Iowa City, IA – Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and her party bosses have chosen to shut down the government rather than lower skyrocketing health insurance costs for Iowans. She recently voted to gut Medicaid and kick more than 100,000 Iowans off their health insurance entirely. Now, she’s doubling down on making sure that health insurance premiums double for tens of thousands more Iowans. 

Instead of staying in Congress to negotiate a bipartisan solution that will bring costs down and keep the government open, Miller-Meeks fled DC last week at the direction of her Washington party bosses. In forcing a government shutdown, Miller-Meeks continues to push a budget plan that:

• Doubles health insurance premiums for tens of thousands of Iowans starting in three months
• Strips healthcare coverage altogether for more than 100,000 Iowans
• Puts nearly 350 rural hospitals at risk of closure, including MercyOne Newton Medical Center here in eastern Iowa
• Forces a quarter of nursing homes to close and more than half to cut beds

“Over and over again, Representative Miller-Meeks votes to drive up costs for Iowans – from voting three times for tariffs to voting to increase our utility bills and mortgage payments,” said Christina Bohannan.  “Now, she’s digging in her heels on a budget that doubles Iowans’ health insurance premiums and guts Medicaid – all to ensure the largest billionaire tax giveaway in American history. Iowa’s working families cannot afford another two years of Miller-Meeks’ failed leadership. Next November, we will retire Miller-Meeks and put Iowa first.”

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Iowa’s 1st Congressional District contains the cities of Davenport, Iowa City, Burlington, and Indianola. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks faces a rematch against Christina Bohannan, who came within 0.2% of defeating the incumbent in 2024. Bohannan lost by just 799 votes out of 413,000 and outperformed the top of the ticket by over 8 points – more than any other Red-to-Blue candidate in the country. National forecasters, including the Cook Political Report, universally rate this district as a Toss-Up for 2026. With Rep. Miller-Meeks showing historic weakness at just 31% favorability and facing growing opposition even within her own party, Bohannan has the best opportunity to flip a Republican seat in the country.