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U.S. House — Iowa 1st District

Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R) faces Christina Bohannan (D) in a third matchup — the closest U.S. House race in Iowa.

About the Office

A U.S. Representative serves a two-year term in the U.S. House, representing approximately 770,000 Iowans in their district. The House has 435 voting members, who write and pass federal legislation, control federal spending and taxes, conduct oversight of federal agencies, and have sole authority to initiate impeachment proceedings.

Your House member is your direct voice in federal lawmaking, casts one of 435 votes on every federal law, and handles constituent casework with federal agencies like Social Security, Medicare, the VA, and immigration services.

The District

Iowa 1st Congressional District (Southeast Iowa)

Covers 20 counties in southeast Iowa including Iowa City, Davenport, Bettendorf, Muscatine, and Burlington. Cook PVI: R+4. Rated a toss-up by major non-partisan forecasters.

Race at a Glance

Incumbent
Miller-Meeks (R)
2024 Margin
799 votes
Election Day
Nov 3, 2026

This is the third matchup between these candidates. Miller-Meeks defeated Bohannan by 799 votes in 2024 after a recount — the narrowest House margin in the country.

The Candidates

Each candidate's positions are drawn from primary sources: campaign communications, voting records, debates, and direct interviews.

Mariannette Miller-Meeks

Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R)

Republican incumbent · U.S. Representative since 2021

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Bio

Born 1955 in California. Lives in Ottumwa, Iowa (outside the district she represents). M.D. from University of Texas. Retired Army Lt. Colonel after 24 years of service. Married to Curt Meeks.

Career

Ophthalmologist. Served as Iowa Department of Public Health Director 2010-2013. Iowa State Senator 2019-2020. Elected to U.S. House in 2020 and re-elected 2022 and 2024.

Primary Issues
Healthcare

Leads on the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act (which she says reduces premiums 11%) and the Prices on the Wall Act for hospital price transparency, framing her work through her ophthalmology background. Defends her One Big Beautiful Bill vote as targeting Medicaid waste and fraud rather than coverage for those who genuinely need it.

Tax Relief & Cost of Living

Champions the Working Families Tax Cuts (making the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent, "no tax on tips," "no tax on overtime") and the Permanent Tax Relief for Seniors Act, which establishes a $6,000 Social Security tax deduction for seniors.

Federal Investment in the District

Has secured more than $27 million in Community Project Funding for southeast Iowa during the 119th Congress, including $6M for Burlington's Cascade Bridge replacement, road infrastructure across multiple counties, and rural health investments.

Veterans Affairs

Serves on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee as a 24-year Army veteran and frames her military and medical background as her core motivation for serving. Recently introduced the Veterans to Advanced Manufacturing Plan Act to support veteran workforce transitions.

Border Security & Immigration Enforcement

Voted to fully fund ICE and Border Patrol operations and supports the Trump administration's deportation priorities, frequently tying border security to combating fentanyl trafficking into Iowa communities.

Position on Bohannan's Priority Issues
Ethics Reform

MMM has introduced three separate bills on this topic. One prohibits prediction-market trading by members of Congress, one is called End Special Treatment for Congress at Airports Act, and the third is PURE Executive Act. Different mechanism than Bohannan's sweeping reforms but the same broad idea.

Public Education

She supports Iowa's Education Savings Account (ESA) voucher program and a national school-choice expansion.

Endorsements
  • President Donald Trump
  • House Republican Conference
Donor Information
  • Total individual contributions: 8,308
  • In-state: 915 (11.0%) Out-of-state: 7,392 (89.0%)
  • Small-dollar donors ($100 or less): By count: 6,163 of 8,308 (74.2%) By dollar volume: $107,300 of $5,278,584 (2.0%)
1. Grow the Majority — Alexandria, VA — $675,667
Joint fundraising committee that raises and distributes money across multiple Republican House candidates.
2. Defend Our Majority — Washington, DC — $342,637
Joint fundraising committee benefiting multiple Republican House incumbents.
3. Emmer Majority Builders — Athens, GA — $271,065
Leadership PAC affiliated with House Majority Leader Tom Emmer, benefiting multiple Republican House candidates.
4. Miller-Meeks Victory Fund — Hudson, WI — $168,917
Miller-Meeks's own leadership PAC/joint fundraising committee.
5. GOP Winning Women 2026 — Alexandria, VA — $126,450
Joint fundraising committee supporting Republican women running for Congress.

