Iowa Voters Elect Champions for Children

SCAN-Endorsed Rob Sand Wins Governor’s Race, While Bipartisan Candidates Prevail Across the State 

DES MOINES, Iowa (Nov. 3, 2026) — Save the Children Action Network (SCAN), the political voice for kids, applauds the election of Rob Sand as Iowa’s next governor, along with victories by several SCAN-endorsed candidates for the Iowa Legislature. 

SCAN congratulates Heather Sievers (D – House District 40), Michael R. Bergan (R – House District 63), Chad Ingels (R – House District 68), Tracy Ehlert (D – House District 79) and Senators Annette Sweeney (R – Senate District 27) and Molly Donahue (D – Senate District 37) on their victories and commitment to making early learning more accessible and improving access to nutritious food for children across Iowa. 

“Tonight is a win for Iowa’s kids and families,” said SCAN Iowa State Manager Paige Chickering. “Iowans elected a governor and lawmakers who understand that families need practical solutions to the challenges they face every day. Now it’s time to turn those commitments into action. We look forward to working with Governor-elect Sand and the next legislature to make childcare more affordable and accessible, expand early learning opportunities and ensure children have the nutritious food they need to grow and thrive. When Iowa invests in kids, it invests in the future of the entire state.” 

During his campaign, Sand supported quality, affordable early childhood education for all Iowa families, universal free school meals and action to address food insecurity. SCAN’s endorsed legislative candidates similarly demonstrated support for strengthening childcare and early education, expanding access to school meals and protecting nutrition programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Summer EBT. 

SCAN will work with the next governor and General Assembly to translate those priorities into meaningful progress for children and families across the state. In 2026, SCAN helped extend childcare assistance eligibility to childcare providers, supporting workforce recruitment and retention, secure a $1 million investment in Double Up Food Bucks, restart funding for the Choose Iowa School Purchasing Program and advocate for Iowa’s participation in Summer EBT. 

SCAN has a history of bipartisan endorsements in Iowa. This year, SCAN supported its bipartisan slate of endorsed candidates through a multifaceted campaign reaching hundreds of thousands of voters through digital ads and a strategic direct voter contact program including text banking and handwritten postcards. 

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Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) was created in 2014 as the political advocacy arm of Save the Children, to be the political voice for kids. We work to ensure that issues critical to children’s lives and futures are given top priority by elected leaders, building support to make sure every child has a strong start in life. 

Learn more about SCAN at savethechildrenactionnetwork.org⁠. 

Media Contact: media@savechildren.org