Mariannette Miller-Meeks

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright praised the Ames National Laboratory during a tour, calling it one of the country’s “premier scientific institutions” and a leader in reshoring critical materials. Wright also said he supports less federal funding for wind and solar, and downplayed findings from government reports about climate change.

Lawyer and Democrat Taylor Wettach launched a campaign for Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, the seat held by Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks. Wettach said he decided to run for office when the firm he worked for, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, struck a deal with President Donald Trump.

Republican lawmakers from Iowa and Nebraska gave up millions of dollars they requested for projects in their districts when they voted on a bill to keep the government open in March. Constituents and beneficiaries of Community Project Funding worry the money won’t be restored.

In the last presidential year election, Rep. Miller-Meeks won her Congressional seat by six votes. This year, the race is a toss-up, and neither candidate is taking any votes for granted.