Legislator from Waterloo joins House race

DUBUQUE (AP) ? Waterloo legislator Anesa Kajtazovic is joining the race for an open seat in Iowa?s 1st Congressional District.

Kajtazovic held news conferences Tuesday in Marshalltown, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids and Dubuque to announce she?d seek the Democratic nomination to the seat held by Rep. Bruce Braley, who is running for U.S. Senate.

The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports Kajtazovic announced she was running ?because I believe that government should make people?s lives better.? She says she?d work to end congressional gridlock and help the middle class.

Four other Democrats are seeking the office. They are state Rep. Pat Murphy, of Dubuque, Cedar Rapids council member Monica Vernon, Cedar Rapids attorney Dave O?Brien and former legislator Swati Dandekar, of Marion.

Republicans Rod Blum and Steve Rathje also are running.