Rep. Zach Nunn is being pushed by those close to him to mount a run for governor of Iowa, a source familiar with the matter said. The movement comes hours after Gov. Kim Reynolds announced she would not run for reelection next year.
Nunn, the source said, is now talking to his family about a potential campaign.
Nunn, an Air Force veteran and Republican who represents a swing seat in Congress, is in his second term as a member and previously served in both the Iowa state Senate and state House of Representatives. Nunn is 45 years old and has a wife and six kids at home, making the prospect of serving as governor in Iowa much more attractive than the weekly commute to and from Washington, D.C., a second source familiar with the matter told NOTUS.
“Governor Kim Reynolds is a friend and a leader — importantly she remains an inspiration for my daughters and girls across our state,” Nunn said in a statement. “Kim led Iowa to prosperity with commonsense solutions, from tax cuts to economic growth. She helped me fight human trafficking & fentanyl in Iowa, balance our state’s budget and help make Iowa one of the best places to raise a family. I salute her continued service.”
“Our next Governor will take the reins of a state well positioned and be able to lead Iowa as a model of success for the nation,” Nunn continued.
In Congress, Nunn serves on the House Committee on Agriculture, the House Committee on Financial Services and the House Select Committee on China.
Other high-profile Iowa Republicans are already also being floated as potential candidates. They include Rep. Ashley Hinson, who hinted at a potential bid on X; Rep. Randy Feenstra, who has over $1 million in his campaign account and who a spokesperson said is going to “consider how he can best serve Iowa and deliver results"; and Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird. Recently confirmed U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker’s name is also being tossed around as a potential candidate, according to a source involved in Iowa politics.
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Reese Gorman is a reporter at NOTUS.