Cindy Axne

Cynthia Lynne Axne (née Wadle, April 20, 1965) is a businesswoman and politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Iowa's 3rd congressional district since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, she defeated incumbent Republican David Young in the 2018 elections. The district is anchored in the state capital, Des Moines; it serves much of the state's southwest quadrant, including Council Bluffs.

Axne was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1965, the daughter of Terry and Joanne Wadle. She graduated from Valley High School in West Des Moines, Iowa. She earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Iowa and a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University.

After graduating from college, Axne worked in leadership development and strategic planning for the Tribune Company in Chicago. From 2005 through 2014, she worked in Iowa state government on service delivery in over 20 state agencies in the executive branch.

During the 2018 elections, Axne ran for the United States House of Representatives in Iowa's 3rd congressional district.

Axne won the primary election with 57.91% of the vote. She defeated incumbent Representative Young in the general election and became one of the first women from Iowa elected to the U.S. House of Representatives along with Abby Finkenauer.

Tenure

Axne took office amid the 2018–19 United States federal government shutdown and requested that her pay be withheld until the shutdown ended. On January 30, 2019, Axne co-sponsored a bill to prevent future federal government shutdowns from happening; the bill was titled Shutdown to End All Shutdowns (SEAS Act).

Axne is currently serving on the United States House Committee on Agriculture. After Republican Steve King, representing Iowa's 4th congressional district, was removed from all his committee assignments by Republican leadership for making racist remarks, Axne became the only Iowan on the committee.

Committee assignments

• Committee on Agriculture
  • Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit
  • Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry
• United States House Committee on Financial Services
  • Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development and Insurance
  • Subcommittee on Investor Protection, Entrepreneurship and Capital Markets

Caucus memberships

• New Democrat Coalition

Axne and her husband, John, currently operate a digital design firm. They have two teenage sons and live in West Des Moines. Axne and her family are members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in West Des Moines.