Rep. Miller-Meeks seeks U.S. House leadership role as slim lead holds

U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks is seeking a House leadership role as she seems poised to secure a third term representing southeastern Iowa’s 1st Congressional District.
In a letter shared with House GOP colleagues Tuesday, Miller-Meeks put herself up for secretary of the House Republican Conference. Michigan Rep. Lisa McClain currently fills the role.
House GOP Conference chair Elise Stefanik’s selection by President-elect Donald Trump as ambassador to the United Nations has shaken up House leadership positions. The secretary is two rungs below the conference chair on the leadership ladder and assists the chair with directing daily operations of the conference office and staff.
Miller-Meeks’ bid for a third term has not yet been called by the Associated Press, but she has a 796-vote lead over Democratic challenger Christina Bohannan, according to unofficial results.
Miller-Meeks argued in the letter that her “highly competitive district is reflective of the nation and our conference” and suggested the experience of staying in office in a battleground district would serve her well in the role.
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“We come off of a successful and historic election thanks to President Trump and an America First agenda, and I believe we have an opportunity to lead while working to cement our majority for Congresses to come,” Miller-Meeks wrote.
The GOP is on track to maintain control of the House and flipped the Senate to Republican control, meaning there will be a Republican trifecta in the federal government with Trump’s election to a second term as president.
Miller-Meeks acknowledged the slim 800-vote lead she maintains over Bohannan in the 1st District race but said “it is mathematically impossible for the ground to be made up with the remaining provisional ballots left to be counted.”
Bohannan has not conceded the race and wrote in a social media post on X, formerly known as Twitter, last week that the race was too close to call and said “we will ensure each and every lawful vote is counted.”
Marissa Payne covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. Reach her by email at [email protected]. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @marissajpayne.