Accompanied by his family, U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn kicked off the Des Moines Register’s “Political Soapbox” series at the Iowa State Fair on Friday, speaking about his commitment to bipartisan cooperation while highlighting his efforts to secure the U.S. border.

Nunn, the incumbent Republican who represents Iowa’s 3rd District, spoke to an audience of over 100. Nunn, the only Republican scheduled to take the podium as a speaker this year, said he was “proud” to be ranked as one of the 10 most bipartisan members of the U.S. House of Representatives by Georgetown University’s Lugar Center, but he was “even more proud” of the opportunity to serve Iowa’s 3rd District.

“This is going to be a highly competitive election year,” Nunn told the crowd. “…This is an opportunity for each of us to stand up for important things. I’ve had the privilege of sponsoring bills that actually passed both the House and the Senate.”

Nunn first won election in the 2022 midterm elections, where he defeated incumbent former Rep. Cindy Axne in the battle for the 3rd District seat, helping to bring Iowa’s federal delegation entirely under Republican control. Prior to his election to the U.S. House of Representatives, Nunn served in the state legislature since 2015.

In the November 5 election, Nunn will face Democrat Lanon Baccam, the Democratic nominee for the congressional seat. Baccam is scheduled to speak on the soapbox on Monday, August 12, at 4:30 p.m. Marco Battaglia, 3rd District Libertarian Party candidate, will also speak at the fair on Sunday, August 11, at 2:15 p.m.

Election forecaster Sabato’s Crystal Ball has classified the 3rd District race as “leaning Republican” ahead of the upcoming election.

While Nunn emphasized his commitment to legislation that has the support of members of both parties, he also focused on an issue important to Republicans ahead of the 2024 general election – security at the southern U.S.-Mexico border. Nunn said he supports an “America First” approach to border security and immigration.

“That’s the most important thing I hear when I visit all 21 counties in the 3rd District, that every county has unfortunately become a border county,” Nunn said.

He said the problems of illegal immigration and security at the southern border have a direct impact on Iowa communities through the fentanyl trade in the state. According to state reports, the number of opioid-related deaths in Iowa has increased significantly in recent years, especially among younger residents.

Some Republicans have blamed rising overdose death rates on illegal immigration along the U.S. southern border and are calling for stricter immigration enforcement by President Joe Biden’s administration. However, a report by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration finds that the majority of fentanyl is brought into the U.S. through legal ports of entry by U.S. citizens, not illegal immigrants.

Nunn spoke about supporting a Republican-led measure in the House to increase border security in 2023 – a separate measure from the bipartisan immigration deal that failed in early 2024. While he criticized the Democratic-led Senate for failing to take up the bill, he also said border security measures must be taken before negotiations on changes to the U.S. immigration system can begin.

“We have to secure our border before we can talk about any kind of immigration reform,” Nunn said.