Tuesday, October 13, 2026 · Independent editorial

Rob Sand asks ‘What Would Jesus Do?’ Look at his church

Rob Sand says he often asks himself “What Would Jesus Do?” according to Katherine Hamilton at Breitbart News on Monday, October 12, and that is a fair question to turn right back around on the Democrat running for governor of Iowa, because the same report says the church he attends in Des Moines has hosted a drag performer’s concert, promoted a “family friendly” event hosted by a drag queen and provides a sexuality curriculum whose program for 5- to 7-year-olds introduces children to concepts like “gender identity.”

Breitbart reports that Sand grew up Lutheran and attends Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ in Des Moines, citing Iowa columnist Chuck Offenburger, and that he is running against Republican Zach Lahn, whom it describes as a private school founder, farmer and businessman, while leading by an average of over 8 points according to RealClear Polling. The report says Sand is pitching himself as a middle-of-the-road “governor for all” who claims on the campaign trail that he is exhausted by the culture war, which is exactly why what his church teaches is worth a look before Iowans vote on Tuesday, November 3.

According to Breitbart, the church’s website calls it an “LGBTQ+ Open & Affirming Congregation” and calls the Bible a “beautiful and baffling book” that the congregation takes “seriously, not literally,” and the church’s own homepage states that “Plymouth Church has been an Open and Affirming congregation since 1993.” Breitbart reports that in May of 2025 the church hosted a concert by a drag performer called “Flamy Grant,” with an event page describing it as a “celebration of authenticity and radical love,” and that in February of 2026 it promoted a “family friendly” event hosted by a drag queen.

The part that should stop any parent cold is the curriculum. Breitbart reports the church provides “Our Whole Lives” programming, a kindergarten through adult sexuality education curriculum co-published by the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ, and that it includes a program for 5- to 7-year-olds called “Under Your Wing” with a recommended book called “Jack (Not Jackie),” whose synopsis reads in part, “Parents support the child’s transition and eventually the older sister realizes she loves her brother.” Breitbart also reports the church held a prayer vigil in support of abortion in May of 2022 and praised members for attending a pro-abortion rally at the Iowa Statehouse in July of 2023, according to posts on social media.

Fairness matters here, so note what Breitbart says plainly, that neither Sand nor Plymouth Church responded by time of publication to requests for comment, and nothing in the report says Sand himself has taught or endorsed any of these programs. The Lahn campaign did respond, and a spokesman told Breitbart via email, “Values matter and Rob’s values are NOT Iowa values,” which is a campaign talking point and you should weigh it as one.

So here is the opinion part, and we will label it as opinion. A man does not answer for every flyer his church prints, and plenty of faithful Christians sit in pews where they disagree with the bulletin, but a candidate who says he often asks himself what Jesus would do invites voters to ask which Jesus he means, and ask yourself whether the Christ of Scripture who said it would be better to have a millstone hung around your neck than to cause a little one to stumble would want a curriculum for five-year-olds that recommends a book about a child’s transition. A governor could shape what Iowa schools teach about sex and gender, could sign or veto bills on parental rights and life, and could appoint the people who decide those fights for years, so a candidate’s worship home is not gossip, it is a window.

Scripture tells us to test the spirits and to judge a tree by its fruit, and it never tells us to stop asking questions because a politician says the right word at the right time. If Sand wants to be the “governor for all” he says he is, Iowa voters could reasonably ask him directly whether he supports what his church offers children, and he could reasonably answer, and either way they deserve to hear it before they fill in an oval.

Christian first means that when a candidate borrows “What Would Jesus Do?” you are allowed to hold him to the answer the Bible actually gives, especially where children are concerned. American second means the vote is yours and not the property of any campaign, church or polling average. Republican third means the GOP is not the point, and Zach Lahn owes Iowans straight answers on life and family too. Iowa votes on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and so does the rest of the country, so before you step into that booth find out what your candidates believe and what they would protect, measure it against the Book, and let your ballot answer the question Sand says he asks himself.

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