Iowa's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that covers its southwestern quadrant, which roughly consists of an area stretching from Des Moines to the borders with Missouri.

From 2013 to 2023, the district covered the southwestern corner of the state, from the Des Moines metropolitan area on the northeastern end to the greater Council Bluffs area on the southwestern end.

The district has been represented in the United States House of Representatives by Republican Zach Nunn since 2023. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+3, it is the equal least Republican leaning district (along with the 1st) of Iowa’s four congressional districts, a state currently represented in congress only by Republicans.[2]

Statewide races since 2000

Election results from statewide races:

OfficeYearDistrict resultWinner
StatewideNationwide
President2000Al Gore 49% – George W. Bush 48%GoreBush
2004George W. Bush 50% – John Kerry 50%Bush
2008Barack Obama 54% – John McCain 44%ObamaObama
2012Barack Obama 51% – Mitt Romney 47%
2016Donald Trump 48% – Hillary Clinton 45%TrumpTrump
2020Donald Trump 49.1% – Joe Biden 49.0%Biden

List of members representing the district

RepresentativePartyYearsCong
ress		Electoral historyLocation
District created March 4, 1863

William B. Allison
(Dubuque)		RepublicanMarch 4, 1863 –
March 3, 1871		38th
39th
40th
41st		Elected in 1862.
Re-elected in 1864.
Re-elected in 1866.
Re-elected in 1868.
Retired to run for U.S. Senator.		1863–1873
[data missing]

William G. Donnan
(Independence)		RepublicanMarch 4, 1871 –
March 3, 1875		42nd
43rd		Elected in 1870.
Re-elected in 1872.
Retired.
1873–1883
[data missing]

Lucien L. Ainsworth
(West Union)		DemocraticMarch 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1877		44thElected in 1874.
Retired.

Theodore W. Burdick
(Decorah)		RepublicanMarch 4, 1877 –
March 3, 1879		45thElected in 1876.
Retired.

Thomas Updegraff
(McGregor)		RepublicanMarch 4, 1879 –
March 3, 1883		46th
47th		Elected in 1878.
Re-elected in 1880.
Redistricted to the 4th district and lost re-election there.

David B. Henderson
(Dubuque)		RepublicanMarch 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1903		48th
49th
50th
51st
52nd
53rd
54th
55th
56th
57th		Elected in 1882.
Re-elected in 1884.
Re-elected in 1886.
Re-elected in 1888.
Re-elected in 1890.
Re-elected in 1892.
Re-elected in 1894.
Re-elected in 1896.
Re-elected in 1898.
Re-elected in 1900.
Renominated but withdrew prior to election.		1883–1887
Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Delaware, Dubuque, and Grundy counties
1887–1933
Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Delaware, Dubuque, Franklin, Hardin, and Wright counties

Benjamin P. Birdsall
(Clarion)		RepublicanMarch 4, 1903 –
March 3, 1909		58th
59th
60th		Elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Re-elected in 1906.
Retired.

Charles E. Pickett
(Waterloo)		RepublicanMarch 4, 1909 –
March 3, 1913		61st
62nd		Elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Lost re-election.

Maurice Connolly
(Dubuque)		DemocraticMarch 4, 1913 –
March 3, 1915		63rdElected in 1912.
Retired to run for U.S. Senator.

Burton E. Sweet
(Waverly)		RepublicanMarch 4, 1915 –
March 3, 1923		64th
65th
66th
67th		Elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Retired to run for U.S. Senator.

Thomas J. B. Robinson
(Hampton)		RepublicanMarch 4, 1923 –
March 3, 1933		68th
69th
70th
71st
72nd		Elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Lost re-election.

Albert C. Willford
(Waterloo)		DemocraticMarch 4, 1933 –
January 3, 1935		73rdElected in 1932.
Lost re-election.		1933–1943
[data missing]

John W. Gwynne
(Waterloo)		RepublicanJanuary 3, 1935 –
January 3, 1949		74th
75th
76th
77th
78th
79th
80th		Elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Re-elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Re-elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Lost renomination.
1943–1963
[data missing]

Harold R. Gross
(Waterloo)		RepublicanJanuary 3, 1949 –
January 3, 1975		81st
82nd
83rd
84th
85th
86th
87th
88th
89th
90th
91st
92nd
93rd		Elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Re-elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Re-elected in 1972.
Retired.
1963–1973
[data missing]
1973–1983
[data missing]

Chuck Grassley
(New Hartford)		RepublicanJanuary 3, 1975 –
January 3, 1981		94th
95th
96th		Elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Retired to run for U.S. Senator.

