Zach Nunn postpones fundraiser with Pete Hegseth after Iran war deaths

U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn has postponed a planned political fundraiser with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth that had drawn criticism in the wake of two Iowa servicemembers being among the first casualties in the U.S. war with Iran.

The Top Gun-themed "Operation Top Nunn: Salute to the Troops" event has been a recurring fundraiser for Nunn, a military veteran, as he's sought reelection over the years.

But the timing of the 2026 event, scheduled for March 14 in Ankeny, came under scrutiny as the U.S. went to war with Iran, and six American servicemembers were killed in an Iranian strike, including at least two Iowans.

A Pentagon news release late Wednesday, March 4, night named Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, 45, of Waukee, as one of the six servicemembers killed in Sunday's attack. Sgt. Declan Coady of West Des Moines, a 20-year-old Army Reservist and Drake University sophomore, had been identified among the dead Tuesday. Both were Nunn's constituents.

And Robert Marzan, 54, who is believed to be among the dead and has been identified by the Pentagon as being from Sacramento, California, was a longtime West Des Moines resident until 2023, potentially bringing to three the number of victims in the attack who either were Iowans or had strong ties to the state.

"My focus, as a combat veteran, dad and member of Congress is mission first: prioritizing Iowa service members forward deployed, supporting families on the home front and helping American citizens in harm's way get to safety," Nunn said in a statement Thursday, March 5. "… Our prayers are with the families and our action is with our troops on the frontlines."

Nunn said he will attend the dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base on March 7 to honor the servicemembers killed in action and "stand with their families during this solemn moment."

He said his team will have more to share about the Top Nunn event soon. All ticket holders will be notified of the new date.

Nunn is seeking a third term in the U.S. House of Representatives, and his 3rd District congressional seat is among the top-targeted in the country by Democrats.

Democrats in Iowa and nationally ramped up their scrutiny of Nunn's fundraiser after the announcements of the Iowa servicemembers being among the casualties.

“Iowans mourning the deaths of American service members, including two Iowans, watched Zach Nunn advertise a political campaign fundraiser with the Defense Secretary that was billed as a ‘tribute’ to our military, with funds going directly to line Nunn’s campaign coffers," Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Katie Smith said in a statement. "Nunn is more focused on campaign fundraising than doing his job in the middle of a war that killed two Iowans, and that’s disqualifying."

Nunn has conveyed his sympathies to the families of the killed and wounded soldiers, and he shared on social media that he has been in communication with leaders at the 103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command in Fort Des Moines.

"Working to ensure Iowa families have the most up-to-date information about our soldiers overseas remains our top priority," he said on X.

The U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran beginning Feb. 28.

The campaign announced in a Feb. 28 social media post and a March 2 media release that Hegseth would be the featured speaker.

Des Moines Register Statehouse reporter Marissa Payne contributed to this article.

Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register. She writes about campaigns, elections and the Iowa Caucuses. Reach her at [email protected] or 515-284-8244. Follow her on X at @brianneDMR.