Zaun to Announce for Congress Thursday

Add another name to the race for Congress. Republican State Senator Brad Zaun will announce Thursday that he wants to take on 3rd District Democratic Congressman Leonard Boswell. Zaun told me last month he was thinking about running. Now, he's ready to say he's doing more than just thinking. He will announce at 10am at Sellers Hardware in Des Moines. Zaun worked there when he was growing up (his mother owns it now). He later operated Zaun's Hardware in Urbandale as he started transitioning into politics.

The primary race is getting a bit crowded now. Former National Guard pilot Dave Funk announced first. Then former Iowa State wrestler and coach Jim Gibbons got in. Republicans now have a three-way battle for the nomination.

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Zaun for Congress

It looks like Doug Gross may have known what he was talking about after all last weekend. Gross, the former GOP candidate for governor, said on Channel 13's "Insiders", that State Senator Brad Zaun was looking at running for the Republican nomination for Iowa's Third Congressional District. You will remember Congressman Leonard Boswell announced on election night in 2008 he would run again in 2010. Zaun wouldn't rule it out, he told me, at the time.

Zaun is a former mayor of Urbandale and owned a hardware store for years. He confirmed to me this afternoon he is "seriously looking" at running. And he told me he would decide in the next 2-3 weeks. Zaun has represented District 32 since 2005. The last two years or so, he has become a bigger face and voice for senate Republicans, especially on money matters.

Dave Funk as already announced he wants the nomination. And former GOP Chairman Mike Mahaffey has said he is looking at running.