Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Rob Sand

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: May 12, 2025

How Rob Sand built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Rob Sand is an American lawyer and politician serving as the 33rd Iowa Auditor of State since 2019. A Democrat, he previously served as an assistant attorney general of Iowa from 2010 to 2017. Sand successfully ran for state auditor in 2018, defeating the Republican incumbent Mary Mosiman, and was reelected in 2022. Notably, he currently holds the distinction of being the only Democratic statewide officeholder in Iowa, demonstrating his continued political success within a Republican-leaning state.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

2006: Aide for Ed Fallon

In 2006, Sand worked as an aide for Ed Fallon's campaign for governor of Iowa, and later became the campaign manager for Denise O'Brien.

September 2010: Appointed Assistant Attorney General

In September 2010, Sand was appointed Assistant Attorney General and became the lead prosecutor for the Iowa Film Office tax credit scandal.

2010: Assistant Attorney General

In 2010, Sand became the Assistant Attorney General of Iowa, marking a significant step in his legal career.

2010: Juris Doctor

In 2010, Sand earned his Juris Doctor degree, marking the completion of his formal legal education.

2017: Tipton Sentenced

In 2017, Eddie Tipton was sentenced to 25 years in prison for rigging a random number generator in the Hot Lotto fraud scandal. After completing the prosecution, Sand resigned from the Attorney General's office.

2017: End of time as Assistant Attorney General

In 2017, Sand concluded his service as Assistant Attorney General of Iowa.

2018: Elected Iowa State Auditor

In 2018, Sand was elected Iowa State Auditor, defeating Republican Mary Mosiman in the general election.

January 2, 2019: Sworn into Office

On January 2, 2019, Sand was sworn into office as Iowa State Auditor and announced a balanced leadership team.

2019: Became Iowa Auditor of State

In 2019, Robert Sand assumed the role of the 33rd Iowa Auditor of State.

2020: CARES Act Misspending Audit

In 2020, an audit conducted by Sand's office found that Governor Kim Reynolds misspent $21 million from the CARES Act, and the state returned the money.