Vice President Kamala Harris ’s ascent to the top of the Democratic ticket has her party more bullish about flipping multiple congressional seats in the Midwest and expanding its footprint in the House .
There’s a big blue target on the backs of vulnerable Republicans in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Michigan, according to a new Politico report.
Some of the Midwestern seats were previously viewed as out of reach for Democrats but have been increasingly viewed as pickups for Democrats given Harris’s gains across the country.
Iowa’s Meeks faces Democratic challenger
Democrats are, for the third cycle in a row, targeting a flip in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, pouring resources into ousting Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA).
Miller-Meeks won her first election in the southeastern Iowa district by just six votes in 2020. Two years later, she defeated Democratic challenger Christina Bohannan by a safe 7 percentage points.
But Bohannan challenged Miller-Meeks to a rematch this election cycle, and Democrats believe she stands a real chance of flipping the seat this time around. Miller-Meeks faces low favorability ratings in her district, just 355, according to Politico. Given her perceived weakness, Democrats are pouring millions into ousting her.