Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is scheduled to visit Iowa on Monday to deliver remarks, engage with veterans, and participate in campaign activities, according to sources cited by CBS News. This visit is part of a broader effort by Republicans to maintain their hold on several congressional seats. Numerous former Trump administration officials have also been visiting Iowa to support GOP candidates and conduct official business.
Pentagon spokespeople did not respond immediately to requests for comment. Other officials who have recently visited Iowa include Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler, VA Secretary Doug Collins, and NATO's Matt Whitaker.
Despite Iowa's Republican lean in recent elections, Democrats are optimistic about their candidates this year. Two U.S. House seats held by Republican Representatives Zach Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks are viewed as highly competitive. Additionally, there are open races for a U.S. Senate seat and the governor's office.
Hegseth is set to appear at an event supporting Nunn, who is also a colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and has served in Congress since 2023. Nunn won his 2024 election by a narrow margin of four points, with the Cook Political Report rating his seat as leaning Republican. Miller-Meeks, who has represented Iowa's 1st District since 2021, is in a competitive race against Democrat Christine Bohannan, whom she narrowly defeated in 2024. Independent candidate Michael Bridgford is also in the race, describing himself as a 'normal person' who rejects party politics.
It is uncommon for a sitting defense secretary to campaign for candidates, as previous secretaries have rarely participated in such events. Last week, Hegseth visited South Carolina for an official renaming ceremony of Joint Base Charleston to Joint Base Lindsey Graham. The event was attended by Graham's sister, Senator Darline Graham, the day before a special Republican primary to fill her late brother's position. Earlier this year, Hegseth supported Republican Ed Gallrein in a primary against incumbent Representative Thomas Massie in northern Kentucky, where Gallrein emerged victorious. Massie is among several Republican incumbents who have lost primaries after President Trump's endorsement of alternative candidates.