After just six votes got her elected to the post in 2020, U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks announced today she is running for Iowa's new southeastern district.
Due to redistricting, Iowa's new 1st Congressional District which includes Iowa City and Davenport no longer includes Miller-Meeks' residence in Ottumwa. After the change Miller-Meeks was thrown into a district with incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne. But rather than try her luck, Miller-Meeks said she'd move into the boundaries of the new 1st District.
In this episode of River to River, host Ben Kieffer speaks with experts about the political math involved in the decision. Political scientist Sara Mitchell said moving into the new 1st gives Miller-Meeks a greater incumbent benefit than she would have running against Axne.
We also hear about passage of the infrastructure bill, the future of Biden's Build Back Better legislation and why a judge supported Congress' subpoena power in investigating the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Guests:
- Wayne Moyer, Rosenfield Professor of Political Science at Grinnell College
- Sara Mitchell, F. Wendell Miller Professor of Political Science at the University of Iowa
