IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Democrats trying to pick up a Republican-held congressional seat in Iowa are seizing on disclosure records about the GOP candidate that they say gives heft to their charge that he’s a Washington insider.

The records show that Republican nominee David Young raised more than $500,000 in donations for Sen. Chuck Grassley’s 2010 re-election campaign, even while Young served as Grassley’s full-time chief-of-staff. Young reported being paid $51,000 by Grassley’s campaign, receiving a 10 percent commission on the money he raised.

Young is running against former state Sen. Staci Appel for the seat representing Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District, which stretches from Des Moines to southwestern Iowa. The seat is being vacated by 10-term Rep. Tom Latham, a popular Republican.

Young says he’s proud of the work he did for Grassley.