2018Flipped from RepublicanFinal results
2018 election for Iowa's 3rd District
U.S. House · Iowa
Cynthia Axne (D) won with 49.3% of the vote, defeating David Young (R) by 2.2 points, a seat Republicans won last time.
Cynthia AxneDemocrat · winner
49.3%175,642
David YoungRepublican
47.1%167,933
Bryan Jack HolderLibertarian
2.0%7,267
Mark Elworth Jr.Other party
0.6%2,015
Paul KnuppGreen
0.5%1,888
Joe GrandanetteIndependent
0.4%1,301
356,241 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Oct 1, 2026, 6:17 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 2018
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Oct 1, 2026, 6:17 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Cynthia AxneDavid Young
$5.2M
Raised by the campaign
$2.8M
$5.2M
Spent by the campaign
$2.9M
$19.5K
Cash on hand
$12.8K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 2018.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 2018
The candidates
Cynthia Axne (D)David Young (R)
Also on the ballot: Bryan Jack Holder (Libertarian), 2.0%; Mark Elworth Jr. (Other party), 0.6%; Paul Knupp (Green), 0.5%; Joe Grandanette (Independent), 0.4%