In April and May Republican. Marionette Miller Meeks is hoping Southeastern Iowans will send her back for *** third term on Capitol Hill. I've been consistent. I've been accessible. I have been available. Um I listen, I'm trying to craft policy that brings down health care prices, address, addresses the high prices for their cost of living and making our upcoming world the place where young people want to be, grow and fulfill their potential. Do you solemnly swear Miller Meeks was first elected to Congress in 2020. She won by just six votes. One of the closest races in us history. She was re elected in 2022 in that time won around 53% of the vote defeating democrat Christina Bohannon. But KCC political analyst Dennis Gold Ford says that margin of victory still shows her seat could be vulnerable. Typically we say that any time in *** two person race, if the winner wins with less than 55% of the vote, *** competitive election, the loser really did have *** reasonable chance of winning. Bohannon is giving it another go running again to unseat Miller Meeks since the last election. Since 2022 we have seen even more of what I've just described even more of that extremism, even more of that tribalism between parties. We need to get back to basics and hear what's going on in people's lives and work to address that. Rather than fighting amongst ourselves. In Washington DC, outside groups. See an opening, Bohannon has had help from the Democratic congressional campaign committee and the national Republican congressional committee is lending resources to Miller Meeks to the extent that there's *** focus on particular districts by people outside of the state that helps provide the money, which provides the TV ads, which certainly helps, doesn't hurt right now. Active voter registration shows Republicans have an edge as of September 1st, nearly 37% of active voters in the first district are Republicans compared to nearly 32% for Democrats says each party's focus will be getting those voters to the polls. Democratic registration tends to be down statewide in the districts anyway, but they've got to turn out all of their people. And even with Republicans, there's always room for more people to turn out that actually do so. The job for both parties is to get their supporters mobilized and enthusiastic and willing to turn out to vote. Amanda Rooker KC eight news, Iowa's news leader.
Iowa election 2024: Where 1st Congressional District candidates stand on key issues
In the race for Iowa's 1st Congressional District, Republican incumbent Mariannette Miller-Meeks faces Democratic challenger Christina Bohannan. The first district covers southeast Iowa and includes Indianola, Davenport, Keokuk and Iowa City.
Updated: 4:04 PM CST Nov 5, 2024
In the race for Iowa's 1st Congressional District, Republican incumbent Mariannette Miller-Meeks faces Democratic challenger Christina Bohannan. The first district covers southeast Iowa and includes Indianola, Davenport, Keokuk and Iowa City.Watch the video above to hear more from each candidate and scroll to see where they stand on key issues.What action would you take to lower costs for Iowans?Miller-Meeks: "We have to look at our government spending so we know part of why inflation rose. It was below 2% at December of 2020. It rose to over 5% by May of 2021. Part of that was government spending. ... The next thing we do is to look at government regulation and how that impacts businesses, how that impacts people from being able to create a business grow the economy. In other words, regulation can impede economic growth. So people can have higher salaries, more mobility within their jobs. And then to make sure our safety nets remain stable and remain funded."Bohannan: "I want to bring down those costs, make sure that we're creating good paying jobs, expanding the middle class, holding corporations accountable for corporate greed, that's one of the main things that I want to do. ... I know what it's like literally to struggle between putting groceries in the cart and filling your prescription medications. And so that is one thing that I will do, is to fight, to bring down the cost of prescription drugs, you know, make sure that we bring down the cost of health care, groceries, gas and everything. So that's got to be job one."How would you secure the U.S. southern border and improve the federal immigration system?Miller-Meeks: "First and foremost, we have to secure the border. So, we need to complete the fence and all of the technology that goes along with it. People think it's just a barrier. It's vastly more than a barrier. If you go down to the border, you know that Customs and Border Protection agents are using the sensors using the infrared. ... For people to come here legally, we have thousands of people on a waiting list. Yet they couldn't process because all the processing is going down at our southern border and now our northern border. So people who wanted to come here legally couldn't get a visa. ... That has to change. Our State Department has to be more efficient has to process people."Bohannan: "We have to secure the border. We have to stop fentanyl and the flow of drugs coming across the border into our country. I've been saying this for three years. I was one of the first to criticize President Biden, saying he acted too slow to secure the border. But let's be clear, okay? Congress is the one that bears the brunt of the responsibility under our Constitution for dealing with immigration. ... When I'm in Congress, I will vote to secure the border. I would have voted for that exact same very strict bill, the bill that Joni Ernst, our Republican senator, said is one of the best opportunities we would have had to secure the border in our lifetimes. I would have voted for that bill. And so when I am there, I will look for an opportunity to vote on a bill that really does secure our border and gives us lasting protection."Should Congress pass a federal abortion policy? And if so, what specifically do you think a federal abortion policy should include?Miller-Meeks: "I am pro-life, with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother. ... Abortion policy is currently at the state where it's closer to the people. I think one of the reasons this has become such a divisive issue is that when the supreme court decided Roe v. Wade, they took it out of the state's hands, out of the people it was closest to. And I think that has created this divisive