Sand Names Tripartisan Transition Team in Iowa

Governor-elect Rob Sand named Abe Rakov chief of staff and co-chairs drawn from both parties and independents.

Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in Elections

Sand Names Tripartisan Transition Team in Iowa

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Iowa Governor-elect Rob Sand introduced a tripartisan transition team, naming Abe Rakov as his Chief of Staff. Transition steering committee co-chairs are Mike Mahaffey, a former Iowa Republican Party chair, and Brian Lohse, an independent state representative.

Why it matters

The bipartisan structure signals an effort to build cross-party support as Sand prepares to take office. Sand's plans to roll back privatized Medicaid and increase spending could face obstacles if Republicans hold majorities in the legislature.

The transition team is led by Abe Rakov as Chief of Staff with co-chairs Mike Mahaffey and Brian Lohse. Membership beyond these named leaders and the specific policy timeline have not been detailed.

The players

Rob Sand

Rob Sand is Iowa's governor-elect, who introduced the tripartisan transition team ahead of taking office.

JB Pritzker

JB Pritzker is the Illinois governor, elected to a third term, who unveiled a 200-point national policy agenda for Congress.

Mike Mahaffey

Mike Mahaffey is a former Iowa Republican Party chair serving as a co-chair of the transition steering committee.

Brian Lohse

Brian Lohse is an independent Iowa state representative serving as a co-chair of the transition steering committee.

The details

Sand introduced the transition team as tripartisan, drawing co-chairs from Republican and independent backgrounds. The announcement came as Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, elected to a third term, unveiled a 200-point national policy agenda for a Democrat-controlled Congress.

Article published November 15, 2026, covering the Iowa and Illinois governors' policy and transition plans.

Political Context

Sand's plan to roll back privatized Medicaid would reverse Iowa's existing privatized managed-care model, a move likely to face resistance from Republican legislative majorities. Opposition arguments center on the cost and implementation risks of reversing the program.

Changes to Medicaid and state spending priorities under Sand's administration could affect Iowans who rely on those programs. The transition team's direction will shape how those policies are implemented once Sand takes office.

The takeaway

Watch how the bipartisan transition team shapes early decisions on Medicaid and spending, since those choices will signal how much cross-party support Sand can build. Iowans should track legislative votes on these priorities as they unfold.