Republican Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks secured her reelection victory in Iowa's 1st District after a recount affirmed her lead, aiding the Republican Party in maintaining its slim majority in the U.S. House and retaining control of all four of Iowa's congressional seats.
Miller-Meeks emerged victorious over Democrat Christina Bohannan in a closely contested race. While Miller-Meeks had previously won by a significant margin in 2020, this year's election saw a much tighter outcome, with her lead over Bohannan being less than a percentage point, or fewer than 1,000 votes.
Representing the 1st District, which encompasses the eastern part of Iowa and a portion of south-central Iowa, including Johnson County, home to the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Miller-Meeks has now secured her second term in Congress.
The race was officially called by The Associated Press on Wednesday afternoon, following a recount requested by Bohannan's campaign on November 14. The recount, conducted across all 20 counties in the district, was initiated due to the narrow margin between the candidates.
Despite accusations from Miller-Meeks' campaign of being 'election deniers,' Bohannan's campaign emphasized the importance of ensuring that every voter's voice is heard through the recount process. The state covered the costs of the recount due to the margin being less than a percentage point.
With Republican incumbents successfully defending Iowa's three other congressional seats, the GOP has maintained control over the entirety of Iowa's congressional delegation. This marks the first time in thirty years that Iowa has had an all-Republican delegation, reflecting a significant rightward shift in the state's political landscape.
Notable victories for Republicans in Iowa included Zach Nunn's win in the 3rd District and decisive wins by Ashley Hinson in the 2nd District and Randy Feenstra in the 4th District. The competitive races in the 1st and 3rd Districts attracted substantial national campaign funding and attention.
Overall, the 2022 election results in Iowa underscore the state's continued support for Republican candidates and the party's stronghold on congressional representation.
