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DES MOINES, Iowa – Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann is facing growing calls from the party’s base to resign after a disastrous 2026 midterm that saw Democrats seize the governor’s office, a U.S. Senate seat, 3 U.S. House seats, the attorney general’s office, and the auditor’s office, while shrinking Republican majorities in the Legislature. Kaufmann acknowledged the night as “disappointing” and pointed to remaining GOP control of the Legislature as a “red wall,” but that framing has done little to quiet anger over the scale of the losses. Lahn entered the general election with Derek Wulf as his running mate, a choice Kaufmann publicly called “excellent” and a “valuable addition to the ticket.” Critics inside the party argue the ticket and the overall effort never fully united behind the nominee who had just beaten the establishment favorite Randy Feenstra. Republicans have been very blunt in their assessments online. On Twitter, one user wrote that Kaufmann “fucked the state for the next four years” and told him to “get the fuck away from my party.” Another user said the loss was on Kaufmann “for sabotaging Zach’s campaign.” A third user said he “needs to be removed” because his “power hangover is done,” and urged Iowa Republicans to “unite against you in full force.” A fourth user said he “completely sandbagged Zach Lahn” and claimed there was a plan for “Feenstra to lose so his kid Bobby can run in the next cycle.” The same post accused the Iowa GOP of “saddling Zach with Derek Wulf,” knowing he was a problematic candidate. A fifth said he’s just another “boomer who fucked things up again.” Kaufmann’s long tenure, during which he helped build the Iowa GOP into the most dominant force it's ever been, delivering historic statewide and legislative victories in the process, has not shielded him from the fallout. The scale of the Republican collapse has still left him as the most visible target for those who believe the party’s leadership failed to adapt or fully back its own nominee when it mattered. Business inquiries, corrections, story leads, or contributor requests? Email us at [email protected]. Photo: Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