Rita Hart

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On May 14, 2019, Hart announced her candidacy for Iowa's 2nd congressional district in the 2020 election. [8] She was unopposed in the June 2 Democratic primary election, and the next day released a list of 20 Republicans who supported her campaign, [9] one of a number of Democrats making similar announcements during the 2020 United States elections. [10] She faced Republican state senator Mariannette Miller-Meeks in the November general election. [11]

The 2020 election for Iowa's 2nd congressional district was the closest federal election in the U.S. that year; [12] the 2nd closest US House Race by percentage in American history, behind only the tied race for Pennsylvania's 2nd District seat in 1826, and the closest election by vote margin since the 1984 race for Indiana's 8th District. [13] On November 30, following a recount, the Iowa Board of Canvass voted 5-0 to certify Miller-Meeks as the winner by six votes (196,964 to 196,958). [13] [14] [15] Hart challenged the results through a petition with the House Administration Committee under the 1969 Federal Contested Elections Act, which sets forth procedures for contesting state election results. Under the Constitution, each chamber of Congress is "the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members." [16] [17]

Hart's petition contended that the House should count certain ballots that were not included in the recount. [16] In her petition she contended that 22 legally cast ballots were unlawfully excluded, and two, that the 24 counties' recount boards' procedures were irregular across the district. [18] Had they been counted, she continuedm she would have won the race by nine votes. [19] [20] These uncounted ballots were excluded for a variety of reasons including errors in the canvasing, signatures in the wrong place, envelopes that were improperly sealed and other errors in voting and counting. [18]

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi provisionally seated Miller-Meeks on January 3, 2021, pending adjudication of Hart's petition. [19] [21]

In response to a letter containing questions from House Administration Committee Chair Zoe Lofgren, Hart and her attorney Marc Elias wrote, "Where necessary to effectuate the will of the voters of the Second Congressional District, the Committee should therefore exercise its discretion to depart from Iowa law, and adopt counting rules that 'disenfranchise the smallest possible number of voters.'" [22] Republicans and some Democrats sharply criticized Pelosi's decision to review the race in the House Administration Committee, calling it an attempt to steal the election. They argued that it was hypocritical to overturn a certified state election after criticizing Republican attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. [23]

On March 31, 2021, in a surprise announcement, Rita Hart withdrew her challenge to the results in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, citing a “toxic campaign of political disinformation”, thus ending her campaign. [24] Her contest was subsequently dismissed and Miller-Meeks was sworn in non-provisionally for the seat.

Personal life

Hart and her husband, Paul, have five children. They reside in Wheatland, Iowa. [4]

Electoral history

2012

Rita Hart
RitaHartIowa.jpeg
Chair of the Iowa Democratic Party
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 29, 2023
2012 Iowa Senate 49th district election [25]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Rita Hart 17,305 54.6%
Republican Andrew Naeve14,39845.4%
Democratic gain from Republican

2014

2014 Iowa Senate 49th district election [26]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Rita Hart (incumbent)11,690 52%
Republican Brian Schmidt10,80848%
Democratic hold

2020

Iowa's 2nd congressional district, 2020
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks 196,864 49.910
Democratic Rita Hart196,85849.908
Total votes394,439 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

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References

  1. ↑ "Democrats Reviewing Whether To Overturn A Certified Iowa U.S. House Election". NPR.org. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  2. ↑ Schultz, Marisa (2021-03-31). "Dem Rita Hart backs down in Iowa election challenge to Miller-Meeks amid mounting GOP pressure". Fox News. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
  3. 1 2 3 "State Senator". Archived from the original on 2015-02-16. Retrieved 2016-07-05.
  4. 1 2 "State Senator". www.legis.iowa.gov. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
  5. ↑ Tibbetts, Ed (7 December 2011). "Longtime Wheatland educator seeks District 49 seat". The Quad-City Times. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
  6. ↑ "Fred Hubbell names Sen. Rita Hart as running mate on Democratic ticket for governor". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
  7. ↑ Kevin Hardy, Iowa Democrats stunned, confused after Fred Hubbell loses, but others make big gains, The Des Moines Register (November 7, 2018).
  8. ↑ "Rita Hart throws hat in race for U.S. Rep. Loebsack's seat". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2019-05-15.
  9. ↑ Hayden, Sarah. "Democrat Rita Hart earns Republican endorsements", Quad-City Times , June 7, 2020.
  10. ↑ Bowman, Bridget. "Showcasing GOP support isn't just for the Democratic convention: Biden wants to build a broad coalition, and so do down-ballot Democrats", Roll Call , August 21, 2020.
  11. ↑ Hayden, Sarah. "Miller-Meeks defeats Schilling in GOP primary for 2nd Congressional District", Quad-City Times, June 11, 2020.
  12. ↑ Zachary Oren Smith & Brianne Pfannenstiel, Iowa certifies Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks won Iowa's 2nd Congressional District seat — by 6 votes, Des Moines Register (November 30, 2020)
  13. 1 2 Ryan J. Foley, Iowa board certifies 6-vote Republican win in US House race, Associated Press (November 30, 2020).
  14. ↑ Smith, Zachary Oren. "Republican candidate leads congressional race in Iowa by 6 votes, recount finds". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  15. ↑ "Board of Canvass certifies Miller-Meeks' 6-vote win in Iowa's 2nd Congressional District". KCCI. 2020-11-30. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  16. 1 2 Bridget Bowman & Herb Jackson, Iowa Democrat Rita Hart to appeal 2nd District results to House, Roll Call (December 2, 2020).
  17. ↑ Zachary Oren Smith, Democrat Rita Hart alleges 22 ballots improperly uncounted, asks Congress to investigate, Iowa City Press-Citizen (December 22, 2020).
  18. 1 2 Smith, Zachery Oren (22 December 2020). "Democrat Rita Hart alleges 22 ballots improperly uncounted, asks Congress to investigate". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  19. 1 2 Brianne Pfannenstiel and Ian Richardson (January 3, 2021). "Iowa Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks provisionally seated in 117th Congress as new session begins". Des Moines Register.
  20. ↑ Rogers, Alex; Raju, Manu (March 18, 2021). "House Democrats weigh ejecting GOP winner of contested Iowa race, dismissing comparisons to Trump's efforts to overturn election". CNN. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Pelosi to seat Republican in contested Iowa race". Politico. December 30, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  22. ↑ "CONTESTANT'S INITIAL BRIEF IN RESPONSE TO CHAIRPERSON LOFGREN'S LETTER OF MARCH 10, 2021" (PDF).
  23. ↑ Annie Grayer (22 March 2021). "House Democrats face backlash on both sides for investigating Iowa House race won by a Republican - CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  24. ↑ Olson, Laura (31 March 2021). "Democrat Rita Hart withdraws challenge in Iowa 2nd District congressional race" . Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  25. ↑ 2012 General Election Canvass Summary Iowa Secretary of State
  26. ↑ 2014 General Election Canvass Summary Iowa Secretary of State
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Iowa
2018 		Succeeded by
Eric Van Lancker
Iowa Senate
Preceded by Member of the Iowa Senate
from the 49th district
2013–2019		Succeeded by
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