Lanon Baccam tapped to lead Gov.-elect Rob Sand’s inauguration

Democrat Lanon Baccam has been tapped by Gov.-elect Rob Sand to lead his inauguration team. Baccam is likely best known to many Iowans as the Democratic candidate who ran against U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District seat in 2024 — a race he lost to the Republican incumbent. The son of Tai Dam refugees, he has prior experience in politics, having served in the U.S. Department of Agriculture under former Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilasck — a previous Democratic Iowa governor — during President Barack Obama and Joe Biden’s administrations. Baccam is also a veteran, having served as a combat engineer in Afghanistan. Sand announced Baccam will be in charge of planning and coordination for inaugural services as Sand and Lt. Gov.-elect Dave Muhlbauer take office in January, succeeding Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds and the current administration. Inaugural events are set to be held Jan. 15 through 17, 2027, according to the news release.

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