Incumbent Republican Zach Nunn retains Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District

Iowa Rep. Zach Nunn (R) has won reelection in the state’s 3rd Congressional District, holding a tossup congressional seat for the GOP.

Zunn defeated his Democratic challenger Lanon Baccam when AP News called the race at 11:18 p.m. CST. As of 11:20 p.m., Nunn secured over 51% of the vote while Baccam had just under 49%.

Nunn is an Air Force and National Guard Veteran who has served one term in Congress. Prior to his election in 2022, the 45-year-old lawmaker served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 2015-2019 and the Iowa state Senate from 2019-2023. 

While running for Congress, Nunn indicated that he opposes all abortions without exceptions, only to later flip on the issue and voice support rape and incest exceptions. Nunn also voiced displeasure with the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack, calling the body “a Nancy Pelosi committee determined to find someone that they can hang a noose around.”

Baccam is an Afghanistan War Veteran who previously served in the United States Department of Agriculture. The first-time candidate saw strong polling numbers in the final weeks of the race in a district that includes the city of Des Moines. Baccam advocated for protecting reproductive rights, Social Security and Medicare and making prices more affordable.