The Eye

Zaun, a former mayor of the Des Moines suburb of Urbandale, said that Boswell is "out of touch" with his constituents in the 3rd district. He said that Boswell expressed qualms about a cap-and-trade energy bill and indecision about a health care bill but then voted for both measures.

"He says one thing in Iowa and he does the opposite in Washington, D.C.," Zaun said.

Zaun said that he's received encouragement to run from some members of Congress and the National Republican Congressional Committee.

CQ Politics wrote earlier today about Jim Gibbons, a financial adviser and former college wrestling coach who filed paperwork today with the Federal Election Commission to seek the Republican nomination. Dave Funk, an aviation security consultant, also is in the GOP race.

UPDATE: Gabby Adler, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said in a statement to CQ Politics that Boswell "has gained the trust of Iowa families throughout his years of dedicated service creating jobs and through his leadership as the Dean of the Iowa delegation."

"Each year Republicans claim they have Congressman Boswell in their sights, and each year they never live up to their own hype - there is no reason to believe this time will be any different," Adler said.

CQ Politics rates the Iowa 3 race as Safe Democratic, though the entry of Zaun and Gibbons probably will prompt a change in that rating.

To follow the 2010 House races, check out the CQ Politics election map