Nunn interested in Iowa’s third congressional district

Sen. Zach Nunn, R-Bondurant, announced Monday he will be touring across all 16 counties in Iowa’s third congressional district, which covers the southwest corner of the state and a portion of central Iowa, and potentially look at “jumping in the race” to become a member of the United States House of Representatives, ridding Congresswomen Cindy Axne, D-West Des Moines, of her newly acquired seat.

In a Twitter post Monday morning, Nunn said he had recently been approached by friends and supporters from across the state to consider a bid for Iowa’s third congressional district.

The Republican currently representing Iowa State Senate District 15 said his “listening tour” was launched “to learn from families, farmers and business owners about how we can take Iowa values to Washington.”

Speaking with the Newton Daily News on Wednesday afternoon, Nunn confirmed his intentions but said he would not fully commit to a third congressional district campaign ahead of his military responsibilities in June.

After his prior engagements have concluded, Nunn said he will take “a very aggressive lean forward” in July to see if Iowans in the district would support him.

“We’re excited about this,” Nunn said. “It’s presumptuous of anybody to run for office until they actually hear from the voters who live in those districts, and that’s why I think this is so important. If we were to run, we’ll run a campaign with a real good level of discipline.”

Nunn will have competition if he decides to run for election of Iowa’s third congressional district, which does not include Jasper County. The Des Moines Register’s Brianne Pfannenstiel reported Monday former Congressman David Young, R-Van Meter, who was defeated by Axne in the 2018 election cycle, will be seeking re-election to recover his seat.

“My philosophy on this is: iron sharpens iron,” Nunn said, borrowing a verse from the book of Proverbs. “Just like with the presidential candidates, I think we all get better with a good primary. Most importantly, Iowans will get a choice on what they want.”

Already in the midst of his listening tour, Nunn said many Iowans living in the third district continue to battle flood damages while “the federal government is still debating on the amount of money that should be spent in flood relief” more than a month after the event.

The tour was launched Monday. Since then, Nunn said he has visited the counties of Pottawattamie, Dallas, Warren and Polk, some of the largest of the district. His goal is to visit every third district county in a month, something Nunn suggested Axne has not done since her election.

Elections for congress are in November 2020. Nunn expects there to be a primary on both sides; the Republican would be in June 2020.

Despite his interest in the third congressional district, Nunn said he is still committed to serving his district until his term ends and will regularly meet with “every city in Jasper County” and complete his Senate duties.

“I’ve got 60,000 constituents who I already represent, and I need to make sure that they get first priority — that’s what I was elected to do,” Nunn said.

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com