DAVENPORT, Iowa — Polls in Iowa close at 8 p.m. Tuesday night. Click/tap here for election results.
In southeastern Iowa, GOP U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks won a second term in the House after winning by just six votes in 2020, in the closest congressional race in decades. She defeated Democratic state Rep. Christina Bohannan, a University of Iowa law professor, who told supporters that she knew from the beginning of the race that it would be a difficult political environment this year.
Miller-Meeks had a substantial lead in the race, a far cry from her tiny vote margin when she won in 2020. That win followed a lengthy recount and after Democrat Rita Hart abandoned a House challenge to the state-certified results.
Bohannan grew up in Florida and moved to Iowa around 20 years ago to teach law at the University of Iowa. She said she's running for Congress to help focus on people's needs and put extremist politics aside.
Some of her top priorities are inflation and health care. If elected to Congress, Bohannan said she wants to work to lower costs and invest in rural health care.
One of the reasons these are her top issues is because of her own personal experience growing up. Her dad was diagnosed with emphysema, and 10 years later, his health insurance was canceled because he hit his coverage limit.
Miller-Meeks is hoping for another two years in congress after winning by only six votes during the 2020 election. She currently represents Iowa's 2nd District and is seeking to retake a seat in the new 1st District.
She said crime, the border and inflation are among her top priorities. She wants changes to government accountability, such as oversight on the supply chain, healthcare decisions and public safety. The U.S. Army veteran also holds a strong stance being anti-abortion.
Miller-Meeks has held other public positions, including director of Iowa's Department of Public Health and a member of the Iowa Senate.
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