Iowa’s gubernatorial race sees entrepreneur Adam Steen advocating for local job creation, even as his business practices come under scrutiny. His company, known for outsourcing production to China, raises questions about his commitment to enhancing Iowa’s manufacturing sector.
Adam Steen is one of the Republican candidates aiming to replace the outgoing Governor Kim Reynolds. Winning the primary on June 2 could set him against Democratic state auditor Rob Sand in the upcoming general election.
Back in 2015, Steen co-founded 27:3 Outdoors, a hunting supply company with Christian values. Known for its innovative turkey fans, the company enables hunters to approach turkeys by mimicking their appearance.
In a candid Instagram post from October 2025, Steen acknowledged that production of the fans is outsourced. “When my friend and I invented the turkey fan, we wanted to build it right here in Iowa,” Steen wrote. “But we couldn’t find a local manufacturer willing to take it on. In the end, we were forced to outsource to China, and it made me sick.”
Though Steen shares this experience on his campaign website, he provides few specifics on how he plans to bolster manufacturing within Iowa.
Steen is an outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump. According to Public Citizen, 200,000 jobs were offshored in Trump’s first term. “Thank you President Trump for your fearless leadership and relentless commitment to putting Americans first,” Steen wrote on X last year.
Despite his pledges to revitalize local employment, a recent campaign ad by Steen has sparked controversy. In the ad, Steen promises to “stop China from stealing the American dream,” while featuring stock footage of farmland that was actually filmed in Georgia, not Iowa.
The Cook Political Report still ranks the race for Iowa’s governorship as a toss-up, indicating it could swing in favor of either major political party.
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