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Democratic Governors Association: Zach Lahn Won't Answer for Running Mate's Shady Loan As New LLC Raises More Questions
WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 -- The Democratic Governors Association posted the following news:
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Zach Lahn Won't Answer for Running Mate's Shady Loan As New LLC Raises More Questions
Oct 12, 2026
New reporting from the Des Moines Register exposes Zach Lahn for refusing to reveal the mystery LLC that is paying off his running mate's debt.
According to the Register, three weeks after joining the ticket with Lahn, "Wulf received a $540,000 loan" from University Relocation LLC - an LLC a well-connected Iowa attorney and contributor to Lahn formed "specifically to issue a loan to Wulf." A former member
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 -- The Democratic Governors Association posted the following news:
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Zach Lahn Won't Answer for Running Mate's Shady Loan As New LLC Raises More Questions
Oct 12, 2026
New reporting from the Des Moines Register exposes Zach Lahn for refusing to reveal the mystery LLC that is paying off his running mate's debt.
According to the Register, three weeks after joining the ticket with Lahn, "Wulf received a $540,000 loan" from University Relocation LLC - an LLC a well-connected Iowa attorney and contributor to Lahn formed "specifically to issue a loan to Wulf." A former memberof the state ethics board noted that the LLC being set up out of state was "significant", making any attempts to investigate the entity "very hard."
This isn't the first time Lahn and his running mate have come under fire. Earlier this year, Wulf was accused of fraud and theft and of having ripped off local farmers and small businesses in Iowa.
Tellingly, Wulf and Lahn refused to comment on the Register's story, hiding the truth from Iowans about who is loaning money to Wulf, and why they decided to help shortly after Wulf joined Lahn's campaign.
Des Moines Register: Lender a mystery for $540,000 loan to GOP lt. gov. candidate Derek Wulf
* A week-old limited liability company gave Republican lieutenant governor candidate Derek Wulf a private loan this summer, raising questions about who assisted the politician in the months before November's pivotal election.
* Wulf received a $540,000 loan from the newly formed University Relocation LLC of Moline, Illinois, in July, according to a mortgage securing the loan. The loan to Wulf came three weeks after Republican gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn tapped Wulf as his running mate.
* As those cases proceeded, according to filings with the Illinois Secretary of State's Office, an attorney formed University Relocation in Moline on June 26 on behalf of an unknown lender. The attorney, Richard Davidson of Davenport, told the Des Moines Register in late September that the lender does not want to be identified but offered the loan to Wulf at "market rate."
* Erika Eckley, executive director of the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, told the Register that her agency could not determine whether such a loan would violate state laws without knowing who the lender is.
* Wulf and a spokesperson for Lahn's campaign did not return requests for comment
* Wulf, a farmer and state representative from Hudson, was deeply indebted when Lahn chose him as his running mate on June 12.
* Two weeks after Lahn named Wulf as the Republican Party's lieutenant governor candidate, Davidson formed University Relocation, according to Illinois secretary of state filings. A week later, on July 2, the new company and Wulf signed a promissory note tied to a one-year, $540,000 loan.
* While WCF did not state the size of Wulf's debt in its petition, exhibits filed as part of the lawsuit indicate Wulf owed about $3.1 million for lines of credit as of early May, with about $1,100 more in interest accruing every day. A judge granted WCF's petition to appoint a receiver to take over Wulf's home and farm on Sept. 1.
* WCF officials also filed a report of potential fraudulent activity against Wulf with the Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office in February over how he allegedly disposed of livestock.
* In a January letter to Wulf's father-in-law, former Iowa Cattlemen's Association President David Petty, a WCF attorney alleged that Wulf was selling cattle in Petty's name. WCF has a security interest in Wulf's livestock, and the bank's attorney wrote that selling the animals under Petty's name would be tantamount to theft.
* Petty denied the allegation to the Register in August. He said at the time that he had not received the letter from WCF's attorney, despite the bank filing a document in court that confirmed delivery of the letter to Petty's home.
