DES MOINES — Iowa Governor-elect Rob Sand is placing experienced Democratic political operatives, labor-connected advisers and veterans of previous Democratic administrations in key roles as he prepares to take office in January 2027, drawing questions from Republican leaders about whether his promised bipartisan approach will carry over into governing.
Sand has named a national Democratic political strategist as chief of staff, the political director of the Iowa State Education Association as a transition co-director, and a former senior official in the administrations of Democratic governors Tom Vilsack and Chet Culver to help lead his transition.
But his personnel selections are not exclusively Democratic. Former Iowa Republican Party Chairman Mike Mahaffey and independent state Representative Brian Lohse have also joined the transition steering committee — an arrangement Sand calls tripartisan.
As NorthIowaToday.com reported following the November 3 election, Sand’s victory marks a major change in Iowa government. Republicans, however, retain control of both legislative chambers, setting the stage for negotiations over budgets and policy.
Democratic political veterans take influential transition roles
On November 5, Sand selected Elisabeth Buck and Morgan Miller as co-directors of his transition committee.
Buck was a deputy chief of staff in the administrations of former Governors Tom Vilsack and Chet Culver and helped manage their transitions. She has also directed Iowa Workforce Development and led United Way of Central Iowa.
Miller has served since 2020 as political director for the Iowa State Education Association, which represents education professionals. She previously worked with AFSCME Council 61 and in political campaigns.
Their experience in Democratic administrations, unions and public policy has attracted scrutiny as Sand prepares to develop his education, labor and state government priorities. Sand says their experience will help the administration get to work on its first day.
Abe Rakov becomes incoming chief of staff
On November 9, Sand named longtime adviser Abe Rakov as chief of staff. Rakov has advised Sand since his 2018 campaign for state auditor and previously served as deputy secretary of state in Missouri.
Rakov’s background includes leadership at Let America Vote, a voting-rights organization, and End Citizens United, a campaign-finance advocacy group. He also has experience with Democratic political campaigns and in congressional staff work.
Sand points to Rakov’s work in Missouri government as evidence that he understands how to work with officials across party lines. His experience in national Democratic organizations also makes him a significant political figure in the incoming administration.
Republican speaker questions Sand’s direction
Republican Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley has questioned how Sand’s campaign promise of bipartisan cooperation fits with some transition personnel and Sand’s promise to veto legislation he considers part of the political culture wars.
Grassley said Republicans would listen to reasonable proposals, but voiced concerns about some transition participants’ political backgrounds. His criticism is directed at particular appointments and proposed policies rather than a finding that every transition adviser shares the same ideology.
As NIT previously examined in its coverage of divided government, Iowa Republicans will retain considerable legislative power after Sand takes office. Republican majorities can control which bills reach the governor’s desk, while Sand will have veto authority.
Sand also faced clashes with Republican state leaders while serving as auditor. In September, NIT covered an Iowa Supreme Court decision involving his effort to access records, another example of the disputes that preceded the gubernatorial transition.
Republican and independent advisers join Sand’s committee
Sand also announced November 9 that former Iowa Republican Party Chairman Mike Mahaffey and independent state Representative Brian Lohse would join his transition steering committee.
Mahaffey previously served as Poweshiek County attorney. Lohse was elected to the Iowa House as a Republican but later became an independent. Both supported Sand during the gubernatorial campaign.
Sand says he wants advisers who disagree with him and will challenge his views. Their presence means the transition’s leadership is not made up entirely of Democrats, even though several influential appointments have significant Democratic political backgrounds.
Lanon Baccam tapped to oversee inauguration
On November 12, Sand announced that former Democratic congressional nominee Lanon Baccam would coordinate the incoming administration’s inauguration.
Baccam, a military veteran who served in Afghanistan, ran unsuccessfully against Republican U.S. Representative Zach Nunn in 2024. He previously worked in the U.S. Department of Agriculture under Democratic presidential administrations.
His inauguration assignment is distinct from a permanent executive-branch policymaking position. The inaugural events are planned for January 15–17, 2027, following Sand’s scheduled January 12 assumption of office.
Agency leadership and major policy decisions ahead
Sand has said he wants changes at the top of the Iowa Department of Education and the Department of Management, identifying directors McKenzie Snow and Kraig Paulsen as officials he intends to replace.
He has also discussed beginning work on reversing Iowa’s privatized Medicaid arrangement. Such a shift would involve significant administrative and policy decisions and is likely to require coordination with the Republican-led Legislature.
The governor-elect has established IowaForAll.com to publish transition updates, accept ideas and invite interest in jobs and appointments.
The outgoing administration of Governor Kim Reynolds has pledged cooperation in transferring executive authority. The decisions Sand makes in coming weeks will identify who will run agencies and advise him as the 2027 legislative session begins.
Early political friction before January
Sand’s early choices combine prominent Democratic political veterans with a former Republican party leader and an independent lawmaker. Those selections have prompted political scrutiny even before the incoming administration has introduced a budget or legislative program.
The first substantive test of Sand’s promised cooperation across party lines will come when he and the Republican-controlled Legislature begin negotiating state priorities in January.