances of winning.
Earlier Emerson and other polls consistently showed Sand leading Lahn by one to ten points.

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