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By Emily Cahn Posted at 5 a.m. today

Young is a top Democratic target in 2016. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Iowa state Sen. Matt McCoy is seriously considering a challenge to Republican Rep. David Young, a top target in 2016.

But Democrats in both Washington, D.C., and Iowaare concerned about the Des Moines Democrats congressional ambitions in the 3rd District, a must-win seat for Democrats looking to slice into the Republican majority this cycle.

In fact, their concern about McCoys candidacy has been pretty constant since he threatened to run back in 2002, one Iowa Democratic operative said. I dont think theres a lot of interest in him running.

Young, the incumbent Republican, won an open-seat race to succeed longtime GOP Rep. Tom Latham. Hes one of 12 incumbents the National Republican Congressional Committee placed in its Patriot program for vulnerable incumbents for 2016.

Young defeated former state Sen. Staci Appel by 10 points in 2014 in a dismal year for Democrats, but the party has higher hopes for the presidential election cycle. Appel is mulling a rematch, and Democrats are also looking at Nick Klinefeldt, the U.S. attorney in the Southern district of Iowa.

McCoy ditched his 2002 bidwhen then-Rep. Leonard Boswell, a fellow Democrat, moved into thedistrict following redistricting. A state legislator since 1993, McCoy has a colorful past that makes him rife for attacks from the GOP.

In 2005, McCoywas accused of funneling money from a businessman to a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, and he agreed to pay a fine to settle the accusations in 2008.

He was indicted on a federal extortion charge in 2007, when he was accused ofthreatening to use his influence as a senator to force a business partner to pay him $2,000, according to a report from the Associated Press. Though he was ultimately acquitted, the incident would give Republicans easy fodder in advertising.

Read more here:
Democrats Down on Potential Iowa Candidate