Allegations of Interference in Iowa’s 3rd District
U.S. Representative Zach Nunn (R-Iowa) is facing serious allegations regarding his campaign tactics in Iowa’s highly contested 3rd Congressional District. Libertarian candidate Marco Battaglia has claimed that both Nunn and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. privately pressured him to withdraw from the race.
According to Battaglia, Nunn visited his home on June 7 to discuss the candidate’s eligibility. Shortly thereafter, Battaglia alleges he received a call from Kennedy, who reportedly suggested that Battaglia’s participation in the race could jeopardize the Republican hold on the seat. Battaglia provided screenshots of call logs to media outlets, which appear to show an incoming call from a number previously used by Kennedy.
Campaign Responses and Legal Hurdles
Nunn’s campaign has denied any illicit pressure, stating that the representative’s visit to Battaglia’s home was intended to inform him of legal challenges regarding his nomination signatures. Campaign adviser Annie Kuhle asserted that the signatures were gathered by outside groups with ties to the Democratic Party. On Monday, the Iowa State Objection Panel removed Battaglia from the ballot, citing that he failed to use his legal name, Mark Thomas Andersen. Battaglia has indicated he intends to appeal the decision.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, Representative Nunn announced a $1 million federal grant for the reconstruction of Alice’s Road, a key infrastructure project spanning Clive and Waukee. Nunn touted the project as a vital investment for regional growth, noting that the capacity of the corridor is expected to increase significantly.