Summary
Current Position: US Representative for IA 3rd District since 2023
Affiliation: Republican
District: southwestern corner of the state, from the Des Moines metropolitan area on the northeastern end to the greater Council Bluffs area on the southwestern end.
Upcoming Election:
Zachary Nunn was a member of the Iowa Senate for the 15th district from 2019 to 2023 and the Iowa House of Representatives for the 30th district from 2015 to 2019.
Nunn was a member of the United States Air Force and later the Iowa Air National Guard.[2] In 2021, he held the rank of lieutenant colonel and was commander of the 233rd Intelligence Squadron, 132nd Wing, Iowa Air National Guard.[3] Nunn also worked as a cybersecurity consultant.
OnAir Post: Zach Nunn IA-03
News
About
Source: Government
Congressman Zach Nunn is in his first term serving Iowans in the Third Congressional District.
A sixth generation Iowan, Zach was raised in a family of public school teachers, nurses, and farmers. While growing up, Zach helped out on his family’s Century family farm raising sheep, poultry and growing row crop. He was raised on Des Moines’ east side and went to Southeast Polk High School before attending Drake University. He went on to get master’s degrees from the Air Command and Staff College and the University of Cambridge.
Zach served our country for almost two decades in the United States Air Force. As an airborne intelligence officer, Zach flew recon missions off the coasts of Russia and China. After 9/11, he deployed three times to the Middle East and flew over 700 combat hours. He served as Director of Cybersecurity at the White House’s National Security Council combating cyber-attacks from foreign adversaries. Zach currently serves as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve.
Following his active duty military service, Zach served in the Iowa House of Representatives and the Iowa Senate. While working in the state legislature, he helped pass the state’s largest tax cuts three times over, growing Iowa’s economy and putting more money back into the pockets of Iowans.
In Congress, Zach continues to be a pragmatic problem-solver pushing common-sense policies to benefit Iowans in all 21 counties he has the honor of representing. He serves on the House Financial Services Committee and the House Agriculture Committee where he is bringing Iowa’s big voice in the insurance industry and agricultural industry to our nation’s capital. Nunn also serves on the General Farm Commodities, Risk Management and Credit subcommittee and the Commodity Markets, Digital Assets and Rural development subcommittee.
Zach is honored to call Bondurant his home and is happily married to wife Kelly and dad of six kids, two of which are adopted.
Personal
Full Name: Zach Nunn
Gender: Male
Family: Wife: Kelly; 4 Children: Addi, Canon, Olympia, Canon
Birth Place: Story City, IA
Home City: Bondurant, IA
Religion: Roman Catholic
Source: Vote Smart
Education
Masters, Military Operational Art and Science, United States Air Force Air Command and Staff College
MST, International Relations/National Security Studies, Cambridge University, 2005-2007
BA, Political Science and Government, Drake University, 1998-2002
Political Experience
Former Assistant Majority Leader, Iowa State House of Representatives
Senator, Iowa State Senate, District 15, 2019-2023
Representative, United States House of Representatives, Iowa, District 3, 2023-Present
Majority Whip, Iowa State House of Representatives, 2017-2019
Representative, Iowa State House of Representatives, District 30, 2014-2019
Professional Experience
Commander, 233, Intelligence Squadron, United States Air Force, 2018-present
Adjunct Professor, Drake University, 2014-present
Former Teacher, Close-up Academy
Former Deputy Finance Director, Congressman Greg Gansk
Former Legislative Staff, General Keith Alexander
Former Staff, Office of Senator Chuck Grassley
Served, K14N Airborne Intelligence Officer, 2003-2018
Director of Business Development, SimSpace Corporation, 2013-2015
Chief Operations Officer, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, 2011-2014
Director of Cybersecurity Policy & Engagement, National Security Council, 2011-2013
Legislative Affairs Officer, United States Air Force Reserve-United States Cyber Command, 2008-2013
Legislative Analyst, United States Senate, 2002-2003
Research Assistant, House of Commons, 2002
Offices
Washington DC Office
1232 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515Phone: (202) 225-5476
Des Moines Office
400 Locust Street
Suite 250
Des Moines, IA 50309Phone: (515) 400-8180
Ottumwa Office
223 East Main Street
Ottumwa, IA 52501Phone: (641) 220-9641
Creston Office
208 W Taylor Street
Creston, IA 50801Phone: (641) 220-9093
Contact
Email: Government
Web Links
Politics
Source: none
Election Results
To learn more, go to this wikipedia section in this post.
