Junck

AMES — A 20-year-old Iowa State University student has become the youngest woman elected to office in Iowa history by winning election to the Ames City Council.

Rachel Junck defeated incumbent businessman Chris Nelson in Tuesday’s runoff election. Nelson, 47, was seeking his third term on the council.

Junck, who is studying chemical engineering, has said it would be an honor to make Iowa history.

“But being able to represent a whole different generation of people on the council would be, I think, a bigger honor,” she said before the election.

Junck, the daughter of two Ames school teachers, grew up in the city that is home to Iowa State University. She received 712 votes to Nelson’s 587 votes on Tuesday.

The election results will have to be certified by Story County before the outcome is official.