I get asked a lot about one of my key principles in the race to be Iowa’s next governor, and it goes a little something like this:

Not bluer or redder, but truer and better.

It might sound like a cheesy song lyric, but it’s actually a pretty simple, yet firmly held belief I have in the way we can — and should — move Iowa forward.

If you’ll give me just a minute or two of your time, I’d love the opportunity to explain what that phrase means to me. But if you’re in a hurry, or you’re already on board and ready to help elect me as Iowa’s next governor, please consider chipping in $25 to support my campaign.

Still with me? Awesome, thanks for sticking around.

Let’s start by stating the obvious:

Partisan politics have become especially toxic, and all the divisive rhetoric and demonizing people who don’t agree with us on every single issue just drives us further apart. It turns us against our neighbors, makes us cynical, and robs us of what makes Iowa Iowa.

All this redder and bluer talk is a big part of the problem, and a decade’s worth of one-sided partisan governance hasn’t helped either.

Iowans are hungry for a better way of doing things, and they want elected officials that will put the needs of our state ahead of their own personal ambitions.

Public service in a nutshell.

But instead of partisan talking points and seeing one another as enemies, we can all agree that we want the same things:

We want to be able to afford groceries and healthcare.

We want our kids to be able to get a quality education.

We want our state to create jobs and opportunities for everyone.

When we put away the pitchforks and take a moment to actually talk with one another, we can achieve anything, and we can make Iowa a place folks want to raise a family or start a business.

See what I mean? Truer and better.

If this message is resonating with you the way it is with Iowans of all political stripes, please consider chipping in a few bucks to support my campaign for governor so we can work on making Iowa better and truer, together.

Thanks for listening to me ramble.

—Rob Sand