Zach Nunn, Lanon Baccam battle over abortion, immigration in 3rd District debate

Republican Zach Nunn and Democrat Lanon Baccam squared off over abortion, inflation and immigration in an hourlong televised debate Tuesday night.

Tuesday night's debate, hosted by KCCI, is the only scheduled televised debate between the two candidates for Iowa's 3rd Congressional District, which covers 21 counties in central and southern Iowa, including the cities of Des Moines, West Des Moines, Winterset, Osceola and Ottumwa.

Nunn, the incumbent, is seeking his second term after winning his seat in Congress in a razor-thin contest in 2022 that was decided by about 2,000 votes.

Baccam, a former U.S. Department of Agriculture official, is mounting a strong challenge for the seat, out-raising Nunn in three consecutive fundraising quarters.

Elections analysts at the nonpartisan Cook Political Report rate the contest a "toss-up."

More: Elections analysts move 2 Iowa U.S. House races to 'toss-up' after Kamala Harris surge

Abortion takes center stage

Both candidates sparred over abortion access in one of the debate's flashpoints.

Baccam sought to tie Nunn to the six-week abortion ban that took effect in Iowa this summer. Nunn voted for a previous version of the legislation in 2018 while serving in the Iowa Senate.

"The abortion ban that we have in this state before most women even know they’re pregnant is Zach Nunn’s abortion ban," Baccam said. "He laid the groundwork for this when he was in the state legislature and what we have today is exactly what he wanted. Abortion is now banned before most women even know they’re pregnant. This is extreme."

More: What Zach Nunn and Lanon Baccam, 3rd District candidates, say on abortion, inflation, IVF

Baccam also referenced a moment from a 2022 Republican primary debate when Nunn raised his hand when he was asked in a Republican primary debate if he believed abortion should be illegal in every circumstance without exception.

"He event wants to go further on this issue, supporting a national abortion ban without exceptions, even in the case of rape, incest and the life of the mother," Baccam said of Nunn. "Folks, this is far out of step with where Iowans are on this issue."

Nunn has said this year that he does not support a federal abortion ban and he repeated that position on the debate stage.

"Let me be crystal clear where I stand and have stood," Nunn said. "I am pro-life. I have voted for exceptions for rape, incest and certainly for the health of the mother. I believe strongly that we should not have a federal abortion ban and take that away from Iowans."

Nunn also pointed to legislation he's introduced to require private health insurance providers to cover infertility treatments like in vitro fertilization.

"I also have been a strong champion and have led bipartisan legislation to ensure that we have IVF access, which right now can run families tens of thousands of dollars just to start a family," he said.

How would candidates address inflation? Pass a balanced budget or go after price gouging?

The candidates shared two visions for how to lower costs for Iowans.

Nunn said inflation is the number one thing he hears about from voters, and he blamed spending by the Biden administration.

"Let’s take best practices from Iowa, things I’ve done as a state senator," Nunn said. "Cut Iowa’s taxes, make sure that Iowans get more of their money in their pocket. ... We also can take a lesson from the very first bill I introduced. Pass a balanced budget. The reality is Iowa farmers, Iowa small business owners, Iowa families balance their budget. We should expect the government to do the same."

Baccam said large corporations need to be held accountable for price gouging.

"There’s no question that the cost of groceries continues to be high, that going to the gas pump is a pinch in the pocketbook. But we also hear about housing costs. That’s really important for folks now as well," Baccam said. "We have to go after the price gouging, big corporations who are raising up prices for us and not passing down the savings to us here in our communities."

Candidates agree on need to secure the border, but disagree on how

Asked about immigration, both candidates emphasized the importance of securing the U.S. southern border.

Baccam praised a bipartisan border security bill that was negotiated in the U.S. Senate this year that would have added more border patrol agents and drug-identifying technology to the border.

"Importantly, it would have forced the president to shut down the border if it became overwhelmed," he said. "That’s really important for us to get done and when I get to Congress I’ll make sure I vote for that."

More: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott thanks Iowa for sending National Guard to border at Reynolds event

Baccam accused Nunn and his Republican colleagues of letting the bill die "purely for political purposes." Former President Donald Trump urged Senate Republicans to vote against the bill, and it failed to pass the Senate and never reached the House for consideration.

Nunn pointed to his vote in favor of H.R. 2, known as the "Secure the Border Act of 2023," which passed the Republican-controlled House of Representatives but never received a vote in the Senate.

"Congress should follow the lead that we set in the House. We passed the most comprehensive border security bill in my first weeks on the job," he said. "What my colleague here has talked about is the straight up lie. There was never a bill that came out of the Senate. There was never bill to vote against, there was never a bill to vote for."

Nunn tried to get Baccam to call on President Joe Biden to enact Trump-era immigration policies.

"Mr. Baccam, today, will you stand up to your boss Biden and he can sign right now remain in Mexico, he can sign a bill to make sure catch and release is ended and he can build the border wall?" Nunn said.

Baccam again accused Nunn of playing political games with the issue.

"The reality is I think Iowans are tired of these political games where folks are trying to drive wedges between us," he said. "We actually want to see action and get things done."

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Zach Nunn, Lanon Baccam face off on abortion, immigration in debate