Where the Republican candidates running for Iowa's 3rd Congressional District stand on the issues

Three Republicans are running for a chance to flip Iowa's 3rd Congressional District.

Nicole Hasso, Gary Leffler and Zach Nunn hope to win their party's nomination to take on U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne in the fall. The congressional seat, which includes Polk County, is considered one of the Republicans' most important targets this fall.

Early voting for the June 7 primary is underway. Here's how you can vote in Iowa.

To help voters, the Des Moines Register sent surveys to every candidate in this competitive primary. The candidate responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity. Candidates appear in alphabetical order by last name.

More: How to vote early in Iowa's 2022 primary elections from registration to voting locations

Who are the candidates running for Iowa's 3rd Congressional District?

Nicole Hasso

• Age: 51

• Town of residence: Johnston

• Party affiliation: Republican

• Education: Drake University

• Occupation: Financial Services Professional

• Previous elected offices held: None

• Major civic activities: Volunteer at Embrace Grace, an outreach program for young pregnant girls. Active member of her church, teaching classes, leading prayer groups, and helping with youth ministry.

Gary Leffler 

• Age: 61

• Town of residence: West Des Moines

• Party affiliation: Republican

• Education: Bachelor of Science in History & Biblical Studies, Pillsbury Bible College

• Occupation: Construction Consultant

• Previous elected offices held: None

• Major civic activities: Have done numerous events with the law enforcement and veteran community throughout the state; attended the peace officer memorial service and highly active in Camp Dodge activities.

Zach Nunn

• Age: 43

• Town of residence: Bondurant

• Party affiliation: Republican

• Education: BA in political science from Drake University; advanced degrees in international security from Cambridge University; cybersecurity from Air Command & Staff College; and strategy & technology innovation from Air War College

• Occupation: U.S. Air Force, small business owner

• Previous elected offices held: Iowa House of Representatives 2014-2018, currently serving in Iowa Senate

• Major civic activities: Task Force Argo, Co-Founder; Harkin Institute Scholarship Board; Knights of Columbus, 4th Degree; Veterans of Foreign Wars, Altoona Post founders; American Legion, Bondurant Post; Civil Air Patrol

What distinguishes you from your primary opponents?

Hasso: I’m not a politician. I’m an outsider, and this is my first campaign for elected office. I’ve lived the American Dream, and I’ll fight to protect that dream for all Iowans. I’m running because I feel called to step to serve Iowa families who’ve been left behind by the politicians in Washington, not because it’s the next step in a political career.

Leffler: I’m the only candidate in the race who has owned and operated a farm. With the redrawing advantage of the new 3rd district being 50% rural and 50% urban we have a tremendous opportunity to take back the district.  We are running a truly grassroots campaign on an America First Agenda. I’m the only candidate who has done countless events in the district on behalf Gov. Kim Reynolds, President Donald Trump, David Young and state legislators. I’m well known among the law enforcement and veteran community.

Nunn: Honored to serve my fellow Americans as a combat veteran, with multiple deployments flying missions overseas. Also, I am privileged to lead in the Iowa legislature as a state Senator in a Republican-Democrat split district. I’m the only candidate in this race with a record of cutting taxes and putting money back in the pockets of hardworking Iowans. I plan to represent all Iowans in Congress, which is why I made sure that when it came time to qualify for the 2022 ballot, I traveled to every county in the 3rd District, because every voice matter. I am the only candidate, Republican or Democrat, to certify in all 21 counties.

Have you sought former President Donald Trump’s endorsement? Why or why not?

Hasso: I haven’t actively chased any endorsement. All the incredible people on Team Hasso – political leaders and volunteers alike – have supported me because our message resonates with Iowa families. I’m proud of both the strong endorsements we’ve received and the motivated grassroots volunteers behind me who know I’ll fight to end inflation and keep Iowa families safe.

Leffler: I’m already known as the most pro-Trump candidate in the race. The only endorsement I’ve sought is the endorsement of the people of Iowa’s 3rd district

Nunn: I’ve been endorsed by top Republicans like former Secretary of State and Director of the CIA Mike Pompeo, a Trump appointee, in addition to former Speaker Newt Gingrich, and dozens of conservative leaders in Congress and the Iowa statehouse. I’ve not asked President Trump directly for an endorsement, because the only endorsement I am focused on is the one from Iowa voters who want common-sense representation for Iowa’s 3rd District. I am humbling asking for your endorsement with your vote on election day.

There is a strong likelihood that no one political party will have total control of the federal government after the election. And if one does, the majority will be narrow. How would you work across party lines to improve the lives of Iowans?

Hasso: I’m running to serve the people of the 3rd District, not a political party. I’m not going to go to Washington and only work with one side of the aisle. I’m ready and willing to work with anyone who is going to help deliver solutions for Iowans dealing with skyrocketing prices and the consequences of the far-left partisan agenda.

Leffler: By focusing on issues that there is agreed consensus on. For example, baby formula needs to be readily available, fuel prices need to come down, ethanol needs to be expanded because it's good for Iowa's economy and environment. Everyone agrees that the border is in a crisis, and everyone agrees there should be a solution to the problem.

Nunn: I believe in principled policies. I voted independently from Democrats and fellow Republicans on multiple occasions. Equally, the majority of legislation I led during my tenure in the Iowa legislature: Constitutional preservations, tax cuts, combatting human trafficking, judicial reform, and school security passed with bipartisan majorities. Iowans are pragmatic and want solutions over polarizing politics. I don’t see any reason to leave my willingness to work across the aisle to get things done in Iowa, but the bipartisan work I want to be part of in DC has to be much better than what we’ve seen out of Congresswoman Axne who votes in lock-step with Speaker Pelosi’s left-only national agenda.

