Foreign Policy for America Endorses Lanon Baccam for Election in IA-03

Former USDA Deputy Under Secretary endorsed by nonpartisan Foreign Policy for America

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 17, 2024  

WASHINGTON D.C. - Foreign Policy for America announced today its endorsement of Lanon Baccam for election to Congress as the next Representative from Iowa’s Third Congressional District. Baccam is a first-generation American, U.S. Army veteran, and former Deputy Under Secretary at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

“Lanon Baccam has devoted his entire life to serving Iowans, and we’re grateful he’s continuing that service today by running to represent his district in Washington,” said Andrew Albertson, Executive Director of Foreign Policy for America. “Born and raised in Iowa, a veteran of the U.S. Army, and a former senior official at the US Department of Agriculture, Lanon gets it. He understands that the best path to jobs and higher wages in Iowa isn’t by retreating behind walls or starting new trade wars, but by expanding market access for Iowa farmers and businesses. He knows that hard working American immigrants – like his parents – have made our country stronger and more prosperous, and that the kind of cruel, politically driven border policies Donald Trump put in place get us nowhere. Lanon is exactly the kind of serious, honest leader we need more of right now in Washington, and we’re proud to give him our endorsement.”

Lanon Baccam is a first-generation American and proud Iowan. The son of Tai Dam refugees, Baccam enlisted in the Iowa National Guard at age 17 and later served in the U.S. Army as a combat engineer in Afghanistan from 2004-2005. Following his service in the Army, Baccam worked in state government and then joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a Special Assistant in the Foreign Agricultural Service. In 2015, Baccam was named Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services and later also served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Secretary Tom Vilsack. Baccam’s steadfast commitment to a diplomacy-first foreign policy reflects his family history and his experience serving overseas, as well as his unique insight into Iowa’s important contributions to U.S. trade and humanitarian aid.

Baccam joins other FP4A endorsed candidates: Sen. Sherrod Brown (OH-Sen), Sen. Bob Casey (PA-Sen), Sen. Tim Kaine (VA-Sen), Sen. Tammy Baldwin (WI-Sen), Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-Sen), Rep. Elissa Slotkin (MI-Sen), Rep. Andy Kim (NJ-Sen), Rep. Colin Allred (TX-Sen), Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49), Rep. Jason Crow (CO-06), Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Rep. Bill Foster (IL-11), Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Rep. Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Rep. Seth Moulton (MA-06), Rep. Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), Rep. Pat Ryan (NY-18), Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Rep. Susan Wild (PA-07), Rep. Gabe Amo (RI-01), Rep. Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Rep. Don Beyer (VA-08), Rep. Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Andrei Cherny (AZ-01), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Gil Cisneros (CA-31), Will Rollins (CA-41), Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-Sen), Christina Bohannan (IA-01), and Missy Cotter Smasal (VA-02). Our endorsed candidates are chosen because of their consistent leadership in favor of diplomacy-first foreign policy.

Foreign Policy for America is a nonpartisan advocacy organization working to strengthen support for principled American engagement in the world. We support policies that keep Americans safe and out of conflicts, advance prosperity for all, and are true to our country’s highest values.

Media Contact: Benjamin Pearl, press@fp4america.org