IA02 race: State certifies Miller-Meeks as winner, Hart files petition

Even after the state canvassing board certified the results of the Iowa Second Congressional District race and named Mariannette Miller-Meeks the winner, Thad Nearmyer still feels like he’s holding his breath.

“It’s been kind of a roller coaster ride,” he said. “I’ll be holding my breath until I see her seated in Congress.”

With a six-vote difference between Miller-Meeks and Democratic opponent Rita Hart, it’s easy to understand why the chairperson of the Jasper County Republican Party would feel this way.

Especially when his own county was thought to have been responsible for unintentionally swaying the election in Hart’s favor after a clerical data entry error.

Upon the revelation of another election night mishap in Lucas County where one precinct’s votes were not accounted for, along with the ensuing recounts across all 24 counties in the district, Jasper County was no longer solely to blame.

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said on Nov. 30 the official results of the race were 196,964 votes for Miller-Meeks and 196,958 votes for Hart

Miller-Meeks expressed her “heartfelt gratitude” to voters in a tweet, saying she will “never quit fighting for you and your opportunity at the American Dream.” This election cycle marks the fourth time Miller-Meeks has sought Iowa’s second congressional district seat, which is currently held by Dave Loebsack.

On Wednesday, Dec. 2, Hart’s campaign announced plans to challenge the latest vote totals, suggesting there are still legally cast ballots that were not considered in the state recount process. Her campaign argued these ballots far outnumber the number needed to change the outcome of the election.

To ensure all Iowans’ votes are accurately counted, Hart plans to file a petition with the House Committee on Administration under the Federal Contested Elections Act, which allows for enough time for all legally cast ballots to be considered, her campaign said in a statement.

Hart’s campaign said “significant errors” occurred in the counting process since Election Day, starting with Jasper County over-reporting vote totals.

Then there were under-reported votes in Lucas County. On Nov. 23, the recount board in Jasper County conducted a machine recount that netted nine votes for Hart. Hart’s campaign said the recount board conducted another recount on Nov. 25 that netted just one vote for the Democratic candidate.

Hart’s campaign also claims many counties did not fully review ballots to identify valid votes that the machines did not recognize, which they say is “in part because of the time and burden that would have been required for such a thorough count.”

Zach Meunier, campaign manager of Rita Hart for Iowa, said, “When the recount process began more than two weeks ago, Rita Hart was down by 47 votes. Since then, more Iowans’ ballots have been counted and Rita has continuously gained ground, narrowing the gap to a mere 6 votes.

“While that recount considered more votes, limitations in Iowa law mean there are more legally cast votes left to be counted. With a margin this small, it is critical that we take this next step to ensure Iowans’ ballots that were legally cast are counted.

“In the weeks to come, we will file a petition with the House Committee on Administration requesting that these votes be counted, and we hope that Mariannette Miller-Meeks will join us in working to ensure that every Iowans’ voice is heard.”

Michelle Smith, chairperson of the Jasper County Democratic Party, said, “I believe every legally casted ballot should be counted. Once that is completed, we need to accept results for what they are.”

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com