Finances
Source: Vote Smart
Committees
- House Financial Services Committee
- House Agriculture Committee
- Congressional-Executive Commission on China
New Legislation
Issues
Source: Government page
More Information
Services
Source: Government page
District
Source: Wikipedia
Iowa’s 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that covers its southwestern quadrant, which roughly consists of an area stretching from Des Moines to the borders with Missouri.
From 2013 to 2023, the district covered the southwestern corner of the state, from the Des Moines metropolitan area on the northeastern end to the greater Council Bluffs area on the southwestern end.
The district has been represented in the United States House of Representatives by Republican Zach Nunn since 2023. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+3, it is the equal least Republican leaning district (along with the 1st) of Iowa’s four congressional districts, a state currently represented in congress only by Republicans.
Wikipedia
Contents
Zachary Martin Nunn[2] (born May 4, 1979) is an American politician and United States Air Force officer who has served as the U.S. representative for Iowa’s 3rd congressional district since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he was a member of the Iowa Senate for the 15th district from 2019 to 2023 and the Iowa House of Representatives for the 30th district from 2015 to 2019.
Nunn ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives in 2022 to represent Iowa’s 3rd congressional district, successfully defeating incumbent Democrat Cindy Axne. He was re-elected in 2024.
Early life and education
Nunn was born on May 4, 1979, in Story City, Iowa, and raised in Altoona.[3] He graduated from Southeast Polk High School in 1998.[3] He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and international relations from Drake University in 2002.[3][4] He earned a Master of Science in military operational art and science from the Air Command and Staff College in 2004 and a Master of Studies in international security from Selwyn College, Cambridge, in 2007.[4][3]
Career
Early career
Nunn was a member of the United States Air Force and later the Iowa Air National Guard.[4] In 2021, he held the rank of lieutenant colonel and was commander of the 233rd Intelligence Squadron, 132nd Wing, Iowa Air National Guard.[5] Nunn also worked as a cybersecurity consultant.[3] On June 11, 2024, Nunn was promoted to the rank of colonel.[6]
Nunn was a member of the research staff for Sir Peter Bottomley, a member of the British House of Commons, in 2002. He was a member of U.S. senator Chuck Grassley‘s legislative staff in 2004.[3] Nunn was later director of cybersecurity policy for the United States National Security Council during the Obama administration.[7]
Iowa Legislature
Nunn was a member of the Iowa House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019.[4][8] He was a member of the Iowa Senate beginning in 2019.[4]
U.S House of Representatives
Elections
2022
In 2021, Nunn announced his candidacy for Iowa’s 3rd congressional district in the 2022 election against incumbent Cindy Axne, the only Democrat in Iowa’s congressional delegation.[9] The 3rd district, which covers central Iowa,[10] became more rural and Republican-leaning after the 2020 redistricting cycle,[11] taking in nine new counties.[12] The race was considered among the nation’s most competitive House races.[12][13] Nunn was endorsed by Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, and Tom Cotton,[14] and easily won the June Republican primary election against two other candidates.[15]
Nunn won the 2022 election against Cindy Axne, with votes tallied at 156,237 (50.3%) to 154,084 (49.6%).[16]
2024
On Sunday, November 3, the Des Moines Register released the final Iowa Poll, which suggested that Iowans preferred the Democrat to the Republican at 48% to 41%.[17]
Nunn won a second term, proving the Iowa Poll wrong.[18] He defeated Democratic nominee Lanon Baccam, with votes tallied at 213,625 (51.9%) to 197,777 (48.1%).[19]
Tenure
In April 2025, Nunn introduced bipartisan legislation designed to combat scams targeting older Americans. The Guarding Unprotected Aging Retirees from Deception Act, which is co-sponsored with Josh Gottheimer (D-New Jersey) and Scott Fitzgerald (R-Wisconsin), would give local law enforcement better access to tools to trace scammers’ fraudulent activity.[20]
Nunn also introduced the Social Security Overpayment Relief Act, which would limit the ability of the Social Security Administration (SSA) to recover money overpaid due to errors on the part of the SSA. The SSA would no longer be able to demand repayment of over payments more than ten years old unless there is associated fraudulent activity.[21][22]
In May 2025, Nunn, along with Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL), introduced the bipartisan HEALTH for MOM Act, which aims to expand access to maternal healthcare in areas lacking maternity care.[23][24]
Committee assignments
For the 119th Congress:[25]
- Committee on Agriculture
- Committee on Financial Services
- Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party
Political positions