T. Cooper Evans
(Grundy Center)		RepublicanJanuary 3, 1981 –
January 3, 1987		97th
98th
99th		Elected in 1980.
Re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Retired.
1983–1993
[data missing]

David R. Nagle
(Cedar Rapids)		DemocraticJanuary 3, 1987 –
January 3, 1993		100th
101st
102nd		Elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Redistricted to the 2nd district and lost re-election.

Jim R. Lightfoot
(Shenandoah)		RepublicanJanuary 3, 1993 –
January 3, 1997		103rd
104th		Redistricted from the 5th district and re-elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Retired to run for U.S. Senator.		1993–2003
[data missing]

Leonard Boswell
(Davis City)		DemocraticJanuary 3, 1997 –
January 3, 2013		105th
106th
107th
108th
109th
110th
111th
112th		Elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.
Re-elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Re-elected in 2010.
Lost re-election.
2003–2013

Tom Latham
(Alexander)		RepublicanJanuary 3, 2013 –
January 3, 2015		113thRedistricted from the 4th district and re-elected in 2012.
Retired.		2013–2023

David Young
(Van Meter)		RepublicanJanuary 3, 2015 –
January 3, 2019		114th
115th		Elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Lost re-election.

Cindy Axne
(West Des Moines)		DemocraticJanuary 3, 2019 –
January 3, 2023		116th
117th		Elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Lost re-election.

Zach Nunn
(Bondurant)		RepublicanJanuary 3, 2023 –
present		118thElected in 20222023–present:

Recent election results

Year[3]WinnerSecondPercentage
Party affiliationCandidateVotesParty affiliationCandidateVotes
1920RepublicanBurton E. Sweet67,859Farmer–LaborRoy Jacobs1,97497% – 3%
1922Thomas J. B. Robinson34,518DemocraticFred P. Hageman24,30458% – 41%
192454,921Willis N. Birdsall25,21569% – 31%
192632,180Ellis E. Wilson13,69670% – 30%
192860,025Leo. F. Tierney38,46961% – 39%
193027,098W. L. Beecher15,90863% – 37%
1932DemocraticAlbert C. Willford48,939RepublicanThomas J. B. Robinson47,77651% – 49%
1934RepublicanJohn W. Gwynne42,063DemocraticAlbert C. Willford35,15951% – 43%
193653,92847,39152% – 46%
193845,541W. F. Hayes30,15860% – 40%
194065,425Ernest J. Seemann43,70960% – 40%
194254,124William D. Kearney35,06561% – 39%
194474,90156,98558% – 42%
194648,346Dan J. P. Ryan29,66162% – 38%
1948H. R. Gross78,83856,00258% – 41%
195073,490James O. Babcock40,78664% – 36%
1952109,992George R. Laub56,87166% – 34%
195468,30741,62262% – 38%
195697,590Michael Micich69,07659% – 41%
195861,92053,46754% – 46%
196099,046Edward J. Gallagher, Jr.76,83756% – 44%
196266,337Neel F. Hill50,58057% – 43%
196483,455Stephen M. Peterson83,03650.1% – 49.9%
196679,343L. A. Pat Touchae48,53062% – 38%
1968101,839John E. Van Eschen57,16464% – 36%
197066,087Lyle D. Taylor45,95859% – 41%
1972109,11386,84856% – 44%
1974Chuck Grassley77,468Stephen Rapp74,85951% – 49%
1976117,95790,98156% – 44%
1978103,659John Knudson34,88075% – 25%
1980T. Cooper Evans107,869Lynn G. Cutler101,73551% – 48%
1982104,07283,58155% – 45%
1984133,737Joe Johnston86,57461% – 39%
1986DemocraticDavid R. Nagle83,504RepublicanJohn McIntee69,38655% – 45%
1988129,204Donald B. Redfern74,68263% – 37%
1990100,947unopposed83399% – 1%
1992RepublicanJim Ross Lightfoot125,931DemocraticElaine Baxter121,06349% – 47%
1994111,86279,31058% – 41%
1996DemocraticLeonard Boswell115,914RepublicanMike Mahaffey111,89549% – 48%
1998107,947Larry McKibben78,06357% – 41%
2000156,327Jay Marcus83,81063% – 34%
2002115,367Stan Thompson97,28553% – 45%
2004168,007136,09955% – 45%
2006114,689Jeff Lamberti103,18252% – 47%
2008175,423Kim Schmett131,52456% – 42%
2010122,147Brad Zaun111,92550% – 46%
2012RepublicanTom Latham202,000DemocraticLeonard Boswell168,63251% – 42%
2014David Young148,814Staci Appel119,10952% – 42%
2016208,598Jim Mowrer155,00253% – 40%
2018DemocraticCindy Axne169,888RepublicanDavid Young164,66749% – 47%
2020219,205212,99749% – 48%
2022RepublicanZach Nunn156,237DemocraticCindy Axne154,08450% – 49%

