Zach Nunn

Zachary Martin Nunn (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. He won the election on November 8th defeating incumbent 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. He graduated from Southeast Polk High School in 1998. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and international relations from Drake University in 2002. He earned a M.S. in military operational art and science from the Air Command and Staff College in 2004 and a Master of Studies in international security from the University of Cambridge in 2007.

Career

Early career

Nunn was a member of the United States Air Force and later the Iowa Air National Guard. In 2021, he held the rank of lieutenant colonel and was commander of the 233rd Intelligence Squadron, 132nd Wing, Iowa Air National Guard. Nunn also worked as a cybersecurity consultant. On June 11, 2024, Nunn was promoted to the rank of colonel.

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. Nunn was later director of cybersecurity policy for the United States National Security Council during the Obama administration.

Iowa Legislature

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

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

Nunn won the 2022 election against Cindy Axne, with votes tallied at 156,237 (50.3%) to 154,084 (49.6%).

2024

On Sunday, November 3, the Des Moines Register released the final Iowa Poll, which suggested that Iowans preferred the Democrat to Republican at 48% to 41%.

Nunn won a second term representing Iowa's most competitive district in 2024, proving the Iowa Poll wrong. He defeated Democratic nominee Lanon Baccam , with votes tallied at 213,625 (51.9%) to 197,777 (48.1%).

Committee assignments

For the 119th Congress:

Committee on Agriculture
- Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development
- Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit
Committee on Financial Services
- Subcommittee on Capital Markets
- Subcommittee on National Security, Illicit Finance and International Financial Institutions
- Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Artificial Intelligence
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".

Abortion

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

In a survey released on May 16, 2024, Nunn said he opposes a federal ban on abortion and that this policy should be left up to the states. In the same survey, he said anyone should have access to tools to start a family, including IVF, fertility treatments, or adoption.

Infrastructure

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

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."