Controversy Arises Over Claims Against Iowa Democrat
Recent political discourse in Iowa has been dominated by a claim circulating among Republicans, including Rep. Zach Nunn, suggesting that Democrat Sarah Trone Garriott officiated a Satanic wedding. This assertion, however, is not supported by facts.
Sarah Trone Garriott, who currently serves as a state senator and Lutheran minister, embarked on a campaign to challenge Nunn, recognized as one of the most vulnerable Republicans in the House ahead of the fall reelection.
In 2023, Trone Garriott was part of the Des Moines Storytellers Project, where she narrated an event centered on “love.” As part of her narrative, she recounted an incident from 2006, when two self-identified Satanists approached her West Virginia church, where she was training as a minister, to request a marriage ceremony.
Though initially conflicted about being part of their ceremony, Trone Garriott was directed by her head pastor to choose a Bible reading. She reflected on the experience as a lesson in extending goodwill to those holding different beliefs.
“It’s hard work to love one another and we often need to be reminded how,” Trone Garriott remarked.
It is crucial to note that Trone Garriott did not officiate the wedding, nor was it a Satanic ritual. The ceremony was a Christian service held in a Lutheran church, featuring New Testament readings.
Yet, Nunn and his supporters have portrayed the event differently. At a Clarke County Republican Liberty barbeque on June 23, Nunn stated, “[Trone Garriott] feels that Iowa is too white, too Christian, too male to be successful,” adding, “She says she’s a Lutheran pastor, but then she goes out and officiates demonic weddings.” This statement is documented in a report.
Further fuelling the narrative, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) posted on social media in April claiming that “Trone Garriott officiated a SATANIST WEDDING” and declaring “Democrats are NUTS.” Similar sentiments were expressed in various statements from Republican representatives.
Additional accusations suggest that Trone Garriott labeled Iowa’s private Christian schools as “white enclaves” and “segregation academies” in a 2023 sermon. These claims are misleading. Her comments accurately referenced the historical context of some Christian schools founded in the 1970s in reaction to racial integration policies.
These aggressive tactics may indicate a sense of urgency among Republicans. A March poll by Conservatives for America showed Nunn ahead of Trone Garriott by a mere one percentage point. Trone Garriott’s fundraising efforts have also outpaced Nunn’s, raising $2.2 million compared to his $968,000 last quarter.
The Cook Political Report currently categorizes this electoral race as a toss-up, reflecting its competitive nature.