Source: Federal Election Commission (FEC), Schedule A, as of July 23, 2026. fec.gov/data

Christina Bohannan

Christina Bohannan (D)

Democratic nominee · University of Iowa law professor · Former state representative

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Bio

Born 1971 in Georgia, raised in Florida. Lives in Iowa City. Environmental engineering degree (University of Florida); J.D. (University of Florida). One daughter. Moved to Iowa in 2000.

Career

Professor of Law at the University of Iowa since 2000. Former Iowa State Representative (one term, 2021-2023). Clerked for U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit. Third U.S. House campaign. Refuses PAC donations.

Primary Issues
Lowering Costs for Iowans

Wants to end Trump tariffs, expand Medicare drug-price negotiation, cap insulin at $35/month for all Americans, and ban hedge funds from buying up family homes and farmland.

Fixing the Broken Health Care System

She would reverse the One Big Beautiful Bill Medicaid cuts, permanently extend ACA premium tax credits, and allow Iowans to buy into Medicare at any age as a public option.

Restoring Faith in Government / Ethics Reform

Pledges to ban stock trading by all members of Congress and their families, pass a constitutional amendment reversing Citizens United, institute term limits and age caps, and permanently ban members from becoming lobbyists. Refuses corporate PAC money.

Family Farms & Agriculture

Calls for reversing tariffs that have closed export markets for Iowa soybeans, breaking up Big Ag's monopoly on seed and fertilizer, passing a new Farm Bill, and protecting water quality from PFAS and agricultural runoff.

Public Education

Opposes Iowa's voucher program and the proposed national voucher plan, and supports a substantial federal investment in public schools with a focus on rural and small-town districts.

Position on Miller-Meeks's Priority Issues
Border Security

Bohannan has criticized Miller-Meeks for not publicly pressing House leadership to take up the 2024 bipartisan Senate border deal.

Endorsements
  • Iowa Democratic Party
  • Former Iowa State Rep. Bob Krause
Donor Information
  • Total individual contributions: 5,569
  • In-state: 2,369 (42.5%) Out-of-state: 3,200 (57.5%)
  • Small-dollar donors ($100 or less): By count: 2,208 of 5,569 (39.6%) By dollar volume: $123,620 of $4,728,109 (2.6%)
1. House Victory Project 2026 — Washington, DC — $652,180
Joint fundraising committee benefiting multiple Democratic House candidates.
2. Dem Rising 2026 — Washington, DC — $37,000
Joint fundraising committee benefiting multiple Democratic House candidates.
3. 314 Action Impact Slate — Washington, DC — $22,800
Political action committee affiliated with 314 Action, which supports candidates with science and medical backgrounds.
4. JFW Challengers — Washington, DC — $19,000
Democratic house majority organization.
5. Hansel Wood — Iowa City, IA — $14,000
5. Peter Kellner — Nantucket, MA — $14,000
Former President of YouGov, political opinion polling organisation in the U.K.
5. Gideon Friedman — Brooklyn, NY — $14,000
CEO of Beachwold Residential, a real estate company.
5. Rodney Drenkow — Waverly, IA — $14,000
Founder of Advantage Administrators, an employee benefit consultant company.
5. Timothy D. Wilson — Omaha, NE — $14,000
Psychologist and educator
5. Lisa Mennet — Seattle, WA — $14,000
Founder of Perigee Fund, a family-support organization.

Source: Federal Election Commission (FEC), Schedule A, as of July 23, 2026. fec.gov/data

Also on the Ballot

Michael Bridgford (Independent), financial advisor

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