Two Democratic candidates in Iowa, Rob Sand and Josh Turek, have indicated they do not want former Vice President Kamala Harris to campaign for them or endorse their efforts. Sand's campaign spokesperson stated that they do not seek Harris's involvement, contrasting with her support during his previous campaign for state auditor in 2018. Similarly, Turek's campaign confirmed he has no plans to collaborate with Harris as he runs for the Senate seat currently held by retiring Senator Joni Ernst.
Iowa has shifted politically in recent years, with Republicans gaining ground. In the 2020 election, President Donald Trump won Iowa by 13.2 points over Harris, marking a significant margin. However, the Cook Political Report recently shifted the gubernatorial race in Iowa from a toss-up to leaning Democratic, and the Senate race is now considered a toss-up.
Political scientist Timothy Hagle noted that the Republican voter registration advantage in Iowa has grown, and candidates may be cautious about appearing too liberal by associating with Harris. This trend of distancing from Harris is not unique to Iowa, as seen with other Democratic candidates in red states, including Alaska's Mary Peltola, who recently rejected a fundraising email from Harris's campaign.