Iowa 3rd District
Zach Nunn (R) holds this seat and is running again. 2 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.Discuss
Zach Nunn
Republican · holds this seat today
ALiberty Score AOn the liberty side in 98 of 104 votes and bills.
Raised $6,123,740 since January 2025: 41% transfers and other income, 36% from PACs and other committees, 23% from people. The filing at FEC.gov
Sarah Trone Garriott
Democrat · Iowa state senator, Lutheran pastor
FLiberty Score F25 out of 100 across 4 principles. Graded on what Garriott has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Garriott.
Raised $8,070,402 since January 2025: 90% from people, 8% from PACs and other committees, 2% transfers and other income. The filing at FEC.gov
Higher on Liberty Score: Zach Nunn. Zach Nunn: A, 95 out of 100 from recorded votes. Sarah Trone Garriott: F, 25 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count.
Voting in Iowa: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Sarah Trone Garriott, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Garriott, so the grade above comes from this list: what Garriott has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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Asked about the Iran war, she said she disagrees with it and would vote to end it.
“I would vote to end it and lower costs.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Voting to end the war on the Islamic Republic is a war powers limit aimed at stopping action against Iran, the against side, although she also says Iran should never have a nuclear weapon.
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She says she would push Congress to rein in across-the-board tariffs.
“I'd push Congress to rein in reckless across-the-board tariffs to lower costs”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Broad tariffs are against liberty by this test, so curbing them is the with side.
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In the Iowa Senate in 2022 she voted no on the bill setting school and college sports eligibility by biological sex.
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Voting against keeping women's sport female is against liberty by this test; the report says she voted against both this bill and the 2023 school bathroom bill.
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In the Iowa Senate in 2023 she voted no on the bill requiring school bathrooms to follow biological sex.
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Voting against a rule that separates school facilities by sex is on the against side, gender self-identification, of this measure.
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In a campaign video she said she opposes letting men into women's locker rooms.
“I oppose letting men in women's locker rooms,”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Keeping women's spaces female is the with side of this measure, whoever says it.
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She calls for a pathway to citizenship for law-abiding immigrants as part of comprehensive reform.
“We need more immigration judges, faster visa processing for legal immigrants and a pathway to citizenship for law-abiding immigrants.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A path to citizenship is against liberty by this test, even though she also says a secure border is needed.
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She says immigration enforcement away from the border has caused chaos, and also that the border needs to be secure and violent criminals dealt with.
“But Immigration and Customs Enforcement's actions away from the border have caused chaos and made many Iowans feel less safe.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
She criticises ICE's methods without calling for ending ICE or deportations and backs enforcement against violent criminals, so the words do not settle it.
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
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Iowa 3rd District
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