Since the 2020 election, the Republican Party has had no official party platform. What should Republicans focus on if they retake the House and Senate?

Hasso: We must devote our focus to getting inflation under control and our economy back on track. I’ve been talking to people across the district, and they’re struggling right now. Too many Iowans are worried about how they are going to put food on the table or fill up their gas tank. It’s time we rebuild an economy that allows Iowa families and businesses to thrive.

Leffler: I consider what happened during the pandemic a national security crisis. We rely on China for 90% of antibiotics and Congress should deal with this immediately to bring the production of drugs to America. Congress has a derelict of duty with rampant executive orders while Congress is not fulfilling its constitutional role.

Nunn: Here in Iowa we do things right: we balance the budget, we got kids back into schools, we’ve made sure parents have a seat at the table when it comes to their children’s education, and we cut taxes—the largest in state history. In speaking with Iowans, I know our communities’ priorities: fix the economy, secure the border, provide a pathway for legal immigration, support the police, and protect our national security. Listening to voters ensures good leaders take the country in the right direction. Let’s take what’s been working so well in Iowa to Washington DC.

It’s well documented that Iowa has a critical shortage of safe, adequate affordable housing, especially in rural areas. U.S. Department of Agriculture rural development rental assistance in Iowa declined by $2 million over the past five years, even as demand grew, and a portion went to subsidize apartments that residents told the Des Moines Register were poorly run and in some cases barely fit for habitation. How would you address that situation?

Hasso: I grew up on the South Side of Chicago. I know what it’s like to not have an adequate place to call home. We must ensure all Iowans have access to safe and affordable housing by encouraging development, not just throwing money at an inefficient, slow-moving bureaucracy. We’ve got to encourage investment in our state and our district to bring the quality housing and jobs that Iowans need.

Leffler: We’ve got to eliminate red tape and burdensome regulations, which is the reason for the reduction of housing in rural Iowa. I consider this a top issue of mine after talking to realtors, business owners and homeowners throughout the district.

Nunn: With the largest federal budget in history, cuts to USDA’s rural development fund mark a failure of leadership for Iowans at the federal level. Combined with runaway inflation, and rising interest rates, the average Iowa family can expect additional costs in excess of $5,200 annually. Big cities and small communities alike are suffering from a lack of quality affordable housing. I am proud to have led pilot programs with our trade schools to build affordable homes that are being delivered to communities around Iowa. Iowa’s “best-practices playbook” can be shared with the rest of the nation by partnering with our private, public, and trade programs.

How should Congress tackle inflation?

Hasso: Congress has a spending problem. We’ve seen Democrats go on a multi-trillion-dollar spending spree in the past few years to finance their liberal agenda. This reckless spending has unleashed inflation at levels we haven’t seen in 40 years, and Iowans are paying the price. It is crucial that we put an end to the spending that is driving us into economic crisis and focus on getting government out of the way so Iowans can prosper.

Leffler: Rein in spending and eliminate earmarks on spending bills. The fact that we have a shortage of baby formula in America and that we have to get it from Europe is unconscionable We are a fossil fuel-driven economy, and we need to reestablish ourselves as energy independent. We need to reconstitute the supply chain that is adversely affecting our families' rising cost of living.

Nunn: First, stop the out-of-control federal government spending by passing a national budget that does not spend more than it earns. Currently, America is on track to spend three times more than it collects. Second, scale back on the scope and size of the federal bureaucracy, through elimination and delegation back to states. Third, return America’s energy independence to create domestic jobs, shorten supply chains and grow production.

How should Congress balance the desires to drive down gas prices and to fight climate change?

Hasso: I think we should make every effort to take care of the land we’ve been given, but we have to implement real-world solutions, not naïve policies that will hurt Iowa families. Anybody who cares about the environment should support energy independence. Supporting American energy allows us to produce cleaner energy than the countries we now depend on while also driving down prices. We need someone in Congress who is operating in the real world, and in the real world, folks are very worried about how expensive a gallon of gas is.

Leffler: Ethanol and natural gas are two extremely clean fuels that need to be expanded. Especially ethanol, which is a renewable product. We are a fossil fuel-driven economy, and the transition of electric vehicles needs to happen slowly, so it is not hurting the consumer.

Nunn: Iowa is a leader in an “all of the above” approach for America’s energy independence. This includes Iowa’s biodiesel and ethanol production, output of wind, solar, nuclear, hydro energy, as well as cleaner domestically produced fossil fuels. The Biden administration’s whip-lash policies for domestic producers have spiked energy prices, and despite the two largest raids of America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Americans are still facing the highest gas prices in history. Arbitrary “green” policies, like battery-only vehicles, fail Americans and imperil national security by remaining dependent on dirty foreign oil.

How should Congress update the nation’s election laws to balance access, security and fairness?

Hasso: It is critical that we safeguard the election system that is the foundation of our democracy. We should ensure that every legal vote counts and implement common-sense measures like voter ID across the country to protect the integrity of our elections. It should be easy to vote, but tough to cheat.

Leffler: Iowa has been a tremendous role model in voter ID. Having spoken at the Capitol for voter ID, I have been very impressed with the job Secretary of State Paul Pate’s office has been doing. As shown in the Mariannette Miller-Meeks race, our process has been shown to be highly successful.

Nunn: Once again Iowa has been a leader in voter integrity, ensuring it’s easy to vote and hard to cheat. That’s a direct result of dedicated leadership and good legislation requiring things like paper ballots and a valid form of ID to vote. Iowa’s non-partisan redistricting is a model for the world. Further, I would not have voted for HR 1, as Congresswoman Axne did, which would give the federal government a complete take-over of our voting process, flying in the face of the great work we’ve done in Iowa to protect our vote.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Nicole Hasso, Gary Leffler, Zach Nunn running for 3rd Iowa district