House - Cindy Axne - IA-3
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- Democrat re-elected in 2020 in southwest Iowa including Des Moines
- Video clip: Cindy Axne on signing the bipartisan infrastructure bill
In 2020, Cindy Axne won her second term in the House by a margin of just 1.4%. Geographic shifts in Iowa’s redistricting could make her reelection campaign even more difficult (“Cindy Axne will run for reelection in Congress, closing the door on Iowa gubernatorial bid”, Des Moines Register, 11/21/2021). Her district is losing several counties that she had focused on during her previous two terms, while gaining several other rural counties that tend to favor Republicans. Four Republicans have entered the primary, but State Sen. Zach Nunn is considered the frontrunner. A combat veteran, he has been a member of the Iowa senate since 2019 (“Republican state Sen. Zach Nunn announces congressional campaign in Iowa's 3rd District”, Des Moines Register, 7/13/2021). Members of both parties consider Nunn to be a stronger opponent than former Congressman David Young, whom Cindy defeated twice. Nunn’s ratings as an Iowa legislator are: 0% from the Iowa Sierra Club; 0% from Planned Parenthood Voters of Iowa; 12% from the Iowa AFL-CIO; 13% from ACLU Iowa; and 92% from the NRA.
A fifth-generation Iowan, Cindy earned her MBA from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University. From 2005 to 2014, she worked for the State of Iowa, making sure that the most vulnerable in the state's population were given a voice, and protecting the environment as division administrator at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. She has also been a small business owner and community activist, and is a parent of two children. A proven community leader, Cindy successfully advocated for all-day kindergarten for every child in West Des Moines.
Cindy is the only Iowan on the House Agriculture Committee; she also sits on the House Committee on Financial Services. She was the only House member representing Iowa to vote for the bipartisan infrastructure bill (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act).
In 2018, she was one of the first women, along with fellow Iowan Abby Finkenauer, to be elected to the House from Iowa. (Abby Finkenauer was defeated in 2020 by 2.6%.)
Cindy’s past two victories have been among the closest races in both 2018 and 2020, and her seat is again being targeted by Republicans. Our early support can help Cindy build the momentum she will need to win a third time in IA 3rd.
