Campaign Almanac: Democrat launches bid to challenge Iowa Republican Zach Nunn

A former U.S. Department of Agriculture official, veteran and Democratic campaign operative announced his candidacy Thursday for Iowa's 3rd congressional district, becoming the first Democrat to publicly challenge first-term Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn.

Lanon Baccam, the son of Tai Dam refugees from Laos and a native of Mount Pleasant who now lives in Des Moines, enrolled in the Iowa National Guard at 17 and deployed to Afghanistan in 2004 as a combat engineer, focusing on explosive demolitions and force protection in and around Kandahar.

Baccam previously worked as an undersecretary for farm and foreign agricultural services, as well as the agency's military veteran liaison. While at the USDA, Baccam oversaw programs expanding broadband and worked to support veterans transitioning to careers in agriculture.

Baccam said he is running for Congress because he believes all Iowans should have the opportunities afforded to him and his family: access to good paying jobs, affordable health care, the ability to retire with dignity and protecting women’s reproductive freedoms.

I’m Lanon Baccam, a combat veteran who was born and raised in rural Iowa. I’m running for Congress in Iowa’s 3rd district.

Join me: https://t.co/wISRlVCo7A pic.twitter.com/pjRRINajcu

— Lanon Baccam (@lanon_baccam) November 9, 2023

“We can all sense and feel our country is incredibly polarized,” Baccam said in an announcement video. “People are moving apart. And people are divided in their political camps. Nowhere is that more true than the U.S. Congress, and Zach Nunn is part of the problem. I’m ready to serve Iowans. Let’s bring this country back together and rebuild our communities.”

Baccam’s announcement Thursday was followed by endorsements from prominent Iowa Democrats including U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, a former Iowa governor, his wife and former Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack, and State Auditor Rob Sand.

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Nunn narrowly defeated Democratic incumbent Cindy Axne by less than a percentage point in 2022 to win Iowa’s 3rd District seat that has flipped in two of the last three elections, and could be key in deciding control of Congress.

Nunn is an Air Force veteran who still is in the reserves. As a combat aviator in the U.S. Air Force, Nunn deployed three times to the Middle East after 9/11, flying more than 700 combat hours.

Two other Democrats — Melissa Vine and Tracy Limon — have filed paperwork as candidates to run for the Iowa U.S. House seat but had yet to make any formal announcements or report fundraising.

Nunn’s campaign, in a statement, welcomed Baccam to the race, and said “voters will have a clear choice between Zach — a thoughtful, independent and pragmatic representative for Iowans — and Lanon, a career Democrat political operative for Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton who will no doubt be a rubber stamp on their radical agenda he helped write.”

Baccam was appointed as the deputy state director for President Joe Biden’s campaign in Iowa in 2020.

Zabner announces re-election bid for Iowa House

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Iowa state Rep. Adam Zabner, a Democrat from Iowa City, announced his re-election campaign to the Iowa House of Representatives on Thursday.

Zabner, 24, is the youngest member of the Iowa Legislature and is serving in his first term.

Zabner, the first Latino Democrat to serve in the Iowa Legislature, ran unopposed last year for the House District 90 seat after winning a three-way Democratic primary. The seat was previously held by Iowa City Democrat Christina Bohannan, who ran for Congress and lost to Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks.

Zabner was born and raised in Iowa City, after his family immigrated from Venezuela. He studied neuroscience at the University of Chicago.

Zabner, in a statement, said he is running for re-election, because “I believe in a renewed focus on quality public education, in bold investments in our state's future, and in creating a welcoming environment for all who live here.”

“Last session, Republicans made it their priority to dismantle public education and make Iowans less free,” he said. “ … They put politics before the majority of Iowans who oppose voucher scams and abortion bans. From Day One, I've fought against the radical agenda put forward by the governor and Statehouse Republicans by asking tough questions on the House floor, and by speaking out against injustice — and against bad legislation. I've worked across the aisle where possible. I've traveled widely to talk to Iowans all over the state … because I am serious about growing our House Democratic caucus. District 90 needs a fighter in Des Moines, and you've got one.”

Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau