Zach Nunn
Rep. Zach Nunn official photo, 118th Congress.jpg
Official portrait, 2023
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Iowa's 3rd district
Assumed office
January 3, 2023 (2023-01-03)
Preceded byCindy Axne
Member of the Iowa Senate
from the 15th district
In office
January 14, 2019 – January 3, 2023
Preceded byChaz Allen
Succeeded byTony Bisignano
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives
from the 30th district
In office
January 12, 2015 – January 14, 2019
Preceded byJoe Riding
Succeeded byBrian Lohse
Personal details
Born (1979-05-04) May 4, 1979 (age 43)
Story City, Iowa, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Children4
EducationDrake University (BA)
Air University (MMAS)
University of Cambridge (MSt)
WebsiteHouse website
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Air Force

Zachary Martin Nunn (born May 4, 1979) is an American politician and former member of the Iowa Air National Guard 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.

Early life and education

Nunn was born on May 4, 1979, in Story City, Iowa, and raised in Altoona.[1] He graduated from Southeast Polk High School in 1998.[1] He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and international relations from Drake University in 2002.[1][2] He has a Master of Military Art and Science from the Air Command and Staff College of Air University (2004) and a Master of Studies in international relations and national security studies from the University of Cambridge (2007).[2][1]

Career

Early career

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.[1]

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.[1] Nunn was later director of cybersecurity policy for the United States National Security Council.[4]

Iowa Legislature

Nunn was a member of the Iowa House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019.[2][5] He was a member of the Iowa Senate beginning in 2019.[2]

U.S House of Representatives

Elections

2022

Main article: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Iowa

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.[6] The 3rd district, which covers central Iowa,[7] became more rural and Republican-leaning after the 2020 redistricting cycle,[8] taking in nine new counties.[9] The race was considered among the nation's most competitive House races.[9][10] Nunn was endorsed by Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, and Tom Cotton,[11] and easily won the June Republican primary election against two other candidates.[12]

Committee assignment

Political positions

Abortion

During a May 2022 Republican primary debate, Nunn raised his hand indicating he opposes abortion without exceptions.[13][14] In August 2022, he said he does support legal exceptions to allow some abortions, including in cases of rape and incest.[15]

Infrastructure

Nunn opposes the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, and said there was far too much waste in the law.[16]

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."[17]

Electoral history

2014

Iowa's 30th House of Representatives district Primary Election, 2014[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Zach Nunn 1,108 100.0
Total votes 1,108 100.0
Iowa's 30th House of Representatives district General Election, 2014[19]
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

Iowa's 30th House of Representatives district Primary Election, 2016[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Zach Nunn (incumbent) 553 100.0
Total votes 553 100.0
Republican hold
Iowa's 30th House of Representatives district General Election, 2016[21]
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

Iowa's 15th Senate district Primary Election, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Zach Nunn
Total votes
Iowa's 15th Senate district General Election, 2018[22]
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

Iowa's 3rd congressional district Republican Primary, 2022[23]
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
Iowa's 3rd congressional district General Election, 2022[24]
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

Personal life

Nunn is married and has children. He is Roman Catholic.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Jonathan Krueger, Questionnaires: Iowa House District 30, The Des Moines Register (November 1, 2016).
  2. ^ a b c d e "State Senator Zach Nunn". Iowa Legislature. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  3. ^ "State senator and Iowa Air Guard member Zach Nunn to serve at Air War College". 185th Air Refueling Wing. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  4. ^ "To pay or not to pay: Lessons from DMACC hack". Axios. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  5. ^ "Zach Nunn". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  6. ^ Pfannenstiel, Brianne. "Republican state Sen. Zach Nunn announces congressional campaign in Iowa's 3rd District". Des Moines Register. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  7. ^ Campaign Almanac: Conservative group's ads target Rep. Axne, The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) (July 27, 2022).
  8. ^ Robin Opsahl, Campaign finance reports show competition in Grassley, Axne races, Iowa Capital Dispatch (via Ottumwa Courier) (July 20, 2022).
  9. ^ a b O. Kay Henderson, Axne says she's ready for 'most watched' U.S. house race in country, Radio Iowa (June 8, 2022).
  10. ^ Katie Akin, Iowa Poll: Voters prefer Republicans in 3 of 4 US House races — except in 3rd District, Des Moines Register (July 25, 2022).
  11. ^ "Donald Trump endorses Republican running for Iowa's Third Congressional District". KCCI. July 8, 2022.
  12. ^ Iowa's Sole Democratic House Member Faces a Tough Fight, Associated Press (June 8, 2022).
  13. ^ Pfannenstiel, Brianne. "Iowa 3rd District GOP candidates say all abortions should be illegal as Supreme Court weighs Roe v. Wade". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  14. ^ Thomas Beaumont (July 31, 2022). "Vulnerable House Dems see abortion as winning campaign theme". Associated Press News.
  15. ^ Rooker, Amanda (August 12, 2022). "Nunn pushes back on new Axne ad targeting his 'no exceptions' abortion stance". KCCI. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  16. ^ writer, CHAD DRURY Courier staff. "Nunn focuses on urban-rural balance". Ottumwa Courier. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  17. ^ Pfannenstiel, Brianne (April 28, 2022). "Iowa 3rd District GOP candidates express frustration at prosecution of Jan. 6 rioters". The Des Moines Register.
  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ "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.
  20. ^ "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.
  21. ^ "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.
  22. ^ "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.
  23. ^ "Primary Election June 7, 2022 | United States Representative District 3 – Republican". Iowa Secretary of State.
  24. ^ "General Election November 8, 2022 | United States Representative District 3 – Republican". Iowa Secretary of State.

External links

U.S. House of Representatives Preceded byCindy Axne Member of the U.S. House of Representativesfrom Iowa's 3rd congressional district 2023–present Incumbent U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) Preceded byWiley Nickel United States representatives by seniority 419th Succeeded byAndy Ogles
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa
Iowa's current delegation to the United States Congress
Current members of the United States House of Representatives
Iowa's delegation(s) to the 118th–present United States Congresses (ordered by seniority)
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