Cindy Axne of West Des Moines won the Democratic Primary for the opportunity to challenge Republican Third District Congressman David Young. Axne, a small business owner and former state government worker, collected far more votes than Eddie Mauro and Pete D’Alessandro. “Well, I said all along that if this race is won on hard work and the best volunteers and supporters out there, then we’re going to win this thing,” Axne told Radio Iowa.

Axne is pledging to run a positive campaign in the general election. “You know, David Young might be a nice guy, but when it comes down to making decisions that affect the lives of the people here in our district – that give them hope and give them opportunity, he’s not the right person for the job,” Axne said.

Young, who’s from Van Meter, is seeking his third term in D-C. Axne said she’ll start working today (Wednesday) on a strategy to defeat Young. “David Young really is working for corporations and special interests, and I think we can see that in the support that he has,” Axne said. “Certainly, things like taking contributions from insurance companies and then turning around and voting for a bill that would raise that premiums on Iowa families and especially older Iowans is just one example.”

About 500 Libertarians voted for Bryan Jack Holder of Council Bluffs to be their party’s nominee for congress in the third district. The Third Congressional District covers 16 counties in southwest Iowa and includes the cities of Des Moines and Council Bluffs.

(Radio Iowa)