'Our freedoms are on the line': Lanon Baccam criticizes abortion ban at Register Soapbox

Democratic congressional candidate Lanon Baccam told a crowd at the Iowa State Fair that Iowans' freedoms are being taken away with the Republican-backed six-week abortion ban that took effect last month.

"Our freedoms are on the line," Baccam said at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox at the fair. "And we know that. We see that here in Iowa with the near total abortion ban that went into effect."

Baccam, the Democratic nominee in the 3rd Congressional District, which includes the Des Moines metro and central and southern Iowa, tied the policy to his opponent, Republican U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, who voted for a version of the legislation in 2018 while serving in the Iowa Senate.

"My opponent, who supported a near-identical bill when he was in the state Senate, raised his hand in a debate to say national abortion ban without exceptions, even in the case of rape, incest or in the life of the woman," Baccam said. "These are extreme positions that Iowans don’t support."

In 2022, Nunn raised his hand when he was asked in a Republican primary debate if he believed abortion should be illegal in every circumstance without exception — a moment that Democrats have used in attack ads against him.

Nunn told the Des Moines Register in a candidate survey ahead of the June primary election this year that he does not support a federal abortion ban.

"I’m pro-life, voted for exceptions, and fought for access to contraceptives and IVF," he said. "I oppose a federal ban and believe abortion policy should be left up to the states."

In a 2022 Register op-ed, Nunn said he believes life begins at conception, "but I also understand that there are real-world scenarios that aren't black and white. There are medical emergencies that happen, like ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages, that are beyond our control."

Baccam told reporters after his Soapbox appearance that the federal government needs to act to protect abortion access.

"We have to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act," Baccam said. "We have to make sure that we codify the rights found under Roe v. Wade. We have to make sure we also protect access to contraceptives and IVF. That also has to be a component here for whatever we get done in Congress."

Nunn this year introduced legislation that would require private insurance providers to cover infertility treatment.

The 3rd District race is expected to be one of the most competitive in the country this year. Nunn won his 2022 race by just over 2,000 votes, and national Democrats have made the contest a top target.

More: At Register Soapbox, Zach Nunn lays out 'the ABCs of being a much better government'

Nunn spoke at the Soapbox on Friday, calling for the federal government to pursue "America first" policies, border security and lower taxes.

Libertarian Marco Battaglia is also on the ballot. He spoke at the Soapbox Sunday, defending his right to appear on the ballot in the face of an objection by Republicans that he did not follow the proper procedures to be included on the ballot.

More: At Soapbox, libertarian congressional candidate Marco Battaglia defends position on ballot

Baccam has raised more money than Nunn during the last three fundraising quarters. He took in $1.3 million to Nunn's $1 million in the most recent quarter, which ran from April 1 through June 30. However, Nunn had $2.44 million in the bank at the end of the quarter compared to Baccam's $2.42 million.

A Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll from June found 55% of likely voters in the 3rd District preferred a Republican, 40% preferred a Democrat and 5% were not sure.

Baccam praises former Gov. Robert Ray for welcoming refugees — including his family

With his daughter, Freya, standing next to him on the Soapbox stage, Baccam praised former Iowa Gov. Robert Ray for welcoming 3,000 Tai Dam refugees into Iowa, including his own parents in 1980.

"Gov. Ray was a Republican but he led with compassion and humanity," Baccam said. "He didn’t let politics get in the way of decisions. He actually did things that mattered to people, and those are the kind of principles and leadership that we can be proud of here in our country, and that’s one of the reasons why I’m running today — to bring that back."

He recounted how a first-generation immigrant family from Sweden sponsored his family when they came to live in Mount Pleasant, and how the Tai Dam and Swedish communities in the area embraced each other.

More: 3rd District Democrat Lanon Baccam highlights military service in first general election ad

"Looking through all the family photos just recently, there’s all these pictures of us having our own Tai Dam cultural events and traditions and then there’s a bunch of Swedish people in the pictures, too! It’s really quite amazing," Baccam said. "But we felt that community growing up, we truly did."

That desire to give back to his community is what led Baccam to bring an Army National Guard recruiter to his home at the age of 17 to convince his parents to let him enlist, an experience he recounted in his first general election campaign ad, which began airing last week.

"For anyone who has raised their right hand, who has taken an oath of office, we all know this: You don’t raise your hand to take an oath to a party," Baccam said. "You don’t raise your hand to take an oath to a person. You raise your hand and you take an oath to defend the Constitution and our country. That is why I am running for Congress."

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Democrat Lanon Baccam criticizes 6-week abortion ban at Register Soapbox