DES MOINES, Iowa — Current 3rd Congressional District U.S. Representative Zach Nunn and his challenger, Lanon Baccam, sat down with Local 5 to answer questions about this election, their campaigns and issues important to them.
Zach Nunn (R)
Q: Why did you want to run for reelection?
A: We are trying to take things forward that we think really have worked well here in Iowa, that I've led, things like tax cuts, which help Iowans keep more of their hard-earned dollars right in their pocket. They invest in their family, their farm, their communities. That's the way to grow an economy. I want to take that kind of common sense back to Washington, D.C., and find folks on both sides of the aisle who actually want to move forward with solutions.
Q: You find yourself in another tight race, just like you did in 2022, but you came out on top in the first tight race. How are you using that experience, or maybe momentum, to set yourself apart in this next tight race?
A: Iowa's 3rd district is one of the most fairly drawn districts in the country, and I think that's really important because it's good for democracy. We've got a third Democrat, a third independent and a third Republican. And it means, when we go to Washington, we're really working for every type of Iowan out there to deliver results. You know, I was identified as the top 10 most bipartisan legislature in Congress because we have taken really Republican and Democrat ideas of the 80% of things we agree on and moved them across the finish line. I think that's important.
Q: I have to ask about the ad that was put out on you that is all over of you raising your hand in the 2022 debate on banning abortions with no exceptions, when you saw that ad, what was your reaction, and how are you addressing that?
A: Look, outside groups have spent $5 million running a portion of an ad to try and say a lie about us, and we've been very clear since the beginning, we are pro-life, but we've always supported exemptions for this, particularly health of the mother. We also support IVF and over-the-counter birth control, more than just saying it, we've actually led and done bills on this. And then we oppose a nationwide abortion ban.
Q: How do you plan to [appeal to] those voters who are still undecided? How do you plan to appeal to them [undecided voters] and make that final push in the last two weeks or so?
A: So I think this is one of the most important things. It's the reason that we're out in all 21 counties. We do this every quarter, and it's important to hear from Iowans, their priorities, what we can do for them and here's what we've delivered. We've helped working class families keep more of their money. We want to ensure that long term tax credits so a family with children can afford the expensive things of childcare, rent and being able to keep food on the table. We want to make sure that we're working in a bipartisan way, as we've done for the last two years, to provide real solutions for Iowans for what they're asking for.
Lanon Baccam (D)
Q: You're in a really tight race right now. Why do you think it's such a close race here in this district?
A: I think Iowans and Iowa has always been close, and we can see that over the course of history. But the reality is, I think this race in particular is so close because people understand and appreciate the service I have brought to this country. I have dedicated myself to serving the communities, the state and the country. And when you do that, when you raise your hand to take an oath of office, you don't take an oath for a party. You don't take an oath for a person. You take an oath to defend the Constitution.
Q: Why do you think it's time for a party change here [in this district]?
A: I think Iowans, they know and appreciate that there is a better path forward because of what we see on the other side, with the fact that a near total abortion ban here in Iowa was passed and is now law. That abortion ban is exactly what Zach Nunn wanted. There's also another major issue here in this race, and that is public education. Iowans know that there's this consistent attack on public education.
Q: Why do you feel like that is an issue [abortion and reproductive rights] that you really wanted to hone in on the past few months?
A: This conversation about abortion here, it fundamentally boils down to who gets to make the decision. And this decision is not Zach Nunn's to make. It is not his decision on if, when and how a woman decides to start a family. That decision on starting a family should be with a woman, her family and her doctors, period. That's it.
Q: You said political parties have become too polarized. You want to bring Iowans back together. How do you plan to do that in a state like Iowa that is, notoriously known as a red state?
A: I think Iowa is a lot closer than it looks from the outside. And I think that's where Iowans are, truly is right there in the middle, and that's where I am. And what's key to me is, again, like I said, I have dedicated my life to giving back, to serving this country, to serving the state. And when you do that, you're not serving a political party or person. You're serving the country.