Miller-Meeks says she’ll run for re-election in Iowa’s new 1st Congressional District

Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks will seek re-election in Iowa's newly-drawn 1st Congressional District in 2022, avoiding a potentially competitive and contentious race against Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne.

The move also sets up a potential GOP primary challenge.

"My connection to this district is extremely strong and I never wanted people in this district to feel that I was betraying them," she told reporters Wednesday at a news conference in Davenport. "People in Wapello County and in Iowa know that I will take them with me, and I will advocate for them and I will be their voice, regardless of the district I continue to represent."

Miller-Meeks, who lives in Ottumwa, did not say if she plans to move into the district she hopes to represent. Members of Congress are actually not required to live in the same district — only the same state.

Iowa’s new redistricting map would put Miller-Meeks in the 3rd District, now represented by Axne, a Democrat. Axne has not announced her plans and is reportedly considering either running for re-election or for Iowa governor in 2022.

Altoona Republican state Sen. Zach Nunn has launched a campaign to run for Axne's 3rd District U.S. House seat in 2022. Miller-Meeks said the possibility of her also running against Axne did not affect her decision. She said Southeast Iowa deserves stability with an incumbent in light of the disruptions caused by the pandemic.

Miller-Meeks is serving in her first term in Congress after winning last year's election for Iowa's open 2nd district seat by just six votes, after Democrat Rita Hart ended her 2020 election challenge before the U.S. House in March.

"The goal is to win by more than six votes," Miller-Meeks said.

The new 1st District covers much of Southeast Iowa, including Johnson, Cedar, Jones, Iowa, Washington, Keokuk, Louisa, Scott, Clinton and Muscatine counties, and includes 16 of the 24 counties Miller-Meeks currently represents, where Democrats still maintain a slight advantage in terms of registered voters.

Miller-Meeks said she believes her voting record and work in Congress as a member of the minority to pass and introduce bills focused on veterans issues and immigration will help win her favor in reaching out to new voters and constituents.

Democratic state Rep. Christina Bohannan of Iowa City and Knoxville Democrat Joseph Kerner, a senior cultivator for the state-licensed medical marijuana manufacturer MedPharm Iowa, have announced campaigns seeking the 1st District seat.

A primary election is scheduled for June 7.

"I welcome Rep. Miller-Meeks to the race in Iowa's new 1st Congressional District," Bohannan said in a statement. "While she's been weighing her political prospects, and voting against bipartisan infrastructure improvements for Iowa, I've been traveling throughout Iowa's first Congressional district meeting voters where they're at."

Bohannan said she's been honored to hear from Iowans about issues that matter to them — including fixing roads and bridges, creating good-paying jobs, supporting small business and improving education and health care.

Miller-Meeks voted against the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill that passed the U.S. House last week by a vote of 228-206. She said she could not support a bill directly tied to President Joe Biden's $1.75 trillion dollar "Build Back Better Agenda." Miller-Meeks called the social safety net and climate bill that focuses on addressing the climate crisis, expanding access to health and child care and tax reforms a "reckless tax-and-spend package" that increases inflation.

Bettendorf business owner Kyle Kuehl announced early this week he, too, intends to run for Congress as a Republican in Iowa's new 1st Congressional District. Kuehl owns and operates FSBO Homes Quad Cities and has launched Code Ninjas Quad Cities, a franchise that teaches computer coding and STEM education to children ages 5 to 14.