A Democrat running in a competitive Iowa district recently came under scrutiny for allegedly scrubbing his social media account of anti-Trump and pro-Biden posts prior to winning the congressional primary earlier this month. Lanon Baccam, a combat veteran and former USDA official, secured the Democratic nomination for Iowa's Third Congressional District on June 4, defeating his rival Melissa Vine by a significant margin. Baccam, who has a background in Democratic political campaigns and has worked for prominent figures such as President Biden, Hillary Clinton, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, is now set to face Republican Zach Nunn in the upcoming November election.
The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) raised concerns about Baccam's social media activity, accusing him of attempting to present a more moderate image by removing numerous partisan posts from his X account. The NRCC spokesperson criticized Baccam for allegedly trying to distance himself from his past as a political activist and for not being transparent with voters about his views.
Examples of the scrubbed posts included statements like, 'Make a plan to vote now and you can toss out Trump when I toss this in the trash,' and 'Joe Biden will be a commander in chief who understands and supports our veterans.' Baccam's social media account, as of June 13, no longer mentions former President Trump or President Biden, suggesting a deliberate effort to disassociate from both major party nominees.
In response to the allegations, Baccam emphasized his dedication to serving working families and strengthening communities, highlighting his experience in assisting veterans and promoting rural development during his tenure at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Meanwhile, his Republican opponent, Zach Nunn, who previously flipped Iowa's 3rd Congressional District from blue to red in 2022, is gearing up for a competitive race as Democrats aim to reclaim the seat in the upcoming election.
