Former Iowa Rep. David Young is back for a rematch in Iowa’s 3rd District, which he lost to Democrat Cindy Axne by 2 points in 2018. 

“The policies advocated by Cindy Axne and Speaker Nancy Pelosi in this current Congress are harming Iowa’s families by hurting our economy and rights,” Young said in a statement Monday evening. “Iowans deserve better from their current representative.” 

Young, a former chief of staff for Sen. Charles E. Grassley, is hoping Axne will be easier to beat now that she’s in Congress.

“Now Cindy Axne has a record and it is not a good one,” he told Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson on Monday.

Young was first elected to the 3rd District in 2014. He won re-election in 2016 by 14 points, while Donald Trump carried the district by about 4 points. Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race a toss-up.

During the 2018 race, Young lost the support of the super PAC backed by then-Speaker Paul D. Ryan over his opposition to the GOP health care bill. Congressional Leadership Fund closed its office in his district in March 2017 after Young said he couldn’t support the bill. (He ended up voting for it.)

The more anti-establishment Club for Growth attacked Young Monday night. Young “has a record & it was a very bad one,” the conservative outside group tweeted. “A fresh face won’t be scared away by a mediocre loser.”