Democrat Hart looks to U.S. House in Tight Congressional Race

IOWA - Democrat Rita Hart is appealing to the Democratically controlled U.S. House to settle her narrow loss in the 2nd District congressional race.

She's foregoing a legal challenge in state courts, saying the tight deadline would not allow enough time to ensure all votes are accurately counted.

Going through the state would require a panel of Supreme and district court judges to rule on who won the race by next Tuesday.

Congress has intervened in tight races before, but only in rare occasions.

Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks defeated Hart by six votes after a recount was conducted in all 24 counties in District 2, making it the tightest federal race in the country.

Republican Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate released a statement, saying Iowans “deserve to have the contest process decided by Iowa judges.” Pate went on to say, "The will of Iowa voters should not be overturned by partisan Washington, D.C. politicians.”

The Miller-Meeks campaign released a statement critical of Hart's decision. “Rita Hart has chosen a political process controlled by Nancy Pelosi over a legal process controlled by Iowa judges, said Miller-Meeks attorney Alan Ostergren. "All Iowans should be outraged by this decision."

Hart is filing a petition with the U.S. House Committee on Administration under the Federal Contested Elections Act, which allows candidates for the House to contest the results of elections.


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