(Radio Iowa) – Sarah Trone Garriott, a Democrat who’s running for Iowa’s third district seat in the U-S House, says if elected she’ll work to turn around some of the federal budget cuts outlined in the “Big Beautiful Bill” Republican Congressman Zach Nunn voted for this summer. Trone Garriott held a forum in Des Moines Sunday afternoon and fielded questions on a variety of topics, including cuts to Medicaid and the end of an enhanced tax credit for some of the Iowans who use the Affordable Care Act Marketplace to buy health insurance.

“The public has an incredibly powerful voice and I know by being present in the process, it does change things,” Trone Garriott said. A woman in the crowd raised concerns about cuts in federal food assistance and, near the end of the hour-long forum, a man was applauded as he called for removing nitrates from the rivers that provide drinking water in central Iowa. Trone Garriott says a new Farm Bill could really address the crisis by supporting proven farming practices that reduce soil loss and farm chemical runoff.

“I think that’s really what farmers need is support to make changes. They have a really difficult market that they’re dealing with right now in large part because of those tariffs,” Trone Garriott says. “…We need to be thinking about how do we support our farmers in doing what they know is important changes to make.” Trone Garriott began Sunday’s event by criticizing Congressman Nunn for saying town hall forums are turning into taxpayer-funded protest events. Trone Garriott says if people are angry, it’s even more important to learn why.

“Our Congressman Zach Nunn has not been showing up for people,” Trone Garriott says. “Since he started four years ago, he has not held a single open town hall.” Nunn’s campaign manager says the congressman is holding real listening sessions with Iowans that deliver real results. Nunn is seeking a third term in the U-S House.

Trone Garriott, a pastor who’s been a member of the Iowa Senate since 2023, and Jennifer Konfrst, the former Democratic Leader in the Iowa House, are the two leading Democrats in the third district race.