Iowa congressional candidates filed nomination papers to run for office this week ahead of Friday’s deadline for candidates to file to appear on the ballot.
Candidates in Iowa’s four congressional districts will be on the ballot this November, along with races in Iowa’s state House and Senate and county contests. This year’s primary election is June 4, and the general election is Nov. 5.
U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks replies to a question at an Aug 14, 2023, town hall at Iowa City West High School. She has filed for re-election and faces a challenger in the June 4 GOP primary. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
In the 1st Congressional District, Democrat Christina Bohannan of Iowa City, a former state representative, is challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, an Ottumwa Republican. Bohannan was in the Capitol on Thursday to submit her nomination petition.
Bohannan, saying she wants to bring a bipartisan voice to Congress, is running in a district national Democrats see the potential to flip. The district includes the heavily Democratic Johnson County and GOP strongholds like Van Buren and Mahaska counties.
She argued Miller-Meeks does not look for bipartisan solutions and caters to the “far-right, extreme members of her party.”
“We need to find solutions, we need to work together, to really tackle the problems that Iowans are facing, ” Bohannan said. “And we need to get away from this divide that we see and this extreme Washington, D.C., politics.”
Miller-Meeks filed for re-election in February, saying 2024 would be a “pivotal election surrounded by issues that face everyday Iowans.”
Miller-Meeks' campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the election challenge.
David Pautsch, Davenport Republican
Miller-Meeks also is facing a challenger from the right in the upcoming primary from Davenport minister David Pautsch. Pautsch, a Republican, filed his nominating petitions Monday.
Pautsch announced this week he has received campaign endorsements from former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Mike Lindell, the CEO of MyPillow who was among the loudest voices spreading false claims denying the results of the 2020 election.
"David Pautsch will be a strong and uncompromised voice in Congress to help save America from the oppression that has destroyed our constitutional liberties, national security, economy, schools, law and order, small businesses and families," Huckabee said in a statement released by Pautsch's campaign.
Pautsch has said he's running because he believes the country is becoming too secular and that Miller-Meeks is not conservative or biblical enough in her decisions.
He cites her support for the Respect for Marriage Act, a bipartisan measure that required the federal government to recognize marriages performed legally in states regardless of the sex or race of the couple and clarifying that religious organizations are not required to perform same-sex marriages.
“David's commitment to saving America by trusting in God's power is unwavering,” Lindell wrote.
Sarah Corkery, Cedar Falls Democrat
Sarah Corkery, a Democrat and Cedar Falls businesswoman, filed her nominating papers this week to challenge U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson of Marion in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District.
Corkery cited votes by Hinson that she believes have hurt Iowans, including voting against the Inflation Reduction Act and the federal infrastructure law.
“My whole career, I have been an advocate for breast cancer research and disability rights. I have started a business with my husband, and I have raised a family with three kids here,” Corkery said. “Northeast Iowa is a special place, and our families deserve a representative who recognizes that, not a mouthpiece for the Republican Party and their corporate donors.”
When Hinson filed to appear on the ballot in February, she criticized the federal leadership of President Joe Biden and said border security would be among her top issues this cycle.
When Corkery announced her candidacy last year, Hinson’s campaign said she would be a “rubber-stamp for the radical Biden agenda.”
“We can’t wait to contrast Sarah’s extreme, liberal views with Ashley’s record of delivering conservative results for Iowans,” campaign manager Addie Lavis said at the time.
Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa
U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District and U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra in Iowa’s 4th District both filed their paperwork to seek re-election in February.
Democrat Lanon Baccam, who is challenging Nunn, submitted his nomination petition Thursday morning.
Melissa Vine, a Des Moines nonprofit director, has announced her intention to run in the Democratic primary for the seat, but she had not filed her nominating papers as of Thursday afternoon.
Feenstra faces a Republican primary challenge from Kevin Virgil, an Army veteran and former intelligence worker.
Democrat Ryan Melton filed to run in the heavily Republican 4th District on Monday.
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Candidates in Iowa’s four congressional districts will be on the ballot this November, along with races in Iowa’s state House and Senate and county contests. This year’s primary election is June 4, and the general election is Nov. 5.
1st District
In the 1st Congressional District, Democrat Christina Bohannan of Iowa City, a former state representative, is challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, an Ottumwa Republican. Bohannan was in the Capitol on Thursday to submit her nomination petition.
Bohannan, saying she wants to bring a bipartisan voice to Congress, is running in a district national Democrats see the potential to flip. The district includes the heavily Democratic Johnson County and GOP strongholds like Van Buren and Mahaska counties.
She argued Miller-Meeks does not look for bipartisan solutions and caters to the “far-right, extreme members of her party.”
“We need to find solutions, we need to work together, to really tackle the problems that Iowans are facing, ” Bohannan said. “And we need to get away from this divide that we see and this extreme Washington, D.C., politics.”
Miller-Meeks filed for re-election in February, saying 2024 would be a “pivotal election surrounded by issues that face everyday Iowans.”
Miller-Meeks' campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the election challenge.
Miller-Meeks also is facing a challenger from the right in the upcoming primary from Davenport minister David Pautsch. Pautsch, a Republican, filed his nominating petitions Monday.
Pautsch announced this week he has received campaign endorsements from former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Mike Lindell, the CEO of MyPillow who was among the loudest voices spreading false claims denying the results of the 2020 election.
"David Pautsch will be a strong and uncompromised voice in Congress to help save America from the oppression that has destroyed our constitutional liberties, national security, economy, schools, law and order, small businesses and families," Huckabee said in a statement released by Pautsch's campaign.
Pautsch has said he's running because he believes the country is becoming too secular and that Miller-Meeks is not conservative or biblical enough in her decisions.
He cites her support for the Respect for Marriage Act, a bipartisan measure that required the federal government to recognize marriages performed legally in states regardless of the sex or race of the couple and clarifying that religious organizations are not required to perform same-sex marriages.
“David's commitment to saving America by trusting in God's power is unwavering,” Lindell wrote.
2nd District
Sarah Corkery, a Democrat and Cedar Falls businesswoman, filed her nominating papers this week to challenge U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson of Marion in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District.
Corkery cited votes by Hinson that she believes have hurt Iowans, including voting against the Inflation Reduction Act and the federal infrastructure law.
“My whole career, I have been an advocate for breast cancer research and disability rights. I have started a business with my husband, and I have raised a family with three kids here,” Corkery said. “Northeast Iowa is a special place, and our families deserve a representative who recognizes that, not a mouthpiece for the Republican Party and their corporate donors.”
When Hinson filed to appear on the ballot in February, she criticized the federal leadership of President Joe Biden and said border security would be among her top issues this cycle.
When Corkery announced her candidacy last year, Hinson’s campaign said she would be a “rubber-stamp for the radical Biden agenda.”
“We can’t wait to contrast Sarah’s extreme, liberal views with Ashley’s record of delivering conservative results for Iowans,” campaign manager Addie Lavis said at the time.
3rd, 4th Districts
U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District and U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra in Iowa’s 4th District both filed their paperwork to seek re-election in February.
Democrat Lanon Baccam, who is challenging Nunn, submitted his nomination petition Thursday morning.
Melissa Vine, a Des Moines nonprofit director, has announced her intention to run in the Democratic primary for the seat, but she had not filed her nominating papers as of Thursday afternoon.
Feenstra faces a Republican primary challenge from Kevin Virgil, an Army veteran and former intelligence worker.
Democrat Ryan Melton filed to run in the heavily Republican 4th District on Monday.
Iowa congressional challengers file to run for office
Incumbent Mariannette Miller-Meeks faces primary challenge from Davenport minister
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