• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Sunday, March 7, 2021
The Iowa Torch
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
The Iowa Torch
The Iowa Torch
No Result
View All Result
Home Politics

Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District Heads Into a District-Wide Recount

With a 47-vote margin between Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Rita Hart, Iowa's 2nd Congressional District race is the closest federal race in the nation.

byIowa Torch
November 17, 2020
in Politics
Reading Time:3min read
Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District Heads Into a District-Wide Recount

Former State Senator Rita Hart, D-Wheatfield, and State Senator Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Ottumwa

ADVERTISEMENT

DES MOINES, Iowa – With 47 votes separating State Senator Marianette Miller-Meeks, R-Ottumwa, who leads former State Senator Rita Hart, D-Wheatland, the Hart campaign last Thursday requested a recount in every county in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District.

RELATED POSTS

Libertarians Call on Reynolds to Veto Election Bill

Grassley Files Statement of Candidacy, Still Has Not Decided If He Will Run in 2022

Polk County Republicans Elect First Female Chair

Jasper County announced an over-reporting error that, after corrected, put Hart ahead of State Senator Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Ottumwa. On Tuesday, Lucas County reported an under-reporting error that put Miller-Meeks back into the lead once corrected.

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate ordered an audit of the specific precincts and requested a countywide recount in both Jasper and Lucas counties that have now been completed.

After Lucas County’s recount on Thursday, State Senator Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Ottumwa, leads Hart by 47 votes – 49.92 percent (196,862) to 49.90 percent (196,815). This is the closest federal race in the nation.

Iowa law states that if the margin of victory is fifty votes or one percent of the total number of votes cast, whichever is greater, the state will cover the cost of the recount.

Hart’s campaign on Monday released a memo outlining their strategy during the recount.

“With just 47 votes separating the two candidates, Rita Hart for Iowa’s first priority is to make sure that all legally cast votes are counted and Iowans’ voices are heard,” her campaign said in a statement.

“As our campaign continues to monitor the results and ballots from around the district that remain to be counted, we are optimistic that Rita will emerge victorious,” they added.

Miller-Meeks’ campaign, who declared victory on Tuesday, responded to the recount request.

“The recount of votes in all 24 counties, which have already been officially certified, will ensure once again that every legal vote has been counted. That has been Senator Miller-Meeks’ expectation, desire, and commitment throughout the campaign. We look forward to a speedy and efficient process to confirm that she is the winner of this race,” Eric Woolson, campaign spokesperson, said in a released statement.

“The integrity of Iowa’s elections is my top priority and we are taking all the necessary steps to ensure the vote count is accurate,” Pate said last Tuesday.

He said following Jasper County’s data entry error, and he asked all 99 county auditors to double-check their results.

ADVERTISEMENT

“These human errors are unfortunate and frustrating, but the system is working. We have voter ID, paper ballots, post-election audits and a paper trail to protect the sanctity of the vote,” Pate added.

Each of the 24 counties in the Congressional district will select a three-person recount board. The board will include a Miller-Meeks campaign representative, a Hart campaign representative, and a third party agreed upon by both candidates. If both campaigns can’t agree on the third board member, the county’s judicial district’s chief justice will appoint that person.

The recount board will not analyze or review ballots not previously counted. They will not analyze or review ballots that were excluded by county election officials. Each county auditor, or his or her representative, is responsible for the security of all ballots and operating tabulating machines if a machine recount takes place.

Each county’s recount is open to the public, and each campaign and political party can appoint an observer.

Counties have 18 days from their canvass date to complete the recount, so the recount needs to be finalized by November 27 or 28.

A winner will not be declared until the Iowa Secretary of State’s office certifies the results on November 30.

Tags: 2020 Elections2020 Iowa 2nd Congressional District raceIowa 2nd Congressional DistrictMariannette Miller-MeeksRita Hart
ShareTweetShare
ADVERTISEMENT
Iowa Torch

Iowa Torch

The Iowa Torch​ is a for-profit, news organization that focuses on political news as it relates to Iowans.

Related Posts

Axne Votes for the Equality Act, Feenstra, Hinson, and Miller-Meeks Oppose
Federal Government

Iowa’s U.S. House Delegation Split on Justice in Policing Act

March 4, 2021
Reynolds Extends Mask Mandate, Gathering Restrictions By One Week
State Government

Reynolds, Governors Oppose Biased Fund Allocation in Stimulus Package

February 27, 2021
Axne Votes for the Equality Act, Feenstra, Hinson, and Miller-Meeks Oppose
Federal Government

Axne Votes for the Equality Act, Feenstra, Hinson, and Miller-Meeks Oppose

February 25, 2021
Iowa Delegation Urges Vilsack to Expand COVID-19 Aid Programs for Iowa’s Family Cattle Feeders
Federal Government

Iowa Delegation Urges Vilsack to Expand COVID-19 Aid Programs for Iowa’s Family Cattle Feeders

February 24, 2021
Hinson, Miller-Meeks, Axne, and Feenstra Sworn Into 117th Congress
Federal Government

Iowa’s U.S. House Members Urge Biden Admin to Include Iowa’s FQHCs in COVID-19 Vaccination Program

February 12, 2021
Miller-Meeks Asks If Feds Are Prepared to Support States, Cities Fight Cyber-Attacks
Federal Government

Miller-Meeks Asks If Feds Are Prepared to Support States, Cities Fight Cyber-Attacks

February 10, 2021
Next Post
COVID-19 Exposure Ends Grassley’s Over 27-Year-Long Voting Streak

COVID-19 Exposure Ends Grassley's Over 27-Year-Long Voting Streak

Ernst Questions Twitter, Facebook CEOs at Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing

Ernst Questions Twitter, Facebook CEOs at Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing

Sign-Up For Our Daily Updates


Recommended Articles

Charter School Expansion Advances Out of Iowa House Committee

March 5, 2021
Reynolds Announces CARES Act Funding for Housing Assistance for Low-Income Iowans

Reynolds Announces CARES Act Funding for Housing Assistance for Low-Income Iowans

December 4, 2020
Ernst Welcomes Grassley Back to the Senate

Ernst Welcomes Grassley Back to the Senate

December 2, 2020

Popular Stories

  • Iowa Teacher: Why I Resigned After 25 Years of Teaching

    Iowa Teacher: Why I Resigned After 25 Years of Teaching

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Iowa House GOP Introduces Bill Allowing Permitless Carrying of Firearms

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Democrats Object to Bill Making Technical Improvements to Iowa’s Homeschooling Law

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Parental Rights Bill Advances In the Iowa House

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Iowa House Panels Advance School Choice Bills

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
The Iowa Torch

The Iowa Torch​ is a for-profit, news organization that focuses on political news as it relates to Iowans.

Categories

  • Education
  • Federal Government
  • Iowa History
  • Local Government
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • State Government

Newsletter


© 2020 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion

© 2021 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?