2002

2002 Iowa's 3rd congressional district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticLeonard Boswell* 115,367 53.41
RepublicanStan Thompson97,28545.04
LibertarianJeffrey J. Smith2,6891.25
Socialist WorkersEdwin B. Fruit5690.26
No partyOthers750.04
Total votes215,985 100.00
Turnout 
Democratic hold

2004

2004 Iowa's 3rd congressional district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticLeonard Boswell* 168,007 55.21
RepublicanStan Thompson136,00944.72
No partyOthers2130.07
Total votes304,229 100.00
Turnout 
Democratic hold

2006

2006 Iowa's 3rd congressional district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticLeonard Boswell* 115,769 51.85
RepublicanJeff Lamberti103,72246.45
Socialist WorkersHelen Meyers3,5911.61
No partyOthers2050.09
Total votes223,287 100.00
Turnout 
Democratic hold

2008

2008 Iowa's 3rd congressional district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticLeonard Boswell* 176,904 56.31
RepublicanKim Schmett132,13642.06
Socialist WorkersFrank Forrestal4,5991.46
No partyOthers5210.17
Total votes314,160 100.00
Turnout 
Democratic hold

2010

2010 Iowa's 3rd congressional district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticLeonard Boswell* 122,147 50.73
RepublicanBrad Zaun111,92546.49
Socialist WorkersRebecca Williamson6,2582.60
No partyOthers4260.18
Total votes240,756 100.00
Turnout 
Democratic hold

2012

2012 Iowa's 3rd congressional district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanTom Latham* 202,000 50.56
DemocraticLeonard Boswell*168,63242.20
IndependentScott G. Batcher9,3522.34
Socialist WorkersDavid Rosenfeld6,2861.57
No partyOthers5720.14
Total votes399,561 100.00
Turnout 
Republican gain from Democratic

2014

2014 Iowa's 3rd congressional district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanDavid Young 148,814 52.8
DemocraticStaci Appel119,10942.2
LibertarianEdward Wright9,0543.2
No party preferenceBryan Jack Holder4,3601.5
Write-ins7290.3
Total votes282,066 100
Republican hold

2016

Map showing the results of the 2016 election in Iowa's 3rd congressional district by county
2016 Iowa's 3rd congressional district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanDavid Young* 208,598 53.45
DemocraticJim Mowrer155,00239.71
LibertarianBryan Jack Holder15,3723.94
Nominated by PetitionClaudia Addy6,3481.63
Nominated by PetitionJoe Grandanette4,5181.16
Write-ins4490.12
Total votes390,287 100.00
Republican hold

2018

Results of the 2018 Iowa's 3rd congressional district election
2018 Iowa's 3rd congressional district election[4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
DemocraticCindy Axne 169,888 49.0 +9.29
RepublicanDavid Young*164,66747.49-5.96
LibertarianBryan Jack Holder7,0052.02−1.92
Legal Marijuana NowMark Elworth, Jr.1,9060.55+0.55
GreenPaul Knupp1,7950.52+0.52
IndependentJoe Grandanette1,2710.37−0.79
Write-ins1780.05+0.00
Plurality5,2211.51
Turnout346,710100
Democratic gain from RepublicanSwing+15.25

2020

Results of the 2020 Iowa's 3rd congressional district election
2020 Iowa's 3rd congressional district election[5]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticCindy Axne (incumbent) 219,205 48.9
RepublicanDavid Young212,99747.6
LibertarianBryan Jack Holder15,3613.4
Write-in3840.1
Total votes447,947 100.0
Democratic hold

2022

2022 Iowa's 3rd congressional district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanZach Nunn 156,237 50.3%
DemocraticCindy Axne (incumbent)154,08449.6%
Write-in5340.2%
Total votes310,855 100%
Republican gain from Democratic

See also

References

General
  1. ^ "My Congressional District".
  2. ^ a b "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  3. ^ "Election Statistics". 2005. Archived from the original on July 25, 2007.
  4. ^ "Iowa General Election 2018". Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  5. ^ "General Election - 2020 Canvass Summary" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State.
Specific
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Home district of the speaker of the House
December 4, 1899 – March 4, 1903		Succeeded by


41°12′34″N 94°38′25″W / 41.20944°N 94.64028°W / 41.20944; -94.64028

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa%27s_3rd_congressional_district