Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District covers 21 counties in central and southeastern Iowa, anchored by Des Moines and Polk County. Rated as a competitive toss-up race by various election forecasters, incumbent Republican Representative Zach Nunn faces Democratic nominee Sarah Trone Garriott in a high-stakes campaign for the seat. (And it is a seat that has not been held by an incumbent for more than two terms since 2010.)
Healthcare
Over 600,000 Iowans rely on Medicaid for their health coverage.
Nunn voted for federal legislation, including key components of the One Big Beautiful Bill, aimed at restructuring federal healthcare spending though it’s being anticipated to cause tens of thousands of Iowans to lose their health coverage. Simultaneously, Nunn has broken with party lines on select procedural votes to extend ACA tax credit subsidies to protect coverage costs for rural families.
Trone Garriott strongly opposes cuts to ACA funding or Medicaid restructuring. She advocates for codifying marketplace subsidies, lowering out-of-pocket costs, and expanding public health options across rural communities.
Abortion rights
According to a poll conducted in 2024, 64% of Iowans support legal access to abortion in most or all cases.
Nunn previously voted for a six-week “fetal heartbeat” abortion ban while serving as a member of the Iowa State Legislature. In Congress, he has expressed support for state-level determination on reproductive laws rather than a federal band.
Trone Garriott voted against the state’s six-week abortion restriction in the Iowa Senate. She has sponsored state resolutions to establish a constitutional right to abortion and has pledged to vote to codify Roe v. Wade nationally.
Environmental protections
Iowa generated more than 60% of its total electricity from wind power in 2024, making it a top producer of renewable energy nationwide.
Rep. Nunn voted to roll back certain federal clean energy tax credits enacted under the Biden administration while promoting a domestic energy plan that combines traditional fuels with agricultural ethanol. He supports establishing localized climate mitigation programs that protect agricultural productivity.
Trone Garriott sponsored legislation to establish state-level task forces on climate resiliency and clean energy jobs. She advocates for federal investments in solar, wind and biofuel expansion alongside stricter water quality standards.
Agricultural policy
Iowa leads the United States in corn and pork production, supporting over 85,000 family farm operations statewide.
Rep. Nunn championed agricultural provisions in the OBBB advocating for tax relief for rural small businesses and expanded federal crop insurance protections. He focuses his legislative agenda on reducing federal regulatory burdens from agencies like the EPA on farmers. However, Nunn initially supported the Iran war, which has contributed to widespread farm fuel and supply disruptions.
Sen. Trone Garriott, an opponent to the war in Iran highlighted spillover effects on the agricultural supply chains and input costs. She supports targeted federal assistance for small family-owned farms rather than large corporate agricultural entities. She favors federal incentives for cover crops, soil conservation and local supply chain infrastructure.
Epstein Files
Rep. Nunn voted in favor of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, emphasizing the need to deliver full public accountability and justice for victims.
Trone Garriott criticized federal delays in releasing the complete, unredacted records to the public. She has called for aggressive congressional oversight to guarantee every document linked to the investigation is made available.
Immigration
53.3 million immigrants lived in the United States at the beginning of 2025, but by June that number decreased by more than 1 million due to deportations or immigrants choosing to leave.
Nunn voted for strict border security measures, including physical barriers, expanded staffing for border patrol, and stricter asylum thresholds. He views tight border control as essential for national security and curbing illegal drug flow into Iowa communities. Additionally, Nunn supports fully funding ICE enforcement operations, including workplace audits and targeted farm enforcement for undocumented individuals.
Trone Garriott has called for stricter oversight and accountability measures for ICE to ensure federal agents operate within legal limits. She also supports comprehensive immigration reform that includes enhanced border technology alongside legal workforce pathways. She emphasizes protecting agricultural industries that rely on immigrant labor through modernized visa programs.
