Meet the 2 Democrats challenging Zach Nunn for Iowa's 3rd Congressional District seat

Three candidates are competing to represent Iowa's 3rd Congressional District, which includes Des Moines, Adel, Ottumwa and Red Oak in the South-central portion of the state.

Incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn is seeking re-election to a second term. Two Democrats, Lanon Baccam and Melissa Vine, are competing for the chance to face him in the general election.

To help voters, the Des Moines Register sent questions to all federal and Des Moines area legislative candidates running for political office this year. Their answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

The primary election is scheduled for June 4 ahead of the Nov. 5 general election.

More: Everything you need to know about the June 4 primary election, including voting absentee

Who is Zach Nunn?

Age: 45.

Party: Republican.

Current town of residence: Bondurant.

Education: I graduated from Southeast Polk and then Drake University. I hold master's degrees in International Security from Cambridge University, Cybersecurity from Air Command & Staff College, and Strategy & Technology from Air War College.

Occupation: U.S. Representative, colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve.

Political experience and civic activities: U.S. Representative (IA-03) from 2023-present; Iowa Senate 2018-2022; Iowa House of Representatives 2014-18. Civic Activities: Task Force Argo, Co-Founder; Harkin Institute Scholarship Board; Knights of Columbus, 4th Degree; Veterans of Foreign Wars, Altoona Post founders; American Legion, Bondurant Post

Who is Lanon Baccam?

Age: 43.

Party: Democrat.

Current town of residence: Des Moines.

Education: Drake University.

Occupation: Former U.S. Department of Agriculture official.

Political experience and civic activities: I have an extensive history of public service and civic engagement. I have over 10 years of experience serving in various role at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) including as the Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services and Military Veterans Agricultural Liaison, and more recently as the Deputy Chief of Staff at USDA.

Who is Melissa Vine

Age: 43.

Party: Democrat.

Current town of residence: West Des Moines.

Education: Drake Law School, Iowa State University.

Occupation: Executive director at The Beacon, a home and programming for women coming out of trauma.

Political experience and civic activities: My passion is changing systems that are harming people. At The Beacon, we collaborated with the government to launch jail diversion so women can stay in the community with their children and receive mental health support rather than being incarcerated. Previously, I collaborated with Iowa’s colleges and universities to reduce the amount of sexual assaults on campus by changing how they approach victim prevention and response.

Election issues: IVF could be a driving issue in Iowa congressional races. Where do the candidates stand?

What would be your top issue should you be elected?

Nunn: I came to Washington to find real solutions for Iowans, and after completing several 21-county tours of our district, it’s clear that common challenges unite us: crippling inflation, high taxes, burdensome government red tape, and the crisis at our southern border. The status quo in Washington is critically broken, and I’m fighting to bring Iowa common sense to our nation’s capital while we address these critical issues for Iowa families.

Baccam: Congress lacks leaders who will rise above the dysfunction in Washington, work across the aisle, and actually get things done for Iowa families. As a combat veteran, public servant, and rural Iowa native, I believe elected officials should serve their communities — not their party. I’m running to deliver real results for Iowa. With effective leaders in office, we can get back to work and take action to lower costs, grow the middle class, and protect reproductive freedom. It's time for us to focus on hardworking families and help them get ahead — and we can start by finding ways to lower the costs of groceries and gas prices.

Vine: 1. Provide access to safe and legal abortion and women's healthcare. 2. Support an income that works for all Iowans. 3. Move away from extremism in our politics to protect our democracy and get to work for Iowans.

What is the most important domestic policy you would champion in Congress?

Nunn: Our border is an unmitigated disaster due to the open-border policies championed by the current administration. Even though we are not a border state, our communities are feeling the effects of this administration’s failed policies in the rise in fentanyl and costs to the taxpayer. We must address this crisis — and reduce the burden on every community across the country. I won’t rest until we’ve secured our southern border.

Baccam: Raised by factory workers in rural Iowa, I know the challenges families are facing in this district. Too many Iowans are being left behind and can’t get ahead, no matter how hard they work. Middle class families are the backbone of Iowa, and they deserve to be put first again. I’ll champion policies that grow the middle class, including lowering costs, creating good-paying jobs, protecting Social Security and Medicare, and expanding access to affordable health care.

