U.S. House — Iowa 1st District 2026

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.

In plain terms: 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)

Cook PVI

R+4

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 (R)

Republican incumbent · U.S. Representative since 2021

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 by 6 votes after multiple recounts. Re-elected 2022 and 2024.

Primary Issues

Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Reform

Top stated priority. Supports federal PBM reform to lower prescription drug costs. Has co-sponsored multiple PBM reform bills.

ACA Replacement & Healthcare

Co-sponsor of H.R. 6703 (Lowering Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act) as an ACA alternative. Voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act which eliminated ACA premium subsidies.

Veterans Healthcare

Strong supporter of veterans healthcare expansion, drawing on her military background.

Position on Bohannan's Priority Issues

Restoring ACA Premium Subsidies

Voted to eliminate the subsidies in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act; defends the vote.

Trump Tariffs

Generally supportive of Trump administration trade policy.

Renewable Energy Tax Credits

Voted against the Inflation Reduction Act; has not supported restoring eliminated renewable energy credits.

Endorsements

President Donald Trump
House Republican Conference

Christina Bohannan (D)

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

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

Healthcare Expansion (Medicare Buy-In)

Top campaign theme. Supports a Medicare buy-in option at any age and adding hearing, dental, and vision coverage. Explicitly not single-payer.

Restoring ACA Subsidies & Reversing Big Beautiful Bill

Strongly opposes the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, particularly the Medicaid cuts and ACA subsidy elimination.

Congressional Ethics Reform

Supports age caps and term limits for members of Congress. Refuses PAC donations.

Position on Miller-Meeks's Priority Issues

Trump Tariffs

Strongly opposes Trump tariffs; calls them "taxes on American consumers" and wants them repealed.

Renewable Energy Tax Credits

Strongly supports restoring renewable energy tax credits.

Pharmaceutical Pricing

Supports federal action against corporate price gouging including pharmaceutical pricing reform.