* According to a farm receiver's report filed in Black Hawk County on Oct. 2, Petty and Wulf keep their cattle together on Petty's pastures and neither has marked who owns which livestock.
* Davidson, the attorney who formed University Relocation, is a prominent attorney in Davenport.
* A lawyer for Lane & Waterman since 1985, he has represented the Davenport city government, the Davenport Community School District, the Diocese of Davenport and several local developers. He also represented Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks during a high-profile recount following the 2020 election, which she won by six votes.
* Davidson has been a modest political donor, giving about $7,900 to state and federal campaigns and political action committees since 2005. The majority of his donations have gone to Republican candidates, including $100 to Lahn's campaign committee on June 30.
* In an interview with the Register, Davidson said he formed University Relocation in June on behalf of "a single, Iowa-based private lender." Later, he said a family owned the limited liability company and frequently extends private loans.
* He added that the lender does not "generally" want to be known and set up the business in Illinois specifically to issue a loan to Wulf.
* Asked why the Iowa company wanted him to form the business in Illinois, Davidson said, "They just felt it was to their advantage to structure it as they did."
* Davidson also formed a University Relocation LLC in Iowa in 2009. That business remains active, according to filings with the Iowa Secretary of State.
* Davidson said Wulf's lender is also behind the Iowa entity. But later, he added that there might be additional managers of the Iowa company who are not involved in the new, Illinois company.
* Iowa laws do not allow statewide political candidates to accept loans from lobbyists unless those lobbyists loan money as part of their normal business. The terms of the loan, such as the interest rate, would also need to be in line with what the lobbyist normally offers.
* Asked whether the lender behind University Relocation is a lobbyist, Davidson said, "I don't have the faintest idea."
* Depending on the terms of the loan, the ethics board could also view the transaction as a gift. If so, the board can investigate whether the money came from a "restricted donor," which could include a government contractor or someone with an active case before a state regulator.
* Asked whether Wulf's lender does business with the state, Davidson said, "not to my knowledge."
* Zach Goodrich, a former executive director of the state ethics board, told the Register that violations of campaign contribution laws could result in fines of up to $2,000 per violation.
* The fact that Davidson registered a new company in Illinois instead of sending the loan through the Iowa company is significant, Goodrich added. While the board can issue subpoenas for records from Iowa-based companies, he said, the agency would need a judge's approval before demanding records from a business in another state.
* "Without a subpoena, (investigating) would be very hard," Goodrich said. "You could always hope for cooperation, but you obviously don't want to rely on that too much."
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Original text here: https://democraticgovernors.org/updates/zach-lahn-wont-answer-for-running-mates-shady-loan-as-new-llc-raises-more-questions/
Democratic Governors Association: New - Ohioans for Lower Costs Ads Highlight Stark Contrast Between Ramaswamy and Acton
WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 -- The Democratic Governors Association posted the following news:
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NEW: Ohioans for Lower Costs Ads Highlight Stark Contrast Between Ramaswamy and Acton
Oct 13, 2026
Today, Ohioans for Lower Costs, a group backed by the Democratic Governors Association, released two ads in the Ohio governor's race, contrasting Vivek Ramaswamy's record of scamming people for his own profit and his opposition to cornerstone programs like Medicare and Social Security against Dr. Amy Acton's record of bringing people together to protect Ohioans and make people healthier.
"Consider This"
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 -- The Democratic Governors Association posted the following news:
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NEW: Ohioans for Lower Costs Ads Highlight Stark Contrast Between Ramaswamy and Acton
Oct 13, 2026
Today, Ohioans for Lower Costs, a group backed by the Democratic Governors Association, released two ads in the Ohio governor's race, contrasting Vivek Ramaswamy's record of scamming people for his own profit and his opposition to cornerstone programs like Medicare and Social Security against Dr. Amy Acton's record of bringing people together to protect Ohioans and make people healthier.
"Consider This"highlights how Ramaswamy made millions pushing an Alzheimer's drug that didn't work, supports ending Social Security as we know it, and believes Medicare and Medicaid were "mistakes."
