Iowa Democrat Has Time to Fundraise, Not Debate

Iowa Democrat Sarah Trone Garriott has refused to debate her Republican opponent, Rep. Zach Nunn, before early voting begins. The U.S. House candidate says she is unavailable until two weeks after voting is already underway.

According to a transcript of a phone call between the two campaigns, obtained by The Daily Signal, Trone Garriott’s campaign says she does not have one hour in the next 22 days to debate Nunn.

Nunn has accepted multiple dates to debate his opponent ahead of early voting. Those dates include Oct. 14, 16, 20, and 21.

Trone Garriott claims she is not available until after Oct. 27, two weeks after early voting begins. According to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, at this time in the 2024 cycle, roughly 400,000 Iowans had already cast their ballots.

On a debate negotiation phone call between the two campaigns on Sept. 30, provided by Nunn’s campaign, the representatives from both sides failed to agree on an earlier date.

“You don’t have an hour gap for the next 27 days to give voters the opportunity to hear from Congressman Nunn and Senator Trone Garriott on the debate stage?” Nunn’s campaign asked.

“We’ve already said our dates here,” Trone Garriott’s campaign responded, sticking to its preferred dates—two weeks after early voting starts.

When local news station KCCI floated a date between Oct. 14 and Oct. 27, Trone Garriott’s campaign declined. “I agree with everything you’re saying. … But unfortunately, our schedule is, you know, that’s pretty firm here after the 27th,” they said.

Trone Garriott did not respond to the Daily Signal’s request for comment.

However, she is set to attend a fundraiser on one of the proposed dates. The fundraiser, Barnstorm Bash, hosted by Dallas County Democrats on Oct. 21, is selling tickets for upwards of $3,500.

Trone Garriott was also spotted in Chicago last week fundraising with former Chicago Mayor and Obama White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

“Sarah Trone Garriott can find time to leave Iowa to rub elbows with her Democrat party leaders, but she can’t find one hour to debate the issues in front of Iowans,” National Republican Congressional Committee spokeswoman Emily Tuttle said in a statement to the Daily Signal.

“This just proves her priority will always be her liberal bosses and their agenda, not Iowans,” Tuttle continued.

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