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Democrat Axne Defeats Two-Term Republican Congressman Young in Iowa's 3rd District

cindy axne
John Pemble/IPR
Cindy Axne speaks to supporters after being elected to represent Iowa's 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Democrat Cindy Axne joined a record-breaking number of women elected to the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday night with her victory over two-term Republican Congressman David Young in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District.

She told supporters in Des Moines she entered the race because she was frustrated with decisions being made in Washington D.C..

“Decisions that are hurting hardworking Iowa families. Decisions that are helping only corporations and millionaires and billionaires. Well you know what? You all got busy,” Axne said. “You got the vote out. And we’re going to change that.”

Axne, a West Des Moines business owner running for office for the first time, is now one of the first women elected to represent Iowa in the U.S. House of Representatives. Democrat Abby Finkenauer also won her race in Iowa’s 1st District Tuesday night.

Axne got 49 percent of the vote to Young’s 47.5 percent in the southwest corner of Iowa, where attack ads have inundated the competitive district in past weeks. Libertarian Bryan Holder won 2 percent of the vote.

“I’m interested in solving problems and making sure we bring opportunity back to people into this corner of the state and this entire state in general,” Axne said. “And because of that I have not taken one penny from a corporate PAC because I’m out there to work for you and not for corporations and special interests.”

She has said her priorities in Congress will include shoring up the Affordable Care Act, improving the nation’s infrastructure, and changing the tax code to benefit working families.

Axne also says she plans to continue Young’s tradition of visiting all 16 counties in the district every month.

Young gave a brief concession speech in Des Moines.

“The great thing about this country is we give the people the power to set the direction and course to choose their leaders and who should represent them in government,” Young said. “And tonight the people didn’t choose us, unfortunately, [or] our ideas.”

President Trump, Vice President Pence and House Speaker Paul Ryan made trips to Iowa last month to campaign for Young.

Katarina Sostaric is IPR's State Government Reporter