Trump-endorsed Nunn forgoes gubernatorial bid to run for House again
Rep. Zach Nunn (R-Iowa), who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, has announced he will seek reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives rather than pursuing a run for Governor of Iowa. This decision ends months of speculation about a possible gubernatorial bid following Gov. Kim Reynolds’ announcement that she will not seek reelection in 2026. Trump reaffirmed his support for Nunn, calling him a “Great Combat Veteran” and praising his commitment to maintaining the Republican majority in the House. Nunn will compete against two Democratic candidates,state Rep. Jennifer Konfrst and state Sen. Sarah Trone garriott, and currently stands as the only declared Republican in the race. Simultaneously occurring, Rep. Randy Feenstra is running for governor and has gained significant endorsements and fundraising momentum in that race. Nunn was first elected to Congress in 2022 after flipping Iowa’s Third Congressional District and won reelection in 2024.
Trump-endorsed Nunn forgoes gubernatorial bid to run for reelection in the House
Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA) on Friday confirmed he is running for reelection in the House next year, shutting down months of speculation he would run for governor in Iowa.
Nunn announced his reelection bid Friday night after President Donald Trump reiterated his endorsement of him.
“Thank you to President Trump for joining us in Iowa to kick off America 250,” the congressman wrote on X, referring to the president’s visit to Iowa on July 3. “I’m proud to have the president’s continued support, and even prouder to keep fighting for Iowa families in Congress.”
Trump said he spoke to “Great Combat Veteran Zach Nunn,” who “is committed to the mission” of keeping the narrow Republican majority in the House.
“He is a team player, with a tremendous future — And 100% MAGA. Zach needs our full support to win Iowa-03,” he posted on Truth Social. “He is fighting for the Farmer, and everything else that Iowa stands for, including, of course, Lower Taxes, and our always under siege Second Amendment. Zach Nunn has my Complete and Total Endorsement. HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!”
Nunn will face off against two Iowa Democrats, state Rep. Jennifer Konfrst and state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, in a bid to keep his House seat. He is the only declared Republican candidate so far.
“Combat veteran Zach Nunn has a proven record of results for this community, and that’s why Iowans will send him back to Congress next year,” National Republican Congressional Committee spokeswoman Emily Tuttle said in a statement. “Let’s do this thing!”
Nunn previously expressed interest in launching a gubernatorial bid instead after Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) announced in April she would not be seeking reelection in 2026. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird also passed on a gubernatorial run earlier this month.
If he ran for governor, the House Republican would have vied for the top primary slot with Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA).
Feenstra filed to run for governor in May and has since raised more than $3 million for his campaign. He also received key endorsements from prominent Iowa Republicans — Sen. Joni Ernst, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer — in recent days.
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Still, Feenstra faces an uphill battle in the race against Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand, the only Democrat to hold statewide office in the Republican-controlled state.
Nunn was first elected to the House in 2022 after receiving endorsements from Trump, former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley, and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR). The Trump-endorsed lawmaker won reelection in 2024. Nunn represents Iowa’s Third Congressional District, which he flipped in 2022.
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