Campaign Almanac: House Democrats and Republicans air new ads in tightening Iowa race

Both House Democrats and Republicans are out with new ads in Southeast Iowa's hotly contested 1st Congressional District.

The rematch between Republican incumbent Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Democratic challenger Christina Bohannan in the Nov. 5 general election is among the most competitive, tightly contested races this election cycle.

Several elections forecasters have rated the race a toss-up.

National GOP targets Bohannan ties to ‘radical’ groups

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The Congressional Leadership Fund, the super PAC endorsed by House Speaker Mike Johnson and House GOP leadership, announced new television ads in five battleground congressional districts, including Iowa’s 1st District.

The national Republicans’ latest ad targets Democratic challenger Christina Bohannan, of Iowa City, for her alleged ties to groups that want to end cash bail, abolish detention and imprisonment and have called on Iowa officials to repeal a state law that punishes cities and counties for intentionally violating federal immigration law by revoking their state funding.

Bohannan for a second consecutive cycle is running to unseat Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks. Miller-Meeks has a home in Ottumwa — which was moved into Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District after decennial redistricting in 2021 — and also claims a residence at an apartment in Davenport, which is in the 1st District.

National Dems’ target Miller-Meeks anti-abortion record

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The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the campaign arm of U.S. House Democrats, released a TV ad Tuesday in the race for Southeast Iowa’s U.S. House seat.

The national Democrats’ latest ad targets Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ support of legislation restricting abortion rights. The ad features an Iowa nurse practitioner speaking out against Miller-Meeks’ cosponsoring legislation that would establish legal protections for fetuses and embryos at “the moment of fertilization,” and guarantee a “right to life” for every human being.

While the bill — which never made it to the House floor — does not specifically mention abortion, critics say it would undoubtedly restrict the medical procedure as well as in vitro fertilization. The bill does not spell out protections for fertility treatments or exceptions for cases involving rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.

Miller-Meeks did not sign on as a sponsor of the resolution in the current Congress. She has said she is “pro-life with exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother.”

Miller-Meeks also supported a constitutional amendment while serving in the Iowa Senate “to protect life” by declaring there is no right to abortion in Iowa.

During an hourlong debate Monday night televised statewide by Iowa PBS, Miller-Meeks said she wants to seek areas of abortion policy on which there is consensus, listing as examples bans on federal funding for abortions and “easy access to affordable contraception for women.”

The ad — the second from the DCCC in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District race — is airing in the Davenport and Des Moines media markets.

Police leaders endorse Bohannan in Iowa 1st District

Christina Bohannan’s campaign recently announced an endorsement by the Police Leaders for Community Safety, a national nonpartisan organization of law enforcement leaders.

“Christina Bohannan stands out as a strong advocate for the safety of our communities,” Sue Riseling, chair of Police Leaders for Community Safety, said in news release issued by the Bohannan campaign. “Her support for policies that enhance policing, address violent crime and promote community safety aligns with our mission of fostering secure environments for all Americans.”

Bohannan previously was endorsed by Lee County Sheriff Stacy Weber and Johnson County Sheriff Brad Kunkel, both Democrats.

Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau