Today, the Cook Political Report shifted multiple race ratings toward Democrats, including IA-02. This news follows previous shifts away from Republicans in Iowa races for Governor, the U.S. Senate, and U.S House seat for IA-03, signaling growing consequences across the state for Republicans who have put President Trump’s costly agenda over the wellbeing of Iowans.
Iowa Race Ratings:
U.S. Senate: Likely R → Lean R (Open)
IA-03 House: Lean R → Toss Up (Zach Nunn)
IA-02 House: Likely R→ Lean R (Open)
IA-01 House: Toss Up (Miller-Meeks)
Governor: Leans Republican → Tossup (Open)
“These ratings send a clear message: the more Iowans learn about our Republican members of Congress and their votes, the less popular those leaders become,” Mazie Stilwell, executive director of Progress Iowa said. “From the U.S. Senate to the Governor’s mansion, Iowans are rejecting Republicans who vote with Trump and corporate donors instead of standing up for Iowa.”
Republicans made themselves unpopular by voting with their party against Iowa’s best interests
Representatives Ashely Hinson, Zach Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks all voted for the Republican Tax Law that includes historic cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, closing clinics across the state and making it harder for families to put food on the table. They have all voiced support and voted for Trump’s chaotic tariffs that have pushed inflation up and raised costs for almost everything, from basic groceries to construction materials.
Hinson recently admitted the war in Iran is a “political liability” after voting to support Trump’s war powers in Iran, which have driven up the price of gas. She also recently got caught using strong campaign rhetoric against insider trading while quietly keeping private stocks in insurance companies and refusing to sign the discharge petition that would have forced Congress to vote on a stock trading ban.
- “It has become an affordability crisis, families are now forced to choose between filling up their gas tanks, getting groceries, or paying for medicine. Our representative’s actions show that she is not working for us, she works for herself and Trump’s agenda.” – Karen, a constituent in Allamake County
Nunn was called out after saying that rising costs were “overhyped” while Iowans were paying an average of $4.50 for gas. He also said that health care closures due to his vote to gut Medicaid were a “myth” while 3 clinics have already announced closures in his district alone.
- “Families are already struggling with higher costs. When a clinic closes in a rural community like ours, it doesn’t just close a building. It closes access. It closes the door on seniors who can’t drive, on working parents who can’t miss another shift, on kids who need care today. We are worried about how longer wait times and further drives will create more barriers to seeking care when someone is sick. I’m angry that our representative in Washington called this pain a ‘myth’ while voting to make it worse.” – Sarah, a constituent in Appanoose County
Miller-Meeks has remained unpopular, having won her seat by narrow margins twice in the past. She’s known to refuse to speak with her constituents despite their major concerns for policies she’s voted for.
- “As a single mom, I’ve had to make do with what I have at times. But recently, I’ve had to borrow money for gas to get my kids to school. These aren’t luxury trips, it’s getting them to class and picking up my oldest from college. When our representatives say things are ‘going in the right direction,’ they’re not talking to people like me who are balancing how much to put in the car with what to buy at the grocery store.” – Kristin, mom of four in Miller-Meeks’ district
Republicans are attempting to crawl out of the mess they’ve made. But the costs are clear. Each Iowa representative voted for historic cuts to Medicaid and SNAP to fund tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires, and for tariffs and Trump’s reckless war strategy that are driving up costs.
Multiple Discharge Petitions could have forced votes to release the Epstein files, ban congressional representatives from stock trading, and protect expanded tax credits that made health care more affordable. Each time that Hinson, Nunn and Miller-Meeks could have taken a bipartisan stand for Iowans, they sat on their hands.
