Rob Sand, Iowa’s elected state auditor and the only Democrat now holding a major political office in the state, said on Monday that he would run for governor next year, boosting his party’s hopes of gaining a policymaking foothold in a place that Republicans dominate.

"I'm not a party line guy," Rob Sand said as he launched a gubernatorial campaign. "I'm a right or wrong guy."

Democrat Rob Sand has announced a bid for the open Iowa governor’s race. He is looking to break up a long streak of Republican leadership in the state after a surprise announcement from Republican Gov.