Zach Nunn | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait, 2023 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIowa's3rd district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Cindy Axne |
| Member of theIowa Senate from the15th district | |
| In office January 14, 2019 – January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Chaz Allen |
| Succeeded by | Tony Bisignano |
| Member of theIowa House of Representatives from the30th district | |
| In office January 12, 2015 – January 14, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Joe Riding |
| Succeeded by | Brian Lohse |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Zachary Martin Nunn (1979-05-04)May 4, 1979 (age 46) Story City, Iowa, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Kelly Nunn |
| Children | 6 |
| Education | |
| Website | House website Campaign website |
| Military service | |
| Branch | |
| Service years | 2004–present |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | 132nd Wing |
Zachary Martin Nunn[1] (born May 4, 1979) is an American politician and United States Air Force officer who has served as the U.S. representative forIowa's 3rd congressional district since 2023. A member of theRepublican Party, he was a member of theIowa Senate for the15th district from 2019 to 2023 and theIowa House of Representatives for the30th district from 2015 to 2019.
Nunn ran for a seat in theUnited States House of Representatives in2022 to representIowa's 3rd congressional district, successfully defeating incumbent DemocratCindy Axne. He was re-elected in2024.
As of May 2, Nunn announced he was not running forgovernor, following GovernorReynolds' announcement that she was retiring.[2]
Nunn was born on May 4, 1979, inStory City, Iowa, and raised inAltoona.[3] He graduated fromSoutheast Polk High School in 1998.[3] He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and international relations fromDrake University in 2002.[3][4] He earned a Master of Science in military operational art and science from theAir Command and Staff College atAir University in 2004 and aMaster of Studies in international security fromSelwyn College, Cambridge, in 2007.[4][3]
Nunn was a member of theUnited States Air Force and later theIowa Air National Guard since 2004.[5][4] In 2021, he held the rank oflieutenant colonel and was commander of the 233rd Intelligence Squadron,132nd Wing, Iowa Air National Guard.[6] Nunn also worked as a cybersecurity consultant.[3] On June 11, 2024, Nunn was promoted to the rank ofcolonel.[7]
Nunn was a member of the research staff for SirPeter Bottomley, a member of theBritish House of Commons, in 2002. He was a member of U.S. senatorChuck Grassley's legislative staff in 2004.[3] Nunn was later director of cybersecurity policy for theUnited States National Security Council during theObama administration.[8]
Nunn was a member of theIowa House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019.[4][9] He was a member of theIowa Senate beginning in 2019.[4]
In 2021, Nunn announced his candidacy forIowa's 3rd congressional district in the 2022 election against incumbentCindy Axne, the only Democrat in Iowa's congressional delegation.[10] The 3rd district, which covers central Iowa,[11] became more rural and conservative-leaning after the2020 redistricting cycle,[12] taking in nine newcounties.[13] The race was considered among the nation's most competitive House races.[13][14] Nunn was endorsed byDonald Trump,Nikki Haley, andTom Cotton,[15] and easily won the June Republicanprimary election against two other candidates.[16]
Nunn won the 2022 election against Cindy Axne, with votes tallied at 156,237 (50.3%) to 154,084 (49.6%).[17]
On Sunday, November 3, theDes Moines Register released the final Iowa Poll, which suggested that Iowans preferred the Democrat to the Republican at 48% to 41%.[18]
Nunn won a second term, proving the Iowa Poll wrong.[19] He defeated Democratic nominee Lanon Baccam, with votes tallied at 213,625 (51.9%) to 197,777 (48.1%).[20]
In April 2025, Nunn introduced bipartisan legislation designed to combat scams targeting older Americans. The Guarding Unprotected Aging Retirees from Deception Act, which is co-sponsored withJosh Gottheimer (D-New Jersey) andScott Fitzgerald (R-Wisconsin), would give local law enforcement better access to tools to trace scammers' fraudulent activity.[21]
Nunn also introduced the Social Security Overpayment Relief Act, which would limit the ability of the Social Security Administration (SSA) to recover money overpaid due to errors on the part of the SSA. The SSA would no longer be able to demand repayment of over payments more than ten years old unless there is associated fraudulent activity.[22][23]
In May 2025, Nunn, along withAyanna Pressley (D-MA) andLauren Underwood (D-IL), introduced the bipartisan HEALTH for MOM Act, which aims to expand access to maternal healthcare in areas lacking maternity care.[24][25]
For the119th Congress:[26]
Axios described Nunn as having "carved out a niche as a vocal moderate on key issues".[27]
Nunnopposesabortion with exceptions, including life of the mother, rape, and incest.[28][29] Nunn opposes a federal ban on abortion and believes this policy should be left up to the states. He has said that anyone should have access to tools to start a family, including IVF, fertility treatments, and adoption.[30][31]
Nunn opposes theBipartisan Infrastructure Act, and said there was far too much waste in the law.[32]
In an April 2022 appearance as a congressional candidate, Nunn said of theJanuary 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 theUnited 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."[33]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Zach Nunn | 1,108 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 1,108 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Zach Nunn | 7,323 | 56.00 | |
| Democratic | Joe Riding (incumbent) | 5,733 | 44.00 | |
| Total votes | 13,056 | 100.0 | ||
| Republicangain fromDemocratic | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Zach Nunn (incumbent) | 553 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 553 | 100.0 | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Zach Nunn (incumbent) | 11,442 | 62.05 | |
| Democratic | Joe Riding | 6,999 | 37.95 | |
| Total votes | 18,441 | 100.0 | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Zach Nunn | |||
| Total votes | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Zach Nunn | 16,988 | 57.0 | |
| Democratic | Dan Nieland | 12,830 | 43.0 | |
| Total votes | 29,818 | 100.0 | ||
| Republicangain fromDemocratic | ||||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| Republicangain fromDemocratic | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Zach Nunn (incumbent) | 21,103 | 98.30 | |
| Write-in | 365 | 1.70 | ||
| Total votes | 21,468 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Zach Nunn (incumbent) | 213,625 | 51.78 | |
| Democratic | Lanon Baccam | 197,777 | 47.93 | |
| Write-in | 1,197 | 0.29 | ||
| Total votes | 412,599 | 100.0 | ||
Nunn is married and has six children, including two who were adopted out of the foster care system.[43]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIowa's 3rd congressional district 2023–present | Incumbent |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded by | United States representatives by seniority 348th | Succeeded by |
