Rob Sand, center, is viewed as one of the Democratic Party’s rising stars in a state where Republicans hold the governorship, both U.S. Senate seats and both state legislative chambers. | Photo courtesy of Rob Sand for Iowa Elections Top Democrats flock to Iowa to help ‘young Robert Mueller’ A candidate for state auditor has emerged as the candidate everyone wants to see.

Potential 2020 Democratic presidential hopefuls have found a new cause to support: Rob Sand, a down-ticket candidate running for Iowa state auditor.

Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) helped identify a staffer hired by Sand’s campaign. Montana Gov. Steve Bullock headlined a fundraiser for Sand in Iowa. Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley headlined an event for him in Washington.


Not to be outdone, former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe plans to meet with Sand this week in Iowa, while Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) plans to lend her name to a fundraising email for the candidate this week or next, Sand’s campaign confirmed.

What explains the ring-kissing? Sand is viewed as one of the Democratic Party’s rising stars in a state where Republicans hold the governorship, both U.S. Senate seats and both state legislative chambers.

A former assistant state attorney general, he drew attention in Iowa for his work on public corruption cases, including a major lottery-fixing case that won him a profile in The New York Times Magazine. Democratic supporters sometimes call the 36-year-old “young Robert Mueller.”

Sand is outraising the Republican incumbent auditor, Mary Mosiman, and is viewed within Democratic Party circles as a potential future candidate for U.S. Senate.

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Sand isn’t the only down-ticket candidate benefiting from 2020 hopefuls’ focus on Iowa. Secretary of state candidate Deidre DeJear is another fixture on the pre-2020 circuit in the first-in-the nation caucus state — and has drawn perhaps even more national attention than Sand.

She’s won endorsements from former President Barack Obama, the Bernie Sanders-aligned Our Revolution and was the first Iowa Democrat whom Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) backed. On Wednesday, Democratic National Committee Vice Chair and New York Assemblyman Michael Blake will host a fundraiser for DeJear.

In yet another Iowa race, Bullock has dispatched a staffer to work for Tim Gannon, the Obama-endorsed candidate for Iowa secretary of agriculture, Gannon’s campaign said. O’Malley has participated in public events with Gannon, and McAuliffe is in talks with the campaign about possible ways to help.

Sand said Monday that the assistance provided by the presidential prospects has been “great,” adding, “I think anytime somebody comes in, it’s something that’s positive for our race.”

Sand also acknowledged the symbiotic nature of the relationship, saying he can help national Democrats with “networking in the state.” He cited an event in his hometown recently that put Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) in front of a large crowd in Decorah, Iowa.

A native of rural Winneshiek County, Sand holds ties to one of several critical counties that went for Obama in 2012 before flipping to President Donald Trump in 2016.

Over the summer, Stormy Daniels attorney Michael Avenatti drew a robust crowd at the annual Iowa Wing Ding fundraiser, benefiting local Iowa Democrats. And a secondary rush of activity is expected in mid-October, when Iowa Democrats plan an all-hands-on-deck effort during the state’s early voting period. A flurry of potential 2020 contenders and surrogates are expected to crisscross the state to assist.

It all couldn’t come at a better time for Iowa Democrats, who are threatening to take the governor’s mansion and are hoping to capture two congressional districts from vulnerable Republican incumbents.

Whether it’s staffing help or fundraising support, a little assistance from 2020 presidential prospects generates an enormous amount of local goodwill, said Sam Roecker, a Des Moines-based Democratic strategist.

“If they are sending staff to Deidre or Rob, that could go a long way,” Roecker said. “In a race like that, it makes a huge difference.”