Axios described Nunn as having “carved out a niche as a vocal moderate on key issues”.[26]
Abortion
Nunn opposes abortion with exceptions, including life of the mother, rape, and incest.[27][28] Nunn opposes a federal ban on abortion and believes this policy should be left up to the states. He has said that anyone should have access to tools to start a family, including IVF, fertility treatments, and adoption.[29][30]
Infrastructure
Nunn opposes the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, and said there was far too much waste in the law.[31]
January 6
In an April 2022 appearance as a congressional candidate, Nunn said of the January 6 United States Capitol attack, “If a bunch of middle Americans can overwhelm our Capitol, and the Capitol police, who are funded to the tune of billions of dollars, can’t stop a bunch of middle-aged individuals from walking onto the floor, we have a serious problem with our nation’s security.” He expressed disapproval of the United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack, terming it a “Nancy Pelosi committee determined to find someone that they can hang a noose around.”[32]
Possible gubernatorial run
In April 2025, NOTUS reported that Nunn was considering running in the 2026 Iowa gubernatorial election. Incumbent Republican Governor Kim Reynolds is not running for re-election.[33]
As of May 2, Nunn announced he was not running for governor.[34]
Electoral history
2014
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Zach Nunn | 1,108 | 100.0 | |
Total votes | 1,108 | 100.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Zach Nunn | 7,323 | 56.00 | |
Democratic | Joe Riding (incumbent) | 5,733 | 44.00 | |
Total votes | 13,056 | 100.0 | ||
Republican gain from Democratic |
2016
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Zach Nunn (incumbent) | 553 | 100.0 | |
Total votes | 553 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Zach Nunn (incumbent) | 11,442 | 62.05 | |
Democratic | Joe Riding | 6,999 | 37.95 | |
Total votes | 18,441 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold |
2018
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Zach Nunn | |||
Total votes |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Zach Nunn | 16,988 | 57.0 | |
Democratic | Dan Nieland | 12,830 | 43.0 | |
Total votes | 29,818 | 100.0 | ||
Republican gain from Democratic |
2022
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Zach Nunn | 30,500 | 65.75 | |
Republican | Nicole Hasso | 8,996 | 19.39 | |
Republican | Gary Leffler | 6,802 | 14.66 | |
Write-in | 89 | 0.19 | ||
Total votes | 46,387 | 100.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Zach Nunn | 156,262 | 50.26 | |
Democratic | Cindy Axne (incumbent) | 154,117 | 49.57 | |
Write-in | 534 | 0.17 | ||
Total votes | 310,913 | 100.0 | ||
Republican gain from Democratic |
2024
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Zach Nunn (incumbent) | 21,103 | 98.30 | |
Write-in | 365 | 1.70 | ||
Total votes | 21,468 | 100.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Zach Nunn (incumbent) | 213,625 | 51.78 | |
Democratic | Lanon Baccam | 197,777 | 47.93 | |
Write-in | 1,197 | 0.29 | ||
Total votes | 412,599 | 100.0 |
Personal life
Nunn is married and has six children, including two who were adopted out of the foster care system.[44]
References
- ^ a b “Nunn Promoted to Colonel in United States Air Force”. nunn.house.gov. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
- ^ “Rep. Zach Nunn − R Iowa, 3rd, In Office − Biography”. LegiStorm. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Jonathan Krueger, Questionnaires: Iowa House District 30, The Des Moines Register (November 1, 2016).
- ^ a b c d e “State Senator Zach Nunn”. Iowa Legislature. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ “State senator and Iowa Air Guard member Zach Nunn to serve at Air War College”. 185th Air Refueling Wing. July 21, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ^ Ryan Magalhães (June 12, 2024). “Rep. Zach Nunn promoted to colonel in the US Air Force after 20 years of service”. Des Moines Register. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ “To pay or not to pay: Lessons from DMACC hack”. Axios. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
- ^ “Zach Nunn”. Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ^ Pfannenstiel, Brianne. “Republican state Sen. Zach Nunn announces congressional campaign in Iowa’s 3rd District”. Des Moines Register. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
- ^ Campaign Almanac: Conservative group’s ads target Rep. Axne, The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) (July 27, 2022).
- ^ Robin Opsahl, Campaign finance reports show competition in Grassley, Axne races, Iowa Capital Dispatch (via Ottumwa Courier) (July 20, 2022).
- ^ a b O. Kay Henderson, Axne says she’s ready for ‘most watched’ U.S. house race in country, Radio Iowa (June 8, 2022).
- ^ Katie Akin, Iowa Poll: Voters prefer Republicans in 3 of 4 US House races — except in 3rd District, Des Moines Register (July 25, 2022).
- ^ “Donald Trump endorses Republican running for Iowa’s Third Congressional District”. KCCI. July 8, 2022.
