Where Miller-Meeks, Bohannan stand on key issues, from abortion to the border to inflation
Iowa's 1st Congressional District race figures to be one of the closest high-profile races in the fall election.
Incumbent Mariannette Miller-Meeks and challenger Christina Bohannan will face off for a second straight election after the Republican bested the University of Iowa professor and former state representative by more than 20,000 votes in 2022.
Miller-Meeks is seeking her third term in office. In her first run in 2020, she famously squeaked out a victory over Democrat Rita Hart by just six votes in what was then the state's 2nd Congressional District.
The incumbent Republican has focused her campaign by leaning on her record in Congress, including the passage of her SERVICE Act legislation. At a September tailgate, Miller-Meeks also focused on transgender people and women's rights, saying, "We have fought for women's rights and it is the Republicans that will give women's rights a place."
Learn More: Your Iowa Voter Guide 2024
Bohannan, meanwhile, has focused much of her campaign on reproductive rights. She has frequently attacked Iowa Republicans and her opponent for policies she has called "devastating and dangerous" for women, including the state's fetal heartbeat abortion law which went into effect in late July. She has also targeted attacks toward Miller-Meeks over in-vitro fertilization, which Bohannan herself used to have a child.
Libertarian candidate Nicholas Gluba, who also was running for Congress, was removed from the ballot by an Iowa Supreme Court decision. He is running as a write-in candidate.
We asked the candidates about a number of national and state issues. Their biographies and responses are listed in the order they will appear on the general election ballot. Answers have been edited for style and length.
Who is Mariannette Miller-Meeks?
Age: 69
Party: Republican
Grew up in: My father was career U.S. Air Force, so we were stationed in many different states for different lengths of time, but Texas is my “home of record” when I enlisted in the U.S. Army.
Lives in: Davenport, my husband and I retained our 50-acre property in Wapello County.
Education: I am a first-generation college student, leaving home at 16 to start at San Antonio JUCO and earned a bachelor of science in nursing degree from Texas Christian University. I later earned my master of science in education from USC and my medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center and then ophthalmology residency at the University of Iowa.
Occupation: Physician, ophthalmologist, member of Congress.
Political Experience: I was the first woman president of the Iowa Medical Society. I ran for Congress unsuccessfully as a Republican in 2008, 2010 and 2014. In 2010, Gov. Branstad appointed me as the director of Iowa Department of Public Health. I served in his administration for three years. In 2018, I was elected to Iowa Senate District 41, comprised of Wapello, Jefferson, Davis and Van Buren counties. I was elected to Congress in 2020 and 2022. I’ve been a CASA volunteer, chief of medical staff at Ottumwa Regional, Rotary member and practicing Catholic.
Who is Christina Bohannan?
Age: 53
Party: Democrat
Grew up: In a small town of 700 near the Florida-Georgia border.
Lives in: Iowa City.
Education: Although neither of my parents finished high school, they taught me the value of hard work — I am a first-generation college student with a bachelor of science in environmental engineering and a law degree from the University of Florida.
Occupation: Professor, University of Iowa College of Law.
Political Experience: I have always been a political outsider. I grew up in a small, overlooked rural town and have been a teacher in Iowa for the past 25 years. But, in 2020, I stood up to run for office for the first time because we needed change. I increased protections for working families, pushed for investment in our public schools, and helped Iowa families and small businesses through the challenges of COVID-19. I’ve worked with both parties to pass legislation cracking down on human trafficking and elder abuse. All people need somebody to have their backs. I will stand up for everyday Iowans.
What would be your top issue should you be elected?
Miller-Meeks: My top priority, should I be reelected, is to continue my work on lowering inflation in food and fuel costs, lowering prescription drug prices, over-the-counter oral contraceptives and to champion policies that bolster our economy and create opportunities for all Iowans. This includes supporting small businesses, promoting job growth, and advocating for initiatives that improve education and healthcare access. Additionally, I'm committed to advancing renewable energy solutions, securing energy independence and protect our environment. I’ll persist in legal immigration reform and border security. We also need a commission to address long term debt.
Bohannan: We badly need action to bring down costs. From groceries to gas to housing, our cost of living is simply too high. I grew up in a trailer where my parents worked hard to make ends meet — my dad as a construction worker before he got sick, and my mom in a daycare. I know firsthand the stress and impact that price increases of just a few cents can place on family budgets over time. I’ll fight to lower costs by going after price gouging corporations that have taken advantage of the pandemic to raise prices and increase their profits.
