Incumbent Zach Nunn (R), Sarah Trone Garriott (D), and Marco Battaglia (L) are running in the general election for Iowa's 3rd Congressional District on November 3, 2026.
Iowa Public Radio's Isabella Luu said the 3rd District "hasn’t been held by any incumbent for more than two terms since 2010." Nunn defeated then-incumbent Cindy Axne (D) 50.3%–49.6% in 2022 and won re-election 51.8%–47.9% in 2024. That year, Donald Trump (R) defeated Kamala Harris (D) 51.6%–47.1% in the presidential election in the district. As of July 2026, major election forecasters rated the general election Toss-up or Tilt Republican.
Nunn is a colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and a former cybersecurity consultant and National Security Council staffer. Before his election to the U.S. House in 2022, Nunn served four years each in the Iowa Senate and the Iowa House of Representatives. Nunn's campaign website says, "Zach Nunn knows Iowa’s strength comes from putting our communities first. His public service is a proven record of delivering for Iowans with hard work and innovative solutions. As a combat aviator with the US Air Force, Zach is a fighter for America. Zach will never stop fighting for Iowans’ individual liberties, fiscal discipline, and limited government."
