Iowa Democratic House hopeful calls patriotism a contentious issue amid pledge debate

Democratic candidate Christina Bohannan said patriotism is a sensitive and controversial topic while defending her vote for a school pledge bill, drawing criticism from Republican incumbent Mariannette Miller-Meeks.

Former Iowa State Rep. Christina Bohannan, now challenging Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks for a House seat, wrote in a 2021 newsletter that patriotism is a “sensitive and controversial” subject and urged a broader definition rooted in democratic ideals. She defended her vote for a Republican-led 2021 bill mandating the Pledge of Allegiance in public and certain private schools, saying the goal was to let students critically assess the oath.

Miller-Meeks responded that patriotism has never been controversial to her and criticized Bohannan’s stance, while RNC spokesman Zach Kraft called her a “woke warrior.” Bohannan’s campaign manager Dan Driscoll said she will fight for term limits and reduced corporate influence in Washington. The race, which saw Miller-Meeks win by roughly 800 votes after a recount, remains one of the state’s most closely watched contests. The debate highlights a broader partisan split over displays of patriotism and diversity training in schools.