U.S. House Committee Taking Next Step in Dispute on Iowa Congressional Seat

WASHINGTON, DC - A Committee in the U.S. House is taking its next step today [[ Wednesday ]] in the challenge over eastern Iowa's 2nd Congressional District.

The House Committee on Administration will vote on whether to delay its decision on dropping the challenge.

Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks won the election by six votes, and wants Democrat Rita Hart's challenge dropped.

If the committee delays its decision, Hart's challenge will move forward for more discussion.

Hart ran against Miller-Meeks for the seat vacated by retired Democratic Representative Dave Loebsack.

The tight race went through a recount that narrowed Miller-Meeks margin to six votes.

The state then certified the win for Miller-Meeks, and she was sworn in as a provisional member of Congress while the election dispute continued.

Hart's campaign said it found 22 votes that should have been counted during the recount, and claims Hart would have defeated Miller-Meeks had those votes been counted.

Republicans have criticized Hart for going to Congress before turning to state courts to resolve the issue. Hart’s campaign has argued moving through the courts would take too much time to meet a deadline for all votes to be counted.

Hart is being represented by high profile Attorney Mark Elias, who successfully argued against many of the 60 plus Republican challenges in November's election.

Miller-Meeks is represented by Des Moines based Attorney Alan Ostergren, who is a nationally recognized trial lawyer.

The House committee hearing begins at 11 a.m. Wednesday.


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