Lanon Baccam
Lanon Baccam | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 6, 1981 Mount Pleasant, Iowa, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Allisa Brammer |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Drake University (BA)
|
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | |
Lanon Baccam (born March 6, 1981) is an American politician and United States Veteran. A member of the Democratic Party, he is running for The United States House of Representatives in Iowa's third district. This one of the House of Representatives races in Iowa is set to be a close race that will likely decide which party holds the majority after the election.
Early life and education
Baccam was born on March 6, 1981, to Tai Dam immigrants Inh "Joe" Baccam and Bounmy Baccam in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. His parents immigrated to the United States in 1980 through initiatives welcoming Southeast Asian refugees to Iowa spearheaded by then-Iowa Governor Robert Ray. After arriving in Iowa, the Baccams were sponsored by a first-generation Swedish family, helping them find jobs and their home.[1]
At the age of 17, he joined the Iowa National Guard. Following the 9/11 attacks, he left school and volunteered for active duty. In 2004, he was deployed to Afghanistan as a combat engineer, focusing on explosive demolitions and force protection in and around Kandahar.
Following his service, he used his GI bill to attend Drake University, earning a Bachelor's Degree in Politics with a minor in Economics.
Career
He began his political career by volunteering for then-Iowa Governor and fellow Mount Pleasant man Tom Vilsack.
He went on to work in the United States Department of Agriculture under Secretary Tom Vilsack. He was a day-one appointee of the Biden Administration and served as the Deputy Chief of Staff and Deputy Under Secretary of the USDA, [2] where he worked to create pathways for veterans to find careers in agriculture and promote careers in agriculture.
In November 2023, he announced he was running for the United States House of Representatives in Iowa's Third District.[3] He swiftly defeated Democrat Melissa Vine in the primary to face Republican Representative Zach Nunn in the general election.[4] The DCCC included him in their Red to Blue program and called him a "top-tier candidate," showing how crucial they see this race to be and that they plan to take back the seat. With the House of Representatives being so close regarding who holds the majority, democrats see Baccam's race as a decisive election in who will hold the majority in the 119th Congress.
If elected, Baccam would be the first Asian American to Represent Iowa, as well as the first Tai Dam person to serve in Congress.[5]
Electoral History
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Lanon Baccam | 19,357 | 84.2 | |
| Democratic | Melissa Vine | 3,642 | 15.8 | |
| Total votes | 22,999 | 100.0 | ||
References
- ↑ "Meet Lanon Baccam, candidate in Iowa's 3rd District". Iowa Starting Line.
- ↑ "USDA Announces Lanon Baccam as Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services and Military Veterans Agricultural Liaison". USDA.
- ↑ "UDemocrat Lanon Baccam launches run for, challenging Rep. Zach Nunn". Des Moines Register.
- ↑ "Lanon Baccam wins Democratic nomination in Iowa's 3rd District, will face US Rep. Zach Nunn". Des Moines Register.
- ↑ "Child of refugees runs for Congress as immigration divides his district". Washington Post.
- ↑ "Iowa 3rd Congressional District Primary Election Results". New York Times. June 4, 2024.
External links
- https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/archive/tag/lanon-baccam Archived May 4, 2017, at the Wayback Machine
- https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/archive/tag/lanon-baccam Archived May 4, 2017, at the Wayback Machine
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