Trone Garriott Defeats Nunn in Iowa House Race

Sarah Trone Garriott won Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District on November 4, defeating Republican incumbent Zach Nunn. By November 4, Trone Garriott was ahead 54.6% to Nunn’s 45.4%. The win returns a Democrat to the district’s seat in Congress after Nunn took it in 2022.

The district includes Des Moines and much of southern Iowa. President Donald Trump carried it by about four percentage points in 2024, and Nunn won his first reelection campaign by a similar margin.

Trone Garriott, a state senator and ordained Lutheran pastor, first captured a Senate district previously represented by a Republican in 2020. She moved her family in 2022 to challenge then-Senate President Jake Chapman, defeated him, and successfully defended her seat in 2024, despite Trump carrying the district.

Nunn made her legislative votes opposing a ban on biological males competing in women’s sports a frequent campaign issue. In a campaign video, Trone Garriott said she opposed boys competing in girls’ sports.

Nunn had considered running for governor but remained in the House race after Trump and congressional leaders urged him to stay, aiming to strengthen Republicans’ chances of holding the seat. The contest was one of three closely fought Iowa House contests, alongside close races for governor and the Senate.

Iowa Voters Oust Republican Incumbent, Elect Trone Garriott

Sarah Trone Garriott’s victory over Republican incumbent Zach Nunn gives Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District a Democratic representative again. On November 4, Trone Garriott led 54.6% to 45.4% in a district that includes Des Moines and much of southern Iowa.

The result is a notable setback for Republicans: Trump carried the district by about four points in 2024, and Nunn had won his previous reelection by a similar margin. Nunn stayed in the House race after Trump and congressional leaders encouraged him to run again, seeking to preserve the GOP’s hold on the seat.

Trone Garriott has shown electoral strength in Republican-held territory. She won a state Senate seat in 2020, unseated then-Senate President Jake Chapman in 2022, and defended her seat in 2024 even as Trump carried the district. She is an ordained Lutheran pastor.

Nunn repeatedly focused on her votes opposing a ban on biological males competing in women’s sports. Trone Garriott responded in a campaign video that she opposed boys competing in girls’ sports. The outcome comes amid a difficult midterm environment for Republicans and a set of closely contested Iowa races, including contests for governor and the Senate.

Nunn’s Defeat Costs Republicans a Trump-Carried Iowa House Seat

Republicans lost a House seat in Iowa’s 3rd District despite the district voting for Trump by about four percentage points in 2024. Democrat Sarah Trone Garriott defeated incumbent Zach Nunn, with her lead on November 4 at 54.6% to 45.4%.

Nunn had won his first reelection bid by roughly the same margin as Trump’s 2024 advantage. Trump and congressional leaders had urged him to stay in the House contest rather than pursue a run for governor, seeking to maximize Republican prospects in a challenging midterm environment. That effort did not keep the seat in GOP hands.

Nunn frequently criticized Trone Garriott’s state legislative votes opposing a prohibition on biological males competing in women’s sports. During the campaign, she said in a video that she opposed boys competing in girls’ sports. The disagreement put the issue at the center of the race, but Nunn was unable to hold the district.

Trone Garriott, an ordained Lutheran pastor, previously captured a Senate seat held by a Republican in 2020, defeated then-Senate President Jake Chapman in 2022, and won reelection in 2024 despite Trump carrying the district. The 3rd District covers Des Moines and much of southern Iowa. The House contest was among three competitive Iowa congressional races this cycle, with tight contests also underway for governor and the Senate.