"Ohio First" focuses on Dr. Acton's record of working with Republicans to lower health care costs, hold drug companies accountable for the opioid crisis, and make people healthier.
See both ads here:
"Consider This (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxlYn7V8hOk)"
Transcript:
In here, it's just you and your vote.
So, consider this.
Vivek Ramaswamy peddled a drug to Alzheimer's patients that didn't work. And now, he's a billionaire.
He proposed ending Social Security as we know it. And he called Medicaid and Medicare mistakes.
Were Medicare and Medicaid mistakes?
I believe they were, with the benefit of retrospect, particularly Medicaid.
Vivek Ramaswamy wants to bring those beliefs and that agenda here.
So remember that when you go here.
"Ohio First (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSABf_b0Umg&feature=youtu.be)"
Transcript:
She's not a politician. She's a doctor.
She hasn't spent her career focused on a political party. She spent it making people healthier.
Amy Acton.
As Ohio's director of health, she worked with Republicans to hold big drug companies accountable for the opioid epidemic and brought back millions to lower health care costs.
Now she's running for governor, and she'll work with anyone to lower costs and make life affordable.
Because for Amy Acton, it's always Ohio first.
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Original text here: https://democraticgovernors.org/updates/new-ohioans-for-lower-costs-ads-highlight-stark-contrast-between-ramaswamy-and-acton/
Democratic Governors Association: Forward Frontier for JKT Releases Ad on Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins' Plans to Bring Alaskans Together to Lower Costs
WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 -- The Democratic Governors Association posted the following news:
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Forward Frontier for JKT Releases Ad on Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins' Plans to Bring Alaskans Together to Lower Costs
Oct 12, 2026
Forward Frontier for JKT, a group backed by the Democratic Governors Association, released a new ad in the Alaska governor's race focused on Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins' plans to bring Republicans, Democrats, and Independents together to get Alaska back on track.
Prices on everything from gas to heating are up, and JKT is the only candidate in this race who will work across party
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 -- The Democratic Governors Association posted the following news:
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Forward Frontier for JKT Releases Ad on Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins' Plans to Bring Alaskans Together to Lower Costs
Oct 12, 2026
Forward Frontier for JKT, a group backed by the Democratic Governors Association, released a new ad in the Alaska governor's race focused on Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins' plans to bring Republicans, Democrats, and Independents together to get Alaska back on track.
Prices on everything from gas to heating are up, and JKT is the only candidate in this race who will work across partylines to lower costs for Alaskans and strengthen Alaska's fisheries.
You can watch the ad here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=O3_WKN7_j8dgr1-w&v=_e3yNucdT68&feature=youtu.be) and read the transcript below.
"Bring Together"
Gas over $5 a gallon, heating fuel up 30%.
But some politicians would rather point fingers than bring costs down.
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins is different.
He's running for governor to bring Republicans, Democrats, and independents together to protect Alaska from data centers, strengthen our fisheries, and lower costs for all of us.
For JKT, it's always Alaska first.
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Original text here: https://democraticgovernors.org/updates/forward-frontier-for-jkt-releases-ad-on-jonathan-kreiss-tomkins-plans-to-bring-alaskans-together-to-lower-costs/
Democratic Governors Association: Double Trouble - MAGA Rick Jackson Will Campaign With Donald Trump Twice This Week
WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 -- The Democratic Governors Association posted the following news:
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Double Trouble: MAGA Rick Jackson Will Campaign With Donald Trump Twice This Week
Oct 12, 2026
Georgia Republican gubernatorial nominee Rick Jackson, who has told voters that he would be "Trump's favorite governor," is set to campaign with Donald Trump twice this week.
Last night, Jackson joined a tele-town hall with Trump, during which Trump encouraged Georgians "to vote as though he were on the ballot" in November.
Then on Friday, Jackson will join Trump for a rally in Dalton.
Jackson's multiple
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 -- The Democratic Governors Association posted the following news:
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Double Trouble: MAGA Rick Jackson Will Campaign With Donald Trump Twice This Week
Oct 12, 2026
Georgia Republican gubernatorial nominee Rick Jackson, who has told voters that he would be "Trump's favorite governor," is set to campaign with Donald Trump twice this week.