issue for all of us. So let's give women the tools they need to decide when to get pregnant on their timelines. We can do that."Bohannan: "The law in the country was Roe versus Wade for half a century. And, you know, not everybody agreed with that. Sure, there were still debates over it, but it was the law for half a century. And it struck a balance, the right balance in, you know, freedom to control your own body. And so, you know, I think that's what we need to get back to and so I would support putting Roe versus Wade, no more no less, back into federal legislation."Do you think that there needs to be a federal protection of IVF treatment?Miller-Meeks: "Last year, we had a resolution that we passed through the House supporting in-vitro fertilization. I have a bill currently that has been commented on by speaker Johnson that he is favorable to getting something passed in the House. That bill has a $30,000 tax credit to individuals or families wanting or having difficulty with fertility issues and needing to undergo in-vitro fertilization."Bohannan: "I do, I absolutely do, because what we saw in Alabama was a supreme court there, but it could happen in state legislatures just as easily, of you know, them wanting to limit women's ability to use IVF fertility treatments. And we can't allow that to happen in different states around the country." What specific policy do you think needs to go in the next farm bill?Miller-Meeks: "Crop insurance is one of those things that has to be in the farm bill. You know, farmers are at risk to, you know, whatever nature is doing at any particular point in time. Right now we have corn that's under $4 a bushel, and we have soy that's under $10 a bushel. That's at the level where farmers start to go bankrupt. So we're in a very precarious position. Farmers were concerned. They thought they were okay last year, but this year was going to be difficult for them. So crop insurance is one of those issues in the farm bill. ... vaccine development for, animal agriculture, you know, testing, monitoring how, you know, both agricultural products or meat products come into this country. very important. And then the issue of trade, we haven't talked a lot about trade, but for, you know, for Iowa, agricultural trade is very important."Bohannan: "We've got to think about now, since we're not going to get it done now, who is going to be in Congress when the next farm bill comes up? And we need someone who is going to fight for Iowa farmers, not for Big Ag, because what we are seeing in Iowa and what I'm hearing all over this district, is that family farmers are being squeezed by Big Ag by the lack of competition. We need to make sure that we are giving, farmers the resources they need to help us solve, you know, soil quality issues, water quality issues, climate issues. You know, farmers in Iowa are smart. They're resourceful. They know how to get this done. We have to give them not unfunded mandates, but resources to help us solve some of these huge problems and help feed the world. And so when I am in Congress, I will fight for all of that in our farm bill." What action would you take to improve the education of Iowans? Miller-Meeks: "Teachers have this tremendous impact. So how do we empower teachers to be in charge of their classroom rather than a federal Department of Education who doesn't know what happens in the classroom, who you know are saying 'This much time has to be spent here' instead of allowing teachers to have the flexibility in their classroom, given their interactions with their students. ... My first year in Congress, I joined Sen. Tim Scott's bill for choice in education and charter schools. I am the co-chair of the public school caucus, which means we're looking at all public schools to include charter schools and what can be done to improve education, to elevate the interactions between teachers and students. Parents should have choice of where their children go to school." Bohannan: "I have been going around talking to people all throughout this district, especially people in some of our small towns, our rural counties, people who are teachers, parents, principals, school board members, superintendents, you know, people of all political parties, but who are in these roles. are in charge of our schools and helping to educate our kids throughout Iowa and they are devastated by what they are seeing as a lack of investment in our public schools. ... We have been number one in public education in the past and people talk about that with so much pride and we need to get there again. So, you know, when I'm in Congress, I will fight and I won't stop until Iowa's number one in public education again."Iowa congressional resultsElection results will begin to come in around 8 p.m. when polls close in Iowa.
DES MOINES, Iowa — In the race for Iowa's 1st Congressional District, Republican incumbent Mariannette Miller-Meeks faces Democratic challenger Christina Bohannan. The first district covers southeast Iowa and includes Indianola, Davenport, Keokuk and Iowa City.
Watch the video above to hear more from each candidate and scroll to see where they stand on key issues.
What action would you take to lower costs for Iowans?
Miller-Meeks: "We have to look at our government spending so we know part of why inflation rose. It was below 2% at December of 2020. It rose to over 5% by May of 2021. Part of that was government spending. ... The next thing we do is to look at government regulation and how that impacts businesses, how that impacts people from being able to create a business [and] grow the economy. In other words, regulation can impede economic growth. So people can have higher salaries, more mobility within their jobs. And then to make sure our safety nets remain stable and remain funded."
Bohannan: "I want to bring down those costs, make sure that we're creating good paying jobs, expanding the middle class, holding corporations accountable for corporate greed, that's one of the main things that I want to do. ... I know what it's like literally to struggle between putting groceries in the cart and filling your prescription medications. And so that is one thing that I will do, is to fight, to bring down the cost of prescription drugs, you know, make sure that we bring down the cost of health care, groceries, gas and everything. So that's got to be job one."
How would you secure the U.S. southern border and improve the federal immigration system?
