Axne, Cindy, 1965-

<p>Cynthia Lynne Axne (/ˈæks.ni/; née Wadle; born April 20, 1965) is an American businesswoman and politician serving as the U.S. Representative from Iowa's 3rd congressional district since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, she defeated incumbent Republican David Young in the 2018 election. The district is anchored in the state capital, Des Moines; it includes much of the state's southwest quadrant, including Council Bluffs. Following the defeat of Abby Finkenauer and the retirement of Dave Loebsack from Congress, Axne became the sole Democrat in Iowa's delegation in 2021. She currently is the dean of Iowa's delegation to the House of Representatives.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Cindy Axne is an Iowan, a small business owner, parent, community activist, and U.S. Representative from Iowa’s Third Congressional District.</p>

<p>Cindy is a fifth-generation Iowan who grew up on the south side of Des Moines. Cindy’s childhood included weekends and summers spent on her maternal grandparents’ farm in Warren County, 4-H activities, and playing 6-on-6 basketball for the Valley High Tigers. After graduating from Valley High in Des Moines, Cindy received a bachelor’s in journalism from the University of Iowa. After undergrad, Cindy worked in strategic planning and leadership development for the Tribune Company in Chicago while earning an MBA from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University.</p>

<p>In 2007, when her older son started kindergarten, Cindy learned that full-day kindergarten was not available to every child in West Des Moines public schools, with eligibility determined by a lottery. Cindy was outraged at the inequity of the system and concerned that students were being shortchanged. She spent the following academic year advocating and negotiating with principals, the school board and the superintendent. After nearly a year, her efforts paid off and full-day kindergarten was made available to all students in the district.</p>

AXNE, Cynthia, a Representative from Iowa; born in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan, April 20, 1965; graduated from Valley High School, West Des Moines, Iowa; B.A., University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, 1987; M.B.A., Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill., 2002; staff, Iowa department of natural resources; staff, Iowa department of management; staff, Iowa department of administrative services; journalist; elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Sixteenth and to the succeeding Congress (January 3, 2019-present).