A night of celebration was also a moment of grief for Iowa Gov.-elect Rob Sand, who paid an emotional tribute to his brother-in-law, Walter Lauridsen, during his Nov. 3 victory speech. Lauridsen, 42, died after being struck by a vehicle on Oct. 15. Sand reflected on the loss and the toll it has taken on his family, thanking those who supported them through an extraordinarily difficult time. Sand’s victory made him the first Democrat elected governor of Iowa in 20 years.