What is the most important domestic policy you would champion in Congress?
Miller-Meeks: I'm dedicated to lowering prescription drug prices and healthcare access with affordability which preserves choice. I’m committed to expanding our renewable energy sector and securing US energy dominance. Iowa has excelled as a net exporter of renewable energy, leveraging our abundant resources and strategic geography. I aim to demonstrate that clean, renewable energy is achievable nationwide, using Iowa as a model. Transitioning to clean energy can be done without burdensome government regulations. The other big issue I am fighting for is paid family leave. I am part of the bipartisan Paid Family Leave Working Group — it is so important to be pro-family for the entire family.
Bohannan: Too many of our rural towns have been ignored and left behind. We need to invest in rural infrastructure that ensures Iowans can live and build businesses that create good jobs in our small towns, improve the quality of our schools and expand access to childcare so that families choose to remain in these communities, and expand housing stock for families and seniors alike to boost affordability and give everyone a safe place to live. Iowa’s rural communities are our strength, and it’s time politicians in Washington treated them like the priority they deserve to be.
What is a specific piece of bipartisan legislation you would push for in Congress?
Miller-Meeks: One recent piece of bipartisan legislation that we were able to introduce recently is the “ON SHORE Act of 2024” — it is a bill to create manufacturing jobs. This legislation will greatly help Iowans and will strengthen our supply chains by giving communities the tools that they need to attract manufacturing jobs, companies, and facilities. This program not only empowers regions to attract investment and create jobs in Iowa but also ensures our nation's strategic interests and economic security are safeguarded. I also have several bipartisan bills on PBM reform that would save the federal government money and lower patients costs of prescription drugs.
Bohannan: We need to expand opportunities for Iowans who do not wish to go to college by greatly increasing career and technical education programs, apprenticeship programs, and other job training certifications. We have a massive shortage of skilled labor, with too few plumbers, electricians, pipefitters, trained factory workers, HVAC technicians, and numerous other fields which provide good jobs on which you can support a family without having to take on a mountain of debt for college. And our economy badly needs more skilled workers in these areas so we can support Iowa businesses with the employees they need.
What specific steps, if any, should Congress take to secure the border and improve immigration policy?
Miller-Meeks: The Republican-led house has taken positive action, but VP Harris / President Biden need to be held accountable for disastrous and radical actions. Harris + Biden and the Democrats' actions are dangerous and divisive. Securing our border and improving immigration policy are crucial. Congress should invest in border security measures like physical barriers and technology like we passed with HR2. I’ve also co-led several immigration fixes such as the Afghan Adjustment Act and America’s Children Act.
Bohannan: We must secure the border. This current Congress had a golden opportunity to pass the toughest bipartisan border security bill in a generation that was backed by the Border Patrol. Yet Rep. Miller-Meeks chose to play partisan political games and refused to support it. We hear year after year from politicians in Washington that they support border security and want to fix our broken immigration system, but they refuse to take any action. I’ll work with anyone to put more Border Patrol agents on the ground, expand inspection equipment to stop fentanyl trafficking, and increase processing capacity.
After the fall of Roe v. Wade, America is seeing a wide variety of abortion laws across states. Should Congress create a federal policy outlining abortion restrictions that are uniform across the country? If so, what should that look like?
Miller-Meeks: Throughout my tenure in Congress and the Iowa Senate, I've consistently upheld a staunchly pro-life stance with exceptions for cases of rape, incest or when the mother's life is endangered. I believe the decision is best left to the states. However, given that in 2022, all House Democrats, but one, voted for radical abortion-on-demand until the time of birth, I signed onto a bill limiting abortions after 15 weeks — when scientific evidence suggests the unborn child can feel pain. This proposal would not supersede states that have stricter restrictions but would prohibit the extreme radical position of the Democrats abortion up to and beyond birth.
Bohannan: No politician — whether in Washington or Des Moines — should be able to tell women what they can do with their own bodies. But that’s exactly what’s happened in Iowa after Mariannette Miller-Meeks paved the way for one of the strictest abortion bans in the nation. Now, Miller-Meeks wants to go even further and has backed a national abortion ban with no exceptions for rape, incest, or situations in which the life of the mother is at risk. Her ban would even end IVF fertility treatments nationwide. That simply can’t happen. We must restore the rights, protections, and freedoms that Roe v. Wade guaranteed Iowa women so they can make their own healthcare decisions.