Vine: On my first day in Congress, I would introduce a bill to codify Roe. MAGA Republicans have gone too far and will continue to roll back reproductive rights, putting women and their physicians at risk. Currently, our state is losing OB/GYNs because their critical work is being criminalized. Across the country, we need access to safe and legal abortion and protections for IVF and birth control.

What is a specific piece of bipartisan legislation you would push for in Congress?

Nunn: More than 80% of the bills I’ve introduced have bipartisan support — including two bills I led to expand rural housing and support servicemembers that are now law. There’s more work to do. The Chinese Communist Party will stop at nothing to endanger our economy and national security. They are buying up all the farmland they can get their hands on. We must defend our country and our livelihood — and that starts by preventing China from purchasing American farmland. As a member of the Agriculture Committee, I’m working across the aisle to stop China and support family farms.

Baccam: From serving as a combat engineer in Afghanistan to implementing critical investments in rural communities at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, I’ve never let partisanship get in the way of getting the job done. I’ll lead the same way in Congress and will always seek to work in a bipartisan manner. Specifically, I’ll work across the aisle on the Farm Bill to support our farmers and ranchers and invest in our communities.

Vine: The Farm Bill.

What specific steps, if any, should Congress take to secure the border and improve immigration policy?

Nunn: In the past three years, there have been more than 7.4 million illegal crossings of our southern border — and that number is growing. Working to reform our broken immigration system, end the humanitarian crisis, and stop fentanyl trafficking should not be a partisan issue, which is why I’ve led bipartisan legislation to combat this direct threat. I am committed to finding a solution that will protect our communities and secure the border, including increasing the number of border patrol agents, strengthening physical security at the border, protecting against human trafficking, streamlining the asylum process, ending “catch-and-release,” and more.

Baccam: We must secure the border. DC politicians are playing endless politics with the southern border, even killing a rare bipartisan deal for purely political reasons. While imperfect, the bill would have made real progress by hiring more border patrol agents and funding more technology to detect fentanyl. It’s far past time to take steps like these. As the son of refugees, I also know how critical it is that our immigration policies are humane. In Congress, I will work across the aisle, put politics aside, and secure the border while creating pathways to citizenship.

Vine: 1. Provide quicker access to legal status by hiring more judges. 2. Utilize technology and screening tools to prevent bad actors from entering the United States. 3. Protect the children of immigrants (Dreamers).

After the fall of Roe v. Wade, America is seeing a wide variety of abortion laws across states. Should Congress create a federal policy outlining abortion restrictions that are uniform across the country? If so, what should that look like?

Nunn: Good people can disagree on the issue of abortion. Let me be clear on where I’ve always stood: I’m pro-life, voted for exceptions, and fought for access to contraceptives and IVF. I oppose a federal ban and believe abortion policy should be left up to the states. In Congress, I’m fighting back against extremes in both parties and working to bring real solutions for Iowa families.

Baccam: I will fight tirelessly to restore the protections guaranteed by Roe v. Wade. Politicians have no business making a decision that should be between a woman and her doctor. Iowa passed one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the country, banning abortion before many women even know they’re pregnant. Zach Nunn voted for a nearly identical version of this bill while in the state Legislature. There’s so much at stake in this election. If we send leaders to Congress who will restore Roe v. Wade, we can ensure Iowa women have the freedom to make their own reproductive decisions.

Vine: The current patchwork of state-by-state rights for women is failing. We need to win back the majority in the House and codify Roe. No person should be criminalized for seeking or providing healthcare.

Should Congress take steps to protect Americans’ access to in-vitro fertilization?

Nunn: Absolutely. As a father of six, I’ll never have a more important title than ‘Dad.’ I believe anyone who is hoping to start a family should have access to the tools to do so, including IVF, fertility treatments or adoption. In Congress, I’m working on legislation to support IVF treatment access and use across the country.

Baccam: Without a doubt. My beautiful 8-year-old daughter is my entire world. I believe every Iowan deserves the right to start or grow their family on their own terms, and I will never waver from that in Congress. If elected, I will co-sponsor the Access to Family Building Act to ensure every Iowan has access to in-vitro fertilization. With attacks on IVF access happening right here at the state level, enshrining federal protections is more important than ever. Our current representative, however, has yet to sign onto this legislation guaranteeing Iowans’ right to IVF.

