Republican Candidate’s Running Mate Stirs Controversy in Iowa Governor Race
Republican Zach Lahn, a candidate in the Iowa governor race, has positioned himself against major agricultural companies, focusing on their use of hazardous chemicals. However, his choice for lieutenant governor, Derek Wulf, presents a contrasting viewpoint.
On June 12, Lahn announced via X that state Representative Derek Wulf would join him as his running mate, stating, “Derek has been there for Iowans and I am very proud to have him partner with me on this campaign.”
Since 2023, Wulf has served as a representative for parts of Black Hawk, Benton, and Tama counties in the Iowa House. During his tenure, he has supported farm chemical producers, even participating in a White House event promoting the increased use of pesticides.
Wulf’s background includes a role at Cargill, a leading agricultural company, before his political career.
Wulf’s connections with Bayer, a firm heavily invested in the production of pesticides, are notable. Bayer divisions contributed $1,000 to Wulf’s campaign in both 2024 and 2025, a considerable sum for a constituency of fewer than 32,000 residents.
In 2024, the Modern Ag Alliance, a lobbying group for Bayer, placed an ad in the Des Moines Register acknowledging Wulf’s support for a glyphosate immunity bill. This bill aimed to protect agricultural entities from lawsuits related to glyphosate, a chemical tied to health issues such as cancer, provided warnings were displayed on products.
The bill failed to pass, and Lahn has vowed to reject any similar future proposals. Critics expressed concerns about glyphosate’s ability to drift into populated areas, posing health risks to uninformed residents.
In a report by Iowa journalist Laura Belin, it was noted that Wulf attended a Luke Bryan concert around the same time the ad was published. Photographs captured him backstage with the Modern Ag Alliance logo, with Bayer sponsoring the tour. For more details, visit Laura Belin’s report.
Lahn’s campaign refutes the claim that Wulf supported the glyphosate legislation, despite the Modern Ag Alliance’s statements. The proposed bill never reached a House vote, leaving Wulf’s official stance unrecorded.
Wulf has cast votes favoring agricultural interests. In 2023, he voted for a budget that removed funding for water quality sensors in Iowa’s waterways. Lahn’s agenda includes reducing agricultural pollution in these areas.
In February, Wulf supported raising the criteria for classifying waterways as impaired by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
In the same month, Wulf proposed legislation to prevent lawsuits against agricultural companies for greenhouse gas emissions, describing it as “ag friendly.”
Wulf attended a White House event where former President Donald Trump signed an order to fast-track the approval of new pesticide ingredients, including chlormequat and bifenthrin, which are linked to health issues like reduced fertility.
Lahn, associated with the Make American Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, might find his base challenged by Wulf’s track record.
In the upcoming election, Lahn will compete against Iowa Auditor Rob Sand, who shares Lahn’s focus on addressing Iowa’s growing cancer concerns. Sand’s running mate is Dave Muhlbauer, a Crawford County Supervisor and a fifth-generation farmer.