Should Congress take steps to protect Americans’ access to in-vitro fertilization?
Miller-Meeks: My youngest sister struggled with infertility, and I’m fully supportive of IVF. By the grace of God, she has two children with some assistance and a third quite unexpected three years after the birth of twins. There is nothing more pro-life than bringing another life into the world. There has been no bill voted upon that prohibits IVF. No one, myself included, has sponsored, signed onto or advanced a bill in Congress limiting or prohibiting IVF. In fact, I have introduced a bill that offers support for IVF families with tax credits. And we'll continue to work on making sure people understand and are supported when it comes to IVF.
Bohannan: Yes. IVF fertility treatment gives so many Iowans the chance to have children and is an essential part of the decision of whether, when, and how people are able to start a family. I myself have tried IVF, as have thousands of Iowa women desperately praying for a family. Despite this, Mariannette Miller-Meeks co-sponsored a measure that would end IVF fertility treatments nationwide, a horrific outcome. We need to protect IVF for families and providers alike.
Iowans are struggling with rising costs and inflation. What can Congress do to fix it?
Miller-Meeks: Inflation is a huge problem — causing significant hardship for Iowa families, yet Democrats have failed to act. Harris/Biden policies have led to soaring gas prices and food prices, record high interest rates and driven up costs across the board. Democrats have left us with a stagnant economy devoid of solutions. To tackle this issue, we must unleash American energy, trim unnecessary government spending, support domestic manufacturing, grow the economy and prioritize American innovation. The regulatory burden this administration has imposed is reflected in lower wages not keeping pace with inflation and slower growth.
Bohannan: We must take on corporations who have been caught price gouging Iowans to increase their profits. They have too much control of Washington politicians and are not being held accountable. My opponent Mariannette Miller-Meeks has taken more than $150,000 from the oil and gas industry and voted against a bill to stop them from price gouging. She’s taken more than $250,000 from the drug industry and voted against allowing Medicare to negotiate lower prices and against capping insulin costs at $35 a month for seniors. She even took a check from an insulin manufacturer the very same day she voted against capping insulin prices. Congress should do its part to protect consumers.
What policies would you advocate to include in the next Farm Bill?
Miller-Meeks: I’ve joined numerous meetings and roundtables with farmers to make sure I understand the issues they are facing and the importance of the Farm Bill. I was able to sponsor a bill protecting Iowa farmland from foreign investors. Additionally, I’m working to strengthen crop insurance, conservation programs, and building upon existing energy programs to support renewable energy production, all while securing funding and support for biochar research at Iowa State University. Finally, I am working to expand rural development with rural broadband projects as well as supporting and enabling access to E-15 year-round here in Iowa and Nationwide.
Bohannan: The Farm Bill has to support family farmers rather than corporate agricultural giants. Iowa has lost 30,000 family farms because giant companies and their lobbyists are crowding family farmers out. The shift from community-oriented family farms to out-of-state corporate ownership seeking only to extract as much profit from Iowa as they can has been devastating. The Farm Bill must ensure family farmers are supported with fair crop insurance rates that protect against extreme weather, programs that support next-generation and first-time farmers, and investments in agricultural R&D to boost farm productivity in sustainable ways that keep local communities healthy.
What should be Congress' priority when addressing the federal budget — cutting spending or directing money toward programs and services?
Miller-Meeks: My priority in addressing the federal budget deficit and debt would be to advocate policies that grow the economy while fighting for fiscal responsibility in prioritizing spending, ensuring that vital programs and services receive adequate funding. This means carefully scrutinizing government spending to identify areas where we can reduce waste and inefficiency, while also prioritizing investments that support Iowa's economy, infrastructure, and the well-being of our communities.
Bohannan: We must reduce the federal deficit and make our spending more responsible. But this does not need to be a choice between strengthening Iowa and cutting funding — we can do both. We need to strengthen, not cut essential programs like Social Security and Medicare, public education and investments in our infrastructure. And we can balance our budget by reducing wasteful spending and ensuring the wealthy and large corporations pay their fair share in taxes. We can both grow our economy and strengthen our communities while also getting our budget in order.
Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at [email protected] or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Miller-Meeks, Bohannan on key issues, from abortion to the border