Miller-Meeks: "First and foremost, we have to secure the border. So, we need to complete the fence and all of the technology that goes along with it. People think it's just a barrier. It's vastly more than a barrier. If you go down to the border, you know that Customs and Border Protection agents are using the sensors [and] using the infrared. ... For people to come here legally, we have thousands of people on a waiting list. Yet they couldn't process because all the processing is going down at our southern border and now our northern border. So people who wanted to come here legally couldn't get a visa. ... That has to change. Our State Department has to be more efficient [and] has to process people."
Bohannan: "We have to secure the border. We have to stop fentanyl and the flow of drugs coming across the border into our country. I've been saying this for three years. I was one of the first to criticize President Biden, saying he acted too slow to secure the border. But let's be clear, okay? Congress is the one that bears the brunt of the responsibility under our Constitution for dealing with immigration. ... When I'm in Congress, I will vote to secure the border. I would have voted for that exact same very strict bill, the bill that Joni Ernst, our Republican senator, said is one of the best opportunities we would have had to secure the border in our lifetimes. I would have voted for that bill. And so when I am there, I will look for an opportunity to vote on a bill that really does secure our border and gives us lasting protection."
Should Congress pass a federal abortion policy? And if so, what specifically do you think a federal abortion policy should include?
Miller-Meeks: "I am pro-life, with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother. ... Abortion policy is currently at the state where it's closer to the people. I think one of the reasons this has become such a divisive issue is that when the supreme court decided Roe v. Wade, they took it out of the state's hands, out of the people it was closest to. And I think that has created this divisive issue for all of us. So let's give women the tools they need to decide when to get pregnant on their timelines. We can do that."
Bohannan: "The law in the country was Roe versus Wade for half a century. And, you know, not everybody agreed with that. Sure, there were still debates over it, but it was the law for half a century. And it struck a balance, the right balance in, you know, freedom to control your own body. And so, you know, I think that's what we need to get back to and so I would support putting Roe versus Wade, no more no less, back into federal legislation."
Do you think that there needs to be a federal protection of IVF treatment?
Miller-Meeks: "Last year, we had a resolution that we passed through the House supporting in-vitro fertilization. I have a bill currently that has been commented on by speaker Johnson that he is favorable to getting something passed in the House. That bill has a $30,000 tax credit to individuals or families wanting or having difficulty with fertility issues and needing to undergo in-vitro fertilization."
Bohannan: "I do, I absolutely do, because what we saw in Alabama was a supreme court [decision] there, but it could happen in state legislatures just as easily, of you know, them wanting to limit women's ability to use IVF fertility treatments. And we can't allow that to happen in different states around the country."
What specific policy do you think needs to go in the next farm bill?
Miller-Meeks: "Crop insurance is one of those things that has to be in the farm bill. You know, farmers are at risk to, you know, whatever nature is doing at any particular point in time. Right now we have corn that's under $4 a bushel, and we have soy that's under $10 a bushel. That's at the level where farmers start to go bankrupt. So we're in a very precarious position. Farmers were concerned. They thought they were okay last year, but this year was going to be difficult for them. So crop insurance is one of those issues in the farm bill. ... [Also,] vaccine development for, animal agriculture, you know, testing, monitoring how, you know, both agricultural products or meat products come into this country. [That's] very important. And then the issue of trade, we haven't talked a lot about trade, but for, you know, for Iowa, agricultural trade is very important."
Bohannan: "We've got to think about now, since we're not going to get it done now, who is going to be in Congress when the next farm bill comes up? And we need someone who is going to fight for Iowa farmers, not for Big Ag, because what we are seeing in Iowa and what I'm hearing all over this district, is that family farmers are being squeezed by Big Ag [and] by the lack of competition. We need to make sure that we are giving, farmers the resources they need to help us solve, you know, soil quality issues, water quality issues, climate issues. You know, farmers in Iowa are smart. They're resourceful. They know how to get this done. We have to give them not unfunded mandates, but resources to help us solve some of these huge problems and help feed the world. And so when I am in Congress, I will fight for all of that in our farm bill."
What action would you take to improve the education of Iowans?
Miller-Meeks: "Teachers have this tremendous impact. So how do we empower teachers to be in charge of their classroom rather than a federal Department of Education who doesn't know what happens in the classroom, who you know are saying 'This much time has to be spent here' instead of allowing teachers to have the flexibility in their classroom, given their interactions with their students. ... My first year in Congress, I joined Sen. Tim Scott's bill for choice in education and charter schools. I am the co-chair of the public school caucus, which means we're looking at all public schools to include charter schools and what can be done to improve education, to elevate the interactions between teachers and students. Parents should have choice of where their children go to school."
Bohannan: "I have been going around talking to people all throughout this district, especially people in some of our small towns, our rural counties, people who are teachers, parents, principals, school board members, superintendents, you know, people of all political parties, but who are in these roles. [They] are in charge of our schools and helping to educate our kids throughout Iowa and they are devastated by what they are seeing as a lack of investment in our public schools. ... We have been number one in public education in the past and people talk about that with so much pride and we need to get there again. So, you know, when I'm in Congress, I will fight and I won't stop until Iowa's number one in public education again."
Iowa congressional results
Election results will begin to come in around 8 p.m. when polls close in Iowa.