Who's In the Race

The election for Iowa's 3rd District seat will feature Republican incumbent Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA) and Democrat Sarah Trone Garriott on November 3. ​

Nunn is serving his second term in Congress, having previously served in the Iowa House and Iowa Senate. He spent nearly two decades in the U.S. Air Force, including three deployments to the Middle East and more than 700 combat hours, and now serves as a colonel in the Air Force Reserve. He ran unopposed in the June 2 Republican primary.

Trone Garriott is an Iowa state senator serving her first term in the Senate, an ordained Lutheran minister, and a coordinator of interfaith engagement for the Des Moines Area Religious Council Food Pantry Network. Her campaign biography describes previous work as a service worker, nonprofit leader, and hospital chaplain. She also ran unopposed in the June 2 Democratic primary.

What They Stand For

Nunn has made improving the economy a priority, highlighting tax relief for Iowa workers and small businesses, according to his official House website. He's also supported Iowa agriculture, including work on agriculture, insurance, biofuels, and manufacturing. Nunn currently serves on the House Financial Services Committee, House Agriculture Committee, the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, and the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.

Trone Garriott has supported restoring nationwide protections for abortion access and safeguarding contraception, IVF, and prenatal care, according to her campaign website. She's also supported affordable health care, including protecting Medicare and Social Security and expanding Medicaid access in rural communities, and workforce training through apprenticeships, vocational education, and community colleges, along with action against wage theft and hidden fees.

The Money Behind the Race

Through June 30, Trone Garriott had raised about $5.3 million and held about $3.9 million in cash on hand, while Republican incumbent Zach Nunn had raised about $4.9 million and held about $3.6 million, leaving Trone Garriott roughly $424,000 ahead in total receipts and about $291,000 ahead in cash. Outside groups have spent about $30,364 supporting Nunn and about $13,389 supporting Trone Garriott, with Defending Main Street SuperPAC Inc. spending about $23,815 for Nunn and WelcomePAC spending about $13,245 for Trone Garriott.

Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets

Cook Political Report rated the race "Lean Democratic" as of Oct. 9, and Sabato's Crystal Ball called it a "Toss-up" as of Oct. 11.

On Kalshi, traders gave Democrats a 79.8% chance of winning as of Oct. 15.

The district's recent history shows a seat that has been closely contested but trending slightly toward Republicans. Nunn won the district in 2022 with about 50% of the vote and again in 2024 with about 52%. Republicans won all four of Iowa's U.S. House seats in 2024. Nationwide, Donald Trump carried Iowa in the 2024 presidential election with about 56% of the vote.

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