Former Iowa State Senator Rita Hart ended her challenge in a race at the US home that she lost to Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks by six votes. Above, Hart appears on her farm in Wheatland, Iowa on August 13, 2019. Caroline Brehman / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Hide Captions
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Caroline Brehman / CQ Appeal, Inc via Getty Images
Former Iowa State Senator Rita Hart ended her challenge in a race at the US home that she lost to Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks by six votes. Above, Hart appears on her farm in Wheatland, Iowa on August 13, 2019.
Caroline Brehman / CQ Appeal, Inc via Getty Images
Rita Hart, the Iowa Democrat who lost a house race by just six votes, withdraws her challenge to Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks.
In one Explanation The former senator, posted on Twitter on Wednesday, said she made the decision “after talking to people I trust about the future of this competition.”
“I wish Mariannette Miller-Meeks all the best as she serves as a Congresswoman to the people of this great state,” she said. “This has been a difficult process for everyone involved and it is incredibly important that we work together to reform the system so that it doesn’t happen again in the future.”
Running to represent the people by # IA02 The US House of Representatives was one of the greatest honors of my life. I couldn’t have done it without all of you. Read my statement today here: pic.twitter.com/ustS72pWsq
– Rita Hart (@RitaHartIA) March 31, 2021
She added, “Despite our efforts to have every vote count, the reality is that the toxic campaign of political disinformation to attack this constitutional review of the next Congressional contest in 100 years has effectively silenced the voices of Iowans.”
The House Administration Committee had checked Hart’s challenge, in which she claimed there were 22 ballots that should have been counted in the November elections, which would ultimately have given her a victory. A total of around 400,000 votes were cast in the race. The race had been certified by the Iowa State Board of Canvassers after a full recount.
With the Democrats clinging to a slim majority of 219-211 in the House of Representatives, Hart’s challenge had become the subject of an increasingly tense partisan rancor in the Chamber in recent weeks. Republicans campaigned against Hart’s efforts to overthrow the race and this week dispatched House minority leader Kevin McCarthy to Iowa to support Rep. Miller-Meeks.
Even some Democrats conceded that the review of Congress could be viewed as a power takeover.
“Losing a house election by six votes is painful for Democrats. But it would be even more painful for America to overthrow them in the house. Just because a majority can doesn’t mean a majority should.” tweeted Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn.
Shortly after Hart’s announcement on Wednesday, the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee announced that the panel would suspend its review of the race.
“Competition before the House Management Committee was under federal controversial election law, which requires a candidate,” Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., Said in a statement. “With no candidate, there is no more competition and the committee will accordingly recommend the entire House to dispose of the competition and pass a dismissal resolution reported by the committee.”
“We’re glad Rita Hart finally came to her senses and admitted the truth: The people of Iowa selected Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks to represent them in Congress,” said Mike Berg, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee.
