A Democrat candidate in Iowa, Lanon Baccam, recently removed several anti-Trump and pro-Biden posts from his social media account prior to winning the congressional primary in the state. This move was discovered by the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) through an archival website. Baccam, a combat veteran and former USDA official, won the Democratic nomination for Iowa’s Third Congressional District in a landslide victory over his rival Melissa Vine. He is now set to face Republican Zach Nunn in the upcoming November election.
Baccam’s decision to delete these posts was seen by the NRCC as an attempt to present himself as more moderate to voters. The scrubbed posts included partisan statements that supported Joe Biden and criticized former President Trump. Despite these deletions, the posts can still be accessed online through the Wayback Machine archival site. The NRCC spokesperson, Mike Marinella, expressed that voters deserve to know the true stance of Baccam beyond his campaign ads and altered social media.
In response to this revelation, Baccam stated that he is proud of his work at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and his dedication to helping veterans transition to careers in agriculture, investing in communities, and expanding rural broadband access. He emphasized that his goal is to continue supporting working families and strengthening communities if elected to Congress.
As of June 13th, Baccam’s social media account no longer mentions Trump or Biden, indicating a deliberate effort to distance himself from both presidential nominees. This strategic move comes as Baccam prepares to face off against Republican incumbent Zach Nunn in the general election.
Nunn, who previously flipped Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District from blue to red in 2022, is now being challenged by Baccam in an effort to reclaim the seat for the Democrats. The upcoming election will test the influence of both Trump and Biden as the candidates vie for the support of Iowa voters.
The race between Baccam and Nunn is expected to be closely watched as both parties seek to secure control of the crucial Iowa House seat. With Nunn’s incumbency advantage growing with each term, Democrats are eager to win back the seat and regain a foothold in the state’s congressional representation. The outcome of this election could have significant implications for the balance of power in Iowa and beyond.