Incumbent Republican Zach Nunn and Democratic challenger Lanon Baccam faced off Oct. 8, 2024, in a debate at Northwest High School in Waukee. 59 minutes:

Watching an appearance by a MAGA politician these days is an exercise in skepticism. Given that MAGAs from the top down lie about everything, trying to ferret out which statements are false, mostly false, somewhat true or really true makes a listener busy trying to keep up. 

Knowing that Zach Nunn has spent his two years in congress avoiding the public makes a person think that he is hiding something. His claims that he knows almost nothing about Project 2025 just doesn’t pass the smell test. Right now, MAGA candidates have a real problem with truth. The fact that a Zack Nunn will be backing a felon for president is very troubling. He also appears to believes in the many myths that have become the glue that binds the MAGA Party together. 

Also, I do not trust his declarations of keeping Social Security and Medicare intact when his Party is looking to change them.

Much better to choose a candidate that deals with reality. Lanon Baccam is not bound in by ridiculous beliefs of a cult-like leader who demands absolute fealty.

Baccam has his priorities right – country first, party last. Zach Nunn is just the opposite.

Here is a comment from the Wednesday edition of the newsletter High Five from ProgressIowa:

1. DEBATE RECAP: In case you missed Iowa’s third district debate last night, the candidates discussed topics including healthcare, reproductive rights, and immigration. Once again, Rep. Zach Nunn failed to justify his extreme stance against our reproductive freedom, his support for policies that attack Medicare and Social Security, and why he’s failed to host any public town halls while in office.

I would like to note here that Cook’s Political Report last week moved both Iowa’s first district and Iowa’s third district congressional races from “lean Republican” to “toss-up.”

Debates for Iowa’s other congressional districts:

1st district: Bohannan vs. Miller-Meeks:

Iowa PBS will host Iowa Press Debates: 1st Congressional District on Monday, October 21 at 8 p.m. at Iowa PBS studios in Johnston, Iowa.

Hosted by Iowa Press moderator Kay Henderson, candidates Christina Bohannan (D – Iowa City) and U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R – Davenport) will answer questions from reporters and discuss their platforms, concerns and future plans. Henderson will moderate the debate with two Iowa political reporters.

Iowa Press Debates: 1st Congressional District will air live on statewide Iowa PBS and be streamed on iowapbs.org, YouTube and Facebook.

2nd district: Corkery v. Hinson

Iowa PBS will hold an Iowa Press debate for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District race on Monday, October 14 at 8 p.m. at the Iowa PBS studios in Johnston, Iowa.

Hosted by Iowa Press moderator Kay Henderson, candidates Sarah Corkery (D – Cedar Falls) and U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson (R – Marion) will answer questions from reporters and discuss their platforms, concerns and future plans. Henderson will moderate the debate with two Iowa political reporters. 

4th district: Melton v. Feenstra

As far as I can tell there are no debates, joint appearances,  or anything of that ilk in the fourth district. The fourth district is by far the most partisan of Iowa’s districts. It looks like Randy Feenstra will once again refuse to come out in the open to have a mutual airing of positions on issues. While this is probably very good for Randy Feenstra, it is certainly not good for Iowa or democracy. Come out of hiding, Mr. Feenstra for the sake of Democracy.

Melton’s appearance on last week’s edition of Iowa Press will be posted later today.