Last night, Jackson joined a tele-town hall with Trump, during which Trump encouraged Georgians "to vote as though he were on the ballot" in November.
Then on Friday, Jackson will join Trump for a rally in Dalton.
Jackson's multipleappearances with Trump are not surprising for anyone who's been following the race. Jackson has said he doesn't disagree with Donald Trump on any issues, is running to be Donald Trump with a southern tone, and personally profited off of Donald Trump's cost-raising tariffs - even as Georgians pay one of the highest costs per household - as well as cuts to Georgians' health care.
"As early voting begins, Slick Rick Jackson is making one thing clear: he's running to serve Donald Trump - not Georgia," said DGA spokesperson Kevin Donohoe. "Jackson is running to bring Trump's devastating economic agenda to Georgia, making health care more expensive and jacking up the cost of everything - and it's exactly why he is completely wrong to lead Georgia."
At every turn, Jackson has sided with Trump instead of supporting policies that would lower costs for Georgians. Jackson dismissed the impact of Trump's Iran War and tariffs on Georgia's agriculture industry, recently telling a reporter that he's "not going to be blaming the federal government for everything". Even when cattle producers pushed back on Trump's unpopular plan to import beef, Jackson refused to support them.
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Original text here: https://democraticgovernors.org/updates/double-trouble-maga-rick-jackson-will-campaign-with-donald-trump-twice-this-week/
Democratic Governors Association: Congressman Tom Tiffany's Extreme Tax Plan Would Gut Services and Raise Prices Even Higher for Wisconsinites
WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 -- The Democratic Governors Association posted the following news:
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Congressman Tom Tiffany's Extreme Tax Plan Would Gut Services and Raise Prices Even Higher for Wisconsinites
Oct 12, 2026
After newly uncovered audio last week revealed that Congressman Tom Tiffany "hopes" to push a tax scheme that would gut services and drive costs even higher, all to benefit his billionaire donors, a report from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel digs deeper into the true cost of his extreme plan.
According to an analysis from the state budget office, Congressman Tiffany's proposal to
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 -- The Democratic Governors Association posted the following news:
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Congressman Tom Tiffany's Extreme Tax Plan Would Gut Services and Raise Prices Even Higher for Wisconsinites
Oct 12, 2026
After newly uncovered audio last week revealed that Congressman Tom Tiffany "hopes" to push a tax scheme that would gut services and drive costs even higher, all to benefit his billionaire donors, a report from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel digs deeper into the true cost of his extreme plan.
According to an analysis from the state budget office, Congressman Tiffany's proposal toeliminate the state income tax entirely would end funding for "schools, Medicaid, universities, aid to local governments, prisons and property tax relief, among other programs." Without this revenue, the state would be forced to "require substantial cuts or [raise] revenue from other sources, such as the sales tax, or both."
Congressman Tiffany's plan is so extreme that it's been panned by experts across the political spectrum. Even the conservative Badger Institute warned that Tiffany's scheme could raise the sales tax as high as 12.69 percent, which would leave Wisconsinites footing the bill for the highest sales tax rate in the country.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Tom Tiffany says he's open to eliminating the state income tax
* Republican candidate for governor Tom Tiffany has pledged to pursue a 10% income tax cut as he campaigns for governor and in recent weeks said he is open to going further and eliminating the state's income tax altogether.
* Individual income taxes generated $10.5 billion in the most recent fiscal year, according to the state budget office. That revenue funds 45.7% of the state's general fund, which pays for schools, Medicaid, universities, aid to local governments, prisons and property tax relief, among other programs. Including corporate income tax revenue, that percentage grows to nearly 60%.
* Eliminating the funding source would require substantial cuts or raising revenue from other sources, such as the sales tax, or both.
* Brian Pahnke, the state budget director for Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' administration, said, "it would just be very, very difficult to provide the services at the current level of any sort if you didn't have an income tax in Wisconsin."
* "It would be incredibly difficult to find a way to do that," Pahnke said.
