A bipartisan military veterans group is getting flak for making an endorsement in a toss-up Iowa House race where both candidates are vets.
The group With Honor — which describes itself as a “cross-partisan” veterans’ group — caused a stir when it endorsed freshman GOP incumbent Rep. Zach Nunn over Democrat Lanon Baccam in the Hawkeye State’s Third Congressional District.
“Lanon Baccam is a combat veteran,” said California Rep. Ted Lieu, a Democrat and Air Force Vet. “He served in Afghanistan. I have no idea why With Honor would endorse one veteran over another.
“You can’t call yourself a bipartisan organization and make partisan decisions,” said Lieu, vice chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.
With Honor has spent $298,461 from its political fund to aid Nunn, its filings with the Federal Elections Commission show.
With Honor defended its endorsement of Nunn.
“Zach Nunn is an incumbent member of the For Country Caucus who has taken the With Honor Pledge. With Honor supports veterans from both parties who are committed to working across the aisle to address the important issues facing our country,” said With Honor Spokeswoman Kate Constantini.
Nunn is an Air Force Vet who did combat tours to the Middle East after 9/11 while Baccam, an Iowa National Guardsman, served as combat engineer in Afghanistan after 9/11.
The Cook Political Report has rated the race for the up-for-grabs district in and around Des Moines as a toss-up — one of the key swing districts that could play a role in determining whether Republicans or Democrats win the House majority..
An endorsement list shows With Honor has endorsed both Democratic and Republican military veterans.
In New York, the group endorsed first-term Republican Nick LaLota, a Navy vet, in Suffolk County’s District 1.
The organization is also backing the re-election of Democratic Rep. Ryan in Hudson Valley’s 18th District, a West Point graduate and Army veteran.
“Our mission is to strengthen democracy by fighting polarization in the U.S. Congress with principled veteran leadership,” With Honor’s mission statement says.
Meanwhile, Baccam does have the backing of another veterans advocacy group — VoteVets — which is a partisan group aligned with Democrats. It has spent $430,412 to help elect Baccam, FEC records show.
“VoteVets is committed to doing everything we can to elect Democrats to Congress with national security experience and make Hakeem Jeffries the next Speaker of the House,” said Max Rose, the former Democratic Staten Island Congress member and Army veteran, who is a senior adviser for VoteVets.
“With our democracy on the line, it has never been more important.”