- ^ Iowa’s Sole Democratic House Member Faces a Tough Fight, Associated Press (June 8, 2022).
- ^ “Zach Nunn defeats Cindy Axne with all counties reporting in Iowa’s 3rd District”. KCCI. November 11, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
- ^ Gruber-Miller, Stephen. “Iowa Poll: Democrats are preferred over Republicans in 2 of 4 congressional districts”. The Des Moines Register. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ Pfannenstiel, Brianne. “Pollster J. Ann Selzer: ‘I’ll be reviewing data’ after Iowa Poll misses big Trump win”. The Des Moines Register. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ Gruber-Miller, Stephen. “Republican Zach Nunn defeats Lanon Baccam, wins reelection bid in Iowa’s 3rd District”. The Des Moines Register. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ Martin, Sabine (April 22, 2025). “Zach Nunn proposes bipartisan legislation to combat ‘pig butchering’ scams targeting older Iowans”. The Des Moines Register. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
- ^ Nettingham, Shi-Quan (April 20, 2025). “Iowa Representative Zach Nunn Outlines Social Security Overpayment Relief Act”. Raccoon Valley Radio – The One to Count On. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
- ^ Waddell, Melanie (March 13, 2025). “New Bill Limits Social Security Clawbacks to 10-Year Window”. thinkadvisor.com. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
- ^ “Iowa congressman unveils bill to expand maternal health care access”. KCCI. May 13, 2025. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
- ^ Snover, JD. “Iowa Rep. Nunn Backs Bill Aimed at Improving Maternal Health Access”. Newsradio 1040 WHO. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
- ^ “Zachary Nunn”. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
- ^ Clayworth, Jason (June 4, 2024). “Lanon Baccam to take on GOP Rep. Zach Nunn after primary win”. Axios Des Moines. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
- ^ Bowman, Beau (September 4, 2024). “Get the Facts: New political ad targets Rep. Zach Nunn’s stance on abortion”. KCCI. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
- ^ Opsahl, Robin (September 4, 2024). “Nunn pushes back on Baccam ad targeting abortion positions”. Iowa Capital Dispatch. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
- ^ Pfannenstiel, Brianne. “Meet the 2 Democrats challenging Zach Nunn for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District seat”. The Des Moines Register. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
- ^ Rooker, Amanda (August 12, 2022). “Nunn pushes back on new Axne ad targeting his ‘no exceptions’ abortion stance”. KCCI. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
- ^ writer, CHAD DRURY Courier staff (April 12, 2022). “Nunn focuses on urban-rural balance”. Ottumwa Courier. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
- ^ Pfannenstiel, Brianne (April 28, 2022). “Iowa 3rd District GOP candidates express frustration at prosecution of Jan. 6 rioters”. The Des Moines Register.
- ^ Gorman, Reese (April 11, 2025). “Rep. Zach Nunn Is Talking With His Family About a Potential Run for Governor”. NOTUS. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
- ^ “Rep. Zach Nunn taps out of Iowa gubernatorial race in 2026”. weareiowa.com. May 2, 2025. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
- ^ “State of Iowa – Primary Election 2014 – Canvass Summary (06/03/2014)” (PDF). Secretary of State of Iowa. June 4, 2014. p. 162. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
- ^ “State of Iowa – General Election 2014 – Canvass Summary (11/04/2014)” (PDF). Secretary of State of Iowa. November 5, 2014. p. 139. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
- ^ “State of Iowa – Primary Election 2016 – Canvass Summary (06/07/2016)” (PDF). Secretary of State of Iowa. June 8, 2016. p. 127. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
- ^ “State of Iowa – General Election 2016 – Canvass Summary (11/08/2016)” (PDF). Secretary of State of Iowa. November 9, 2016. p. 94. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
- ^ “State of Iowa – General Election 2018 – Canvass Summary (11/06/2018)” (PDF). Secretary of State of Iowa. November 7, 2018. p. 71. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
- ^ “Primary Election June 7, 2022 | United States Representative District 3 – Republican”. Iowa Secretary of State.
- ^ “General Election November 8, 2022 | United States Representative District 3 – Republican”. Iowa Secretary of State.
- ^ “Primary Election June 4, 2024 | United States Representative District 3 – Republican”. Iowa Secretary of State.
- ^ “General Election November 5, 2024 | United States Representative District 3 – Republican”. Iowa Secretary of State.
- ^ “US Rep. Zach Nunn and his wife, Kelly, adopt their foster daughters”. The Des Moines Register. April 5, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
External links
- Congressman Zach Nunn official U.S. House website
- Campaign website
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Appearances on C-SPAN