2018 Iowa State Auditor election

2018 Iowa State Auditor election

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Candidate Rob Sand Mary Mosiman Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 660,169 601,320 Percentage 50.96% 46.42%

County results Congressional district results Sand:      40-50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Mosiman:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Auditor of State before election Mary Mosiman Republican Elected Auditor of State Rob Sand Democratic

The 2018 Iowa State Auditor election was held on November 6, 2018, to elect the Iowa Auditor of State, concurrently with elections to the United States House of Representatives, governor, and other state and local elections. Primary elections were held on June 5, 2018.^[1]

Incumbent Republican auditor Mary Mosiman ran for election to a second full term in office, but was defeated by Democratic attorney and former assistant attorney general Rob Sand.^[2] Sand outraised Mosiman throughout the campaign with what was generally considered record fundraising.^[3][4][5][6] Sand was the only Democrat that was not an incumbent that won statewide office in 2018.^[7] Sand became the first Democrat to win a state auditor's race in Iowa since 1964, when Lorne R. Worthington won a single term.^[8]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Mary Mosiman, incumbent state auditor (2013-present) and former auditor of Story County (2001-2010)^[9]

Results

Republican primary results^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mary Mosiman (incumbent)	85,207	81.01%
	Write-in		278	0.27%
Rejected ballots			19,698	18.72%
Total votes			105,183	100.0%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Rob Sand, attorney and former Assistant Attorney General of Iowa (2010-2017)^[11][12]

Results

Democratic primary results^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Rob Sand	147,840	80.90%
	Write-in		550	0.30%
Rejected ballots			34,346	18.80%
Total votes			182,736	100.0%

General election

Results

2018 Iowa State Auditor election^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Rob Sand	660,169	50.96%
	Republican	Mary Mosiman (incumbent)	601,320	46.42%
	Libertarian	Fred Perryman	33,421	2.58%
	Write-in		458	0.04%
Total votes			1,295,368	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican

By congressional district

Sand won three of four congressional districts.^[14]

District	Mosiman	Sand	Representative
1st	42%	55%	Rod Blum (115th Congress)
			Abby Finkenauer (116th Congress)
2nd	44%	54%	Dave Loebsack
3rd	45%	52%	David Young (115th Congress)
			Cindy Axne (116th Congress)
4th	55%	42%	Steve King

See also

• 2018 Iowa elections
• Iowa Auditor of State

References

1. "2018 Primary Elections by State and territory" (PDF). Marine Corps Installation East. April 6, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
2. Opsahl, Robin (November 5, 2018). "Democrat Rob Sand topples incumbent Mary Mosiman for Iowa state auditor". Des Moines Register. Retrieved October 16, 2025. Rob Sand's big investment paid off: The Democratic former assistant attorney general defeated incumbent Mary Mosiman in Iowa's state auditor race.
3. Tambe, Aadit (November 7, 2018). "Democrat Rob Sand unseats Republican Mary Mosiman for Iowa state auditor". The Daily Iowan. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
4. Petroski, William (October 27, 2018). "Iowa election 2018: Gusher of campaign cash tops $75 million". Des Moines Register. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
5. Rynard, Pat (May 19, 2018). "Rob Sand Out-Raises Mary Mosiman 3-To-1 In Latest Finance Report". Iowa Starting Line. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
6. Rynard, Pat (January 23, 2018). "Auditor Mary Mosiman Already In Trouble In Her Reelection Effort". Iowa Starting Line. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
7. Rodriguez, Barbara (December 3, 2018). "Will Rob Sand, Iowa's new state auditor, be the taxpayers' watchdog or a Democratic attack dog?". Des Moines Register. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
8. Rynard, Pat (November 6, 2018). "Rob Sand Defeats Mary Mosiman In State Auditor's Race". Iowa Starting Line. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
9. "Mary Mosiman, candidate for Iowa state auditor". The Gazette. October 20, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
10. "State of Iowa - Canvass State" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
11. Noble, Jason (November 13, 2017). "Democrat Rob Sand will run for Iowa auditor in 2018". Des Moines Register. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
12. Pavicich, Tyrus (October 17, 2018). "Meet the candidate: Rob Sand, Democrat for state auditor". Iowa State Daily. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
13. "IA - Election Night Reporting". Iowa Secretary of State. December 4, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
14. "DRA 2020". Dave's Redistricting.