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Original text here: https://democraticgovernors.org/updates/congressman-tom-tiffanys-extreme-tax-plan-would-gut-services-and-raise-prices-even-higher-for-wisconsinites/
DGA-Backed Group Making Michigan's Future Releases New Ad on Michiganders' Beef With John James
WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 -- The Democratic Governors Association posted the following news:
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DGA-Backed Group Making Michigan's Future Releases New Ad on Michiganders' Beef with John James
Oct 13, 2026
Making Michigan's Future, a group backed by the Democratic Governors Association, launched the ad "Butcher," featuring a Michigan butcher, Joe W., calling out John James's record of looking out for himself and the wealthiest in Congress, while voting 27 times to put Social Security on the chopping block.
This is the latest ad airing on TV as part of a seven-figure statewide buy that also includes
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 -- The Democratic Governors Association posted the following news:
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DGA-Backed Group Making Michigan's Future Releases New Ad on Michiganders' Beef with John James
Oct 13, 2026
Making Michigan's Future, a group backed by the Democratic Governors Association, launched the ad "Butcher," featuring a Michigan butcher, Joe W., calling out John James's record of looking out for himself and the wealthiest in Congress, while voting 27 times to put Social Security on the chopping block.
This is the latest ad airing on TV as part of a seven-figure statewide buy that also includesstreaming and digital platforms.
"Michiganders have major beef with John James' record of serving himself over the people of Michigan," said Making Michigan's Future spokesperson Sam Newton. "In Congress, he voted 27 times to put Social Security on the chopping block, while giving millionaires like himself a tax break. No matter how you slice it, John James is out for himself."
You can watch the ad here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=ZaGVHcBgb-xvp8ZR&v=vsM8B4fvbek&feature=youtu.be) and read the transcript below:
"Butcher"
As a butcher, I know a thing or two about big cuts.
And John James's record on Social Security cuts deep.
27 times, James voted to put Social Security on the chopping block.
27. That's no bull.
James rewarded millionaires like himself with tax cuts.
Hey, I may sell steaks, but I still struggle with the price of beef.
Voting for tax cuts for the wealthy and against protecting Social Security tells me that John James is looking out for himself, not Michigan.
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Original text here: https://democraticgovernors.org/updates/dga-backed-group-making-michigans-future-releases-new-ad-on-michiganders-beef-with-john-james/
DGA Statement on Gov. Kathy Hochul's Big Win in New York's Gubernatorial Debate
WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 -- The Democratic Governors Association posted the following news:
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DGA Statement on Gov. Kathy Hochul's Big Win in New York's Gubernatorial Debate
Oct 13, 2026
Today, Democratic Governors Association spokesperson Kevin Donohoe released the following statement on the New York gubernatorial debate:
"MAGA Bruce Blakeman tonight learned the hard way that you don't mess with a tough mother from Buffalo.
"Governor Hochul dominated tonight's debate, clearly laying out how she is working to make New York safer and more affordable. When Bruce Blakeman wasn't yelling, he was
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 -- The Democratic Governors Association posted the following news:
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DGA Statement on Gov. Kathy Hochul's Big Win in New York's Gubernatorial Debate
Oct 13, 2026
Today, Democratic Governors Association spokesperson Kevin Donohoe released the following statement on the New York gubernatorial debate:
"MAGA Bruce Blakeman tonight learned the hard way that you don't mess with a tough mother from Buffalo.
"Governor Hochul dominated tonight's debate, clearly laying out how she is working to make New York safer and more affordable. When Bruce Blakeman wasn't yelling, he wasstruggling to explain why he has repeatedly sided with Trump over New York on everything from health care to tariffs to ICE's abuses. He often appeared to be in complete meltdown when Governor Hochul presented him with basic facts about his support for the president.
"Bruce Blakeman tonight once again made clear he is better suited for The Apprentice than the Governor's Mansion."
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Original text here: https://democraticgovernors.org/updates/dga-statement-on-gov-kathy-hochuls-big-win-in-new-yorks-gubernatorial-debate/
