Waterloo Rep. Kajtazovic Considers Run for Braley's Seat

Iowa State Rep. Anesa Kajtazovic of Waterloo is considering a run for federal office.

Kajtazovic announced Sunday she is forming an exploratory committee to analyze the possibility of running for Iowa's First District seat in the House of Representatives.

The seat is currently held by Bruce Braley, who is running for the Senate seat being vacated by Tom Harkin in 2014.

Kajtazovic, 26, is the youngest person ever to serve in the Iowa House. The Democrat has represented Waterloo for two terms. She serves on committees including House Commerce, Appropriations, State Government and Veteran Affairs Committees and the Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee.

A naturalized American citizen who was born in Bosnia, Kajtazovic said her past influenced her interest in public service.

“I was always passionate about policy, and just what goes on in the world around,” she told the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. “I think I was influenced at a young age that it really does matter, after going through war."

She said she will launch a 20-county "listening tour" to learn about what issues are important to Iowans in the First District.

The First District includes 20 counties in north east Iowa; Allamakee, Black Hawk, Benton, Bremer, Buchanan, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Howard, Iowa, Jackson, Jones, Linn, Marshall, Mitchell, Poweshiek, Tama, Winneshiek, and Worth counties.   

The current field of candidates is already crowded. Current Democrat contenders for the seat are former speaker of the Iowa House Pat Murphy of Dubuque and Cedar Rapids city council member Monica Vernon. Republicans Rod Blum of Dubuque and Steve Rathje of Cedar Rapids are also running. Marion Democrat Swati Dandekar and Cedar Rapids Democrat Dave O’Brien are also considering running.