Campaign Almanac: House Democrats’ super PAC targets Iowa Republicans in $3M ad blitz over tariffs, Medicaid cuts

A Democrat-aligned super PAC is rolling out a $3 million ad campaign across 10 competitive congressional districts, including two in Iowa, accusing House Republicans of supporting policies that drive up costs for families.

House Majority Forward announced the campaign this week, targeting Iowa GOP U.S. Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn. Both face re-election contests in 2026 that national Democrats have identified as priorities in their bid to reclaim control of the U.S. House.

The ads tie Miller-Meeks and Nunn to former President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, which critics argue are fueling higher consumer prices. They also accuse the Republicans of voting with party leadership to cut Medicaid and raise health care costs, while threatening a government shutdown that the group says would deepen economic uncertainty.

The ads urge constituents to call on their members of Congress and tell them to “stop the tariffs, stop cutting Medicaid and stop raising our costs.”

The Iowa ads are part of a broader push that also includes districts in Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and other battleground states.

Miller-Meeks and Nunn have defended Trump’s trade policies and aligned themselves with House GOP leaders on spending and health care votes.

Miller-Meeks has defended tax cuts included in Republicans’ sweeping tax and spending bill signed into law this summer by Trump, saying it prevents a projected tax hike and includes “pro-growth” provisions for small businesses and workers. Nunn also has promoted the law, saying it “locks in the largest middle-class tax cut in American history” and highlighting benefits like expansion of the child tax credit, reducing taxes on tips and overtime, and targeted relief for small businesses and rural communities.

Democrats argue the bill massively slashes Medicaid and SNAP, jeopardizing access to health care and food aid for millions. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated the changes could cause millions of Americans to lose health insurance coverage and add trillions to the national debt.

Republicans have argued the spending reductions and work requirements are necessary to ensure Medicaid’s long-term financial stability and ensure the program is preserved for those who truly need it.

Both Miller-Meeks and Nunn voted with other House Republicans earlier this month to again cede congressional power over tariffs to Trump, adopting a measure that blocks challenges to his global tariff declarations through March 2026.

Miller-Meeks has defended the use of tariffs as a negotiating tactic to address China's “egregious trade practices,” and has said she stands "shoulder-to-shoulder” with the president in the fight to rebuild American industry and end dependence on China.

The pair also signed a letter opposing deeper Medicaid cut included in the Senate’s version of Trump's massive tax and spending bill, saying it goes "beyond" the "pragmatic and compassionate" Medicaid changes they supported in the House bill.

But they voted for the reconciliation bill that includes cuts, work requirements and provider tax restrictions, which nonpartisan analysts warn will reduce coverage and funding.

Lundgren lands endorsements from fellow GOP lawmakers

Hours after announcing her bid for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, state Rep. Shannon Lundgren, R-Peosta, secured endorsements from a slate of Republican colleagues at the Iowa Capitol.

State Reps. Jane Bloomingdale, Chad Ingels, Shannon Latham, Norlin Mommsen and Brian Lohse, former state Reps. Louie Zumbach and Joel Fry, and Peosta Police Chief Mike Comer publicly backed Lundgren’s campaign Tuesday, praising her record as a legislator and small business owner.

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“Shannon has the experience necessary — as a small-business owner and legislator — to be effective for Iowans in Congress,” Bloomingdale, a Republican from Northwood, said in a statement. “We have worked together in the State House to lower taxes, eliminate burdensome regulations on small businesses, and support Iowa’s rural communities.”

Ingels, a Fayette County farmer, pointed to their shared work on agricultural issues.

“I’ve stood with her to defend our farmers and small businesses and to push for conservative values at the state house — I know she will never stop fighting for us,” he said in a statement.

Zumbach, a Republican from Coggan who also served on the Linn County Board of Supervisors, said Lundgren is “dedicated to delivering for her constituents and she will take that same determination to Congress to deliver every single day for Iowa farmers, veterans, and fellow small businesses.”

Lundgren, a small-business owner from Peosta, announced her campaign earlier in the day, branding herself an “America First mom and grandma” and an early supporter of President Donald Trump. She is seeking the GOP nomination for the Eastern Iowa U.S. House seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, who is running for U.S. Senate in 2026 to succeed retiring Iowa GOP U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, who is not seeking re-election.

Lundgren is among four Republicans vying for their party’s nomination to fill the open Eastern Iowa seat in 2026. Former Iowa U.S. Rep. Rod Blum of Dubuque, State Sen. Charlie McClintock of Alburnett and former state lawmaker Joe Mitchell of Clear Lake also are competing for the GOP nomination.

Scheetz endorses James in 2nd District Democratic primary

Linn County Supervisor Sami Scheetz has endorsed state Rep. Lindsay James in her bid for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District.

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James, a Democrat from Dubuque, announced the endorsement last week on social media, calling Scheetz a “deeply thoughtful” policymaker with a strong commitment to working families.

Scheetz, a Cedar Rapids Democrat, said he trusts James to lead with “compassion, grit and focus” as a “champion for working people,” who will “represent every corner of Northeast Iowa in Congress.”

Other Democrats also running for the seat are longtime Cedar Rapids nonprofit leader Clint Twedt-Ball, retired Army nurse and former community college nursing dean Kathy Dolter of Asbury, and former state park manager Don Primus of Steamboat Rock.

Iowa City Federation of Labor backs council, school board candidates

The Iowa City Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, announced its endorsements Monday for the 2025 city and school board elections, backing candidates it says will stand up for working families.

The labor coalition endorsed Shawn Harmsen for Iowa City Council District 3, Bruce Teague and Megan Alter for council at-large, and Ruthina Malone, Jayne Finch and Dan Stevenson for the Iowa City Community School Board.

Union leaders said the endorsements reflect candidates’ commitment to protecting collective bargaining rights, supporting workers’ ability to organize, and ensuring fair contracting standards that direct public investments toward good local jobs.

“At a time when workers' rights have faced constant attack from our state legislature, it’s more important than ever to elect strong local leaders we can count on to defend worker’s rights and our democracy,” Scott Punteney, president of the Iowa City Federation of Labor, said in a statement. “We appreciate the commitment from our endorsed candidates to work with union members to defend our rights and to expand on local government practices that advance racial and economic justice in our community.”

The organization represents more than 25 local unions and thousands of members across Johnson and Washington counties.

Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau