With only two weeks remaining until Election Day, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds emphasized on Tuesday that the key to preserving Republican control of the House and providing former President Donald Trump with the opportunity to implement his agenda, should he be elected, lies in reelecting Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks.
Reynolds addressed a crowd of roughly 50 people at the Brew Coffee House in Pella, emphasizing the importance of Miller-Meeks having a strong team to hit the ground running and replicate the success achieved in Iowa at the federal level.
She highlighted that this race is crucial in maintaining the majority in the U.S. Congress, not only because Miller-Meeks is exceptional and must be elected, but also because it directly impacts the overall majority in Congress.
Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks is running for her third term as the representative of Iowa’s 1st District in southeastern Iowa.
In the upcoming election, she will be facing a formidable opponent in Democrat Christina Bohannan, who previously attempted to unseat Miller-Meeks in the 2022 race. The contest between the two candidates is currently rated as a toss-up, making it an exciting and closely watched race.
Reynolds accompanied Miller-Meeks on Tuesday for three get-out-the-vote rallies held in Pella, Williamsburg, and Mount Pleasant.
A number of prominent Republicans are actively campaigning for Miller-Meeks, demonstrating their support for her candidacy. Just last week, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson joined the campaign trail, followed by House Majority Whip Tom Emmer on Wednesday.
This week, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard are also scheduled to campaign for Miller-Meeks, further emphasizing the breadth of her support.
According to data from the Secretary of State’s office, the 1st District has seen over 103,000 ballot requests and over 61,000 ballots received.
During a Q&A session, a member of the audience brought up the poll results and inquired about the current state of the race. In response, Miller-Meeks acknowledged that the 1st District is a challenging territory for Republicans to secure victory. However, she expressed optimism about the upcoming matchup.
“It’s frustrating to see outside money from the coast trying to dictate who should represent us here in Iowa,” Miller-Meeks exclaimed. “But let me be clear, they won’t be able to buy this seat. They will resort to spreading false information about my record, but I won’t let that deter me.”
Several Republican organizations, such as the National Republican Congressional Committee and the Congressional Leadership Fund aligned with Johnson, have provided significant financial support to protect the GOP’s control over the seat.
Miller-Meeks also highlighted her active campaigning efforts across the district. She proudly shared that she personally visited 11 counties over the past weekend and received a positive reception during her various stops.
“I can’t seem to find my opponent anywhere,” Miller-Meeks commented. “I must say, Iowa is a wonderful place. Iowa’s 1st District is absolutely remarkable, and she should make an effort to meet the people here, because we’re incredibly friendly.”
Bohannan’s campaign has actively participated in a total of 11 events across the district since September 14. These events were primarily held in Johnson and Scott counties, with one additional event in Lee County.
Miller-Meeks takes jabs at Bohannan’s public safety record
Miller-Meeks criticized Bohannan on Tuesday for voting against Senate Joint Resolution 7. This resolution, which was approved by Iowa voters in 2022, aimed to establish a state Constitutional amendment protecting the right to keep and bear arms. It is noteworthy that Bohannan campaigned this year at a gun range despite opposing the resolution.
“Vote for the genuine Republicans, not the ones pretending,” urged Miller-Meeks.
Bohannan has primarily directed her campaign towards criticizing Miller-Meeks for her stance on reproductive rights and education.
Bohannan’s campaign has been critical of Miller-Meeks for her support of House Republicans’ 2023 debt limit bill, accusing her of “defunding” law enforcement. The bill proposed spending cuts that Democrats argued would result in reduced funding for federal law enforcement agencies and fewer federal grants for local law enforcement. However, the bill did not come to a vote in the Senate.
Reynolds laments conditions under Biden administration in rallying cry to voters
“We must reclaim our country, for America is in distress,” Reynolds passionately asserted. “As a tenacious nation, we have faced numerous challenges before. However, I never anticipated witnessing such a rapid decline under the Harris-Biden administration in my lifetime. Frankly, I believed it to be unimaginable.”
Reynolds emphasized the interconnectedness of global stability and American strength, stating, “The world remains stable when America is strong.” He further highlighted that the current challenges can be attributed to a perceived weakness in America.
Marissa Payne, a journalist for the Register, is responsible for covering the Iowa Statehouse and political news. To get in touch with her, you can reach out via email at [email protected]. Additionally, you can follow her on X, which was previously known as Twitter, using the handle @marissajpayne.
Kim Reynolds believes that reelecting Mariannette Miller-Meeks is the key to maintaining Republican control of the House. According to Reynolds, Miller-Meeks has proven herself to be a strong advocate for conservative values and has worked tirelessly to represent the people of Iowa.
Reynolds sees Miller-Meeks’ reelection as a crucial step in ensuring that Republican policies and principles continue to shape the future of the country. By supporting Miller-Meeks, Reynolds believes that voters are choosing a path that will preserve the GOP’s influence in the House and help advance their agenda.