Proposed maps would upend Eastern Iowa congressional districts

Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks' home in Ottumwa would remain in the 2nd Congressional District under a proposed election boundary map reflecting population changes from the latest U.S. census.

But most of her current district, including Davenport and Iowa City, would end up instead in the 1st Congressional District currently represented by Linn County Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson.

Miller-Meeks officially launched her campaign for re-election in 2022 during a tailgate fundraiser Saturday in Iowa City. She is serving in her first term in Congress after winning last year's election for Iowa's open 2nd District seat by six votes, after Democrat Rita Hart ended her election challenge before the U.S. House in March.

Hinson would have a much harder district to defend under the proposal. It would be geographically much smaller, covering the southeastern border of the state instead of the northeast corner. But it would include the urban counties of Linn, Johnson and Scott and the cities of Davenport, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City — shifting the 1st District in Democrats' favor, based on 2020 election results and voter registration numbers.

Miller-Meeks would be drawn into a 2nd District that no longer includes the southeastern corner of the state. In the new map, the 26-county 2nd District instead extends upward from Wapello County to the Wisconsin border. The district would pick up Black Hawk and Story counties, home to the University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State University, respectively, and lean more toward Republicans.

"I look forward to seeing the reapportionment process continue in Iowa’s traditional nonpartisan manner and, upon its completion, I will be eager to get to know the people, businesses, communities in the new Second Congressional District," Miller-Meeks said in a statement. "In the meantime, my focus remains on serving the constituents of the current Second Congressional District to the best of my ability."

The new boundaries would potentially shake up the 2022 race that has a; ready begun to form.

Iowa City Democrat and state Rep. Christina Bohannan announced last month a challenge to Miller-Meeks in Iowa’s 2nd District. But under the news maps, Iowa City would be drawn into Iowa’s 1st District.

Bohannan's campaign said Monday she will vote to approve the proposed maps in the Iowa House on Oct. 5, but did not respond to questions as whether the newly drawn congressional boundaries would change her plans to run for Congress.

"Fair electoral maps are essential to our democracy," Bohannan said in a statement. "Iowa's nonpartisan process ensures that the people get to choose their representatives, not the other way around. This map was fairly drawn according to the best nonpartisan redistricting process in the country. However, this is only the beginning of a long process. Our campaign is full speed ahead as the process continues."

According to guidance from the Iowa Secretary of State, congressional candidates do not need to live in the district in which they're running. Rather, they just need to be residents of the state.