A state legislator from Waterloo is expected to become the fifth Democrat to announce a run for Congress in Iowa’s First District. State Representative Anesa Kajtazovic is expected to formally announce her candidacy for Congress today.

The Waterloo Democrat has been “exploring” a run for the First District seat for the past six weeks, but has scheduled several appearances today to launch her Congressional campaign. Kajtazovic, who turns 27 next week, is in her second term in the Iowa House.

She’ll appear at events in Marshalltown, Waterloo, and Dubuque today. She is the fifth Democrat to enter the race to succeed Congressman Bruce Braley, who will be giving up his seat to run for Senate.

The others seeking the Democratic nomination in the first district are former Iowa House Speaker Pat Murphy of Dubuque, former state legislator Swati Dandekar of Marion, Cedar Rapids City Councilwoman Monica Vernon, and attorney Dave O’Brien of Cedar Rapids.

By Jesse Gavin, KCNZ, Cedar Falls