Vine: Yes, the attacks on IVF are adjacent to the attacks on abortion access. These issues are leading more people, especially women, to vote for Democratic candidates. That is why it's critical that Democrats pick the sharpest contrast to anti-choice Republican Zach Nunn in the June 4 primary. Currently, Congress is only 29% women, and we need women now more than ever to protect our rights.

Iowans are struggling with rising costs and inflation. What can Congress do to fix it?

Nunn: The most important issue I hear from Iowans during my 21 county tours is ensuring stability when it comes to everyday necessities — having access to a good-paying job to put food on the table, filling up gas tanks, and affording college or retirement savings. Recently, 40-year high inflation rates have been crushing Americans. We’ve had to pay $10,000 extra so far just to pay for the same necessities. It’s unacceptable. To address rising inflation, I’ve voted to rein in out-of-control government spending, reduce taxes for Iowa families, and unleash American energy.

Baccam: Rising costs have made it harder and harder for our families to make ends meet but Washington politicians aren't getting anything done to address it. We have to take action and bring costs down — now. First, we need to increase competition so big corporations can't drive up prices for hard working Iowans while raking in record profits for themselves. Additionally, we can do more to lower prescription drug costs, like capping the cost of insulin at $35 per month for all Americans.

Vine: Congress can address rising costs and inflation by implementing targeted measures. These include increasing accountability in corporate pricing to prevent price gouging, reinstating the child tax credit to alleviate childhood poverty, and ensuring fair taxation so teachers aren't paying more taxes than billionaires.

What policies would you advocate to include in the next Farm Bill?

Nunn: Every Iowan is impacted by the Farm Bill and agriculture policy. That’s why I’ve engaged hundreds of Iowans at my open Farm Bill listening sessions throughout our community as we craft this legislation. As a member of the Agriculture Committee, I’ve been fighting for Iowa’s nearly 85,000 farms by advocating to drive down input costs, strengthen the farm safety net, increase rural economic development (including rural broadband), bolster innovation and security in agriculture, conserve farmland and natural resources, protect water quality, prevent dangerous puppy mills, and ensure American energy independence through Iowa biofuels.

Baccam: The Farm Bill has a huge impact for Iowa and our economy, and Washington politicians aren't getting the job done. This Congress let the Farm Bill expire for months and has still yet to pass a new five-year bill. The Farm Bill should be a priority, not an afterthought. Whether it's strengthening the safety net for our farmers and ranchers, to investing in our rural communities by expanding high speed internet and rural infrastructure projects, or through the nutrition programs — I have already helped to deliver for Iowans while at USDA and will push for a strong bipartisan Farm Bill when I'm in Congress.

Vine: Iowa has the second-highest cancer rate in the country. I would advocate for incentives to expand conservation efforts that lead to cleaner water for our families. Additionally, I would work to ensure that all children in poverty have adequate SNAP benefits to meet their needs. Not only is it the right thing to do, but every dollar we invest in childhood poverty saves $7 of public funding when the child becomes an adult.

What should be Congress' priority when addressing the federal budget — cutting spending or directing money toward programs and services?

Nunn: Every day, Iowans balance their budgets at home — and our government should too. That’s why the first bill I introduced was a commonsense bill to balance the federal budget. It’s no coincidence that government spending is at a decade high while families across the country are struggling to make ends meet with skyrocketing inflation. We must find bipartisan compromise to cut unnecessary federal spending, while still 100% supporting the critical programs that Iowans rely on, such as Social Security, Medicare, VA benefits and more.

Baccam: We need to spend responsibly, and I will do everything I can to lower the deficit. However, we shouldn’t do this at the expense of Iowa’s middle class families. Many DC politicians are pushing relentlessly to slash Social Security and Medicare. In fact, Zach Nunn’s latest budget did exactly that. I know how critical these programs are for our seniors, and I will never put them in jeopardy. We must come together in a bipartisan way to ensure we’re spending responsibly while also helping Iowa families get ahead.

Vine: I believe that social responsibility and fiscal responsibility can co-exist when programs are implemented efficiently and effectively. For example, at The Beacon, our model offers housing and services to women at $26/day per person, compared to $106/day taxpayers spend on incarceration. To foster prosperity for all Iowans, we must reduce government spending where it’s ineffective, expand Social Security and Medicare benefits, lower income caps for individuals with disabilities, and create an environment where everyone can thrive.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Meet the candidates for Iowa's 3rd Congressional District seat