Davenport Republican David Pautsch has filed to run in 2026 for Iowa's 1st Congressional District, seeking the Republican nomination for the second time in a run from the party's right flank.
David Pautsch, Davenport Republican (Supplied photo)
Current U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks fended off Pautsch in the GOP primary in 2024, winning with about 55 percent of the vote to Pautsch's 44%. It was a stronger than expected showing for Pautsch, who raised just $43,000 for the race.
Pautsch, known best for organizing the Quad Cities Prayer Breakfast, has touted his support of now-President Donald Trump, posing for photos with him when Trump was campaigning for the Iowa caucuses in late 2023. He has painted Miller-Meeks as not being far enough to the right.
Pautsch filed his statement of candidacy earlier this month with the Federal Elections Commission, and said he plans to announce his candidacy with an event at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Iowa Capitol rotunda in Des Moines.
Miller-Meeks' campaign did not immediately respond to questions from the Quad City Times about whether she plans to run for re-election, but she did file a statement of candidacy Monday for 2026 with the FEC.
“Mariannette is spending all her energy on helping President Trump implement his agenda — it is not time for campaigning,” a Miller-Meeks spokesperson, Anthony Cruz, wrote in an email.
The primary is June 2, 2026, and the general midterm election date is Nov. 3, 2026.
www.thegazette.com
David Pautsch, Davenport Republican (Supplied photo)
Current U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks fended off Pautsch in the GOP primary in 2024, winning with about 55 percent of the vote to Pautsch's 44%. It was a stronger than expected showing for Pautsch, who raised just $43,000 for the race.
Pautsch, known best for organizing the Quad Cities Prayer Breakfast, has touted his support of now-President Donald Trump, posing for photos with him when Trump was campaigning for the Iowa caucuses in late 2023. He has painted Miller-Meeks as not being far enough to the right.
Pautsch filed his statement of candidacy earlier this month with the Federal Elections Commission, and said he plans to announce his candidacy with an event at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Iowa Capitol rotunda in Des Moines.
Miller-Meeks' campaign did not immediately respond to questions from the Quad City Times about whether she plans to run for re-election, but she did file a statement of candidacy Monday for 2026 with the FEC.
“Mariannette is spending all her energy on helping President Trump implement his agenda — it is not time for campaigning,” a Miller-Meeks spokesperson, Anthony Cruz, wrote in an email.
The primary is June 2, 2026, and the general midterm election date is Nov. 3, 2026.
Davenport Republican David Pautsch launches second run for Congress
Current U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks fended off Pautsch in the GOP primary in 2024, winning with about 55 percent of the vote to Pautsch's 44 percent. It was a stronger than expected showing for Pautsch, who raised just $43,000 for the race.
www.thegazette.com
