An embattled Iowa Republican abruptly closed his planned public meeting to tout President Donald Trump's signature domestic policy legislation.
Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA) had planned on holding a town hall with constituents in Greene County, but the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee pointed out that he would instead hold a private meeting Friday afternoon.
“That clucking sound you hear?" said DCCC spokesperson Katie Smith. "That’s Zach Nunn, who’s such a chicken he won’t face his constituents. Nunn is terrified to face Iowa voters because he knows he can’t defend his toxic agenda of raising prices, ripping away health care, and giving tax cuts to billionaires.”
The first-term congressman had briefly flirted with running for Iowa governor, but Trump posted on social media last week that he persuaded Nunn to remain in what's expected to be one of the most competitive races in the nation, praising the lawmaker as "a team player, with a tremendous future — and 100% MAGA."
Republican leadership has discouraged lawmakers from holding town halls in the face of intense public objection to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and Nunn characterized those public gatherings as "taxpayer-funded protest events," although he met last week with farmers and local officials in Greene County to promote the GOP bill.
"Then there’s this conversation on what we’ve been able to do to help the waitress in Jefferson, city (of), with no tax on tips, the senior in Greene County with no tax on Social Security, and candidly, first responders, factory workers, everybody working those hard overtime shifts, no tax on overtime, these are all wins," Nunn told Raccoon Valley Radio. "Most importantly, it’s money back in Iowan’s pockets, money that they’re going to invest in their family and in their local community right there in Greene County. It’s a huge win, people were very grateful for it.”
Nunn will face the winner of a pair of Democratic contenders – Iowa House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst and state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines – in next year's midterm election.
"I guess Zach Nunn doesn't actually want to hear from us; he changed his 'forum' to a private meeting," Garriott posted. "We've been promoting our town hall publicly, but he gave 24 hours' notice & changed it to a private event. It's further proof he's not interested in hearing from everyday Iowans."
"I wonder if my invite got lost in the mail!" Konfrst added.
