The GOP Gov Primary Field is Set. Will Randy Feenstra Keep His Word and Debate His Opponents?

Feenstra in February: “The filing deadline for governor is not ’til March 13 … that’s the time to debate.”

DES MOINES – It’s March 17 and Iowa’s Republican gubernatorial primary is officially an “unsettled,” “chaotic and competitive” five-person clown car with the primary matchup set between Randy Feenstra, Adam Steen, Zach Lahn, Brad Sherman, and Eddie Andrews. Back in February, Feenstra stated that he wouldn’t debate his opponents until the filing deadline of March 13 passed, saying “we don’t even know who’s going to be in the race. So once that’s settled, hey, that’s the time to debate.”

Now that the filing deadline — and Feenstra’s self-imposed deadline — has come and gone, will Feenstra keep his word and agree to a primary debate, or will he punt the decision again and keep hiding from Iowans?

Feenstra has been “unable to clear the primary field” and recently “acknowledge[d] that getting past the June primary isn’t a slam dunk,” as he continues to face major problems from within his own party. It’s led him to repeatedly move the goalpost on debating his opponents and leave the door open to more primary candidates filing for the race, while GOP activists are planning for the “very, very real possibility” of the wide-open primary going to a “contested” convention.

From Iowa Democratic Party spokesperson Terra Hernandez:

“The filing deadline has come and gone, and the Republican gubernatorial primary is still nasty and crowded. Will no-show Randy Feenstra finally keep his word, quit hiding from voters, and agree to a primary debate with his opponents? Iowans are sick and tired of Feenstra’s disappearing act and deserve a leader who will actually show up.”

Every time Feenstra refused to give a straight answer on debating his opponents:

• October 30, 2025: “We’ll be working it out over the next several months and see how that all plays out.”

• November 4, 2025: “We’ll debate. Sure.”

• November 26, 2025: “It’s just a matter of when they occur. But I look forward to that.”

• February 9, 2026: “There’s plenty of time for debates. I plan to do debates. We’ll get there but right now, I’m traveling all over the state.”

• February 17, 2026: “The filing deadline for governor is not ’til March 13, so we don’t even know who’s going to be in the race. So once that’s settled, hey, that’s the time to debate.”

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