Democrat Christina Bohannan launches third bid for Iowa's 1st Congressional seat

Christina Bohannan, a law professor at the University of Iowa, is again contesting Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, aiming to defeat Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks after two close losses. In 2024 she fell short by 799 votes, the second-closest House race that year, and in 2022 she lost by 23,000 votes. This cycle she has begun door-knocking in January and is targeting rural counties she previously avoided, while also reinforcing support in Johnson and Scott counties where she performed strongly.

Bohannan portrays herself as a common-sense candidate rooted in a low-income Florida background, contrasting with Miller-Meeks’ description of her as a “radical progressive.” The contest is seen as a bellwether for a possible Democratic surge in the House. Local voters such as Cindy Starr and Tim Knutson attended a recent event in Columbus Junction, reflecting the campaign’s outreach to previously untapped areas.