OTTUMWA, Iowa – State Senator Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Ottumwa, a Republican candidate in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, raised more than $256,000 and reported nearly $400,000 cash on hand, according to its latest federal election report.
The campaign took in $256,374.50, including a $95,000 loan from the candidate. It ends the quarter with $397,324.97 cash on hand. In the final 90 days of 2019 – Miller-Meeks’ first quarter as an official candidate, her campaign raised $259,945.99.
“The support our campaign continues to receive has been very encouraging. Like Iowans across this state, our campaign has been adjusting to the new reality we face today,” Miller-Meeks said. “As a doctor and former director of the Iowa Department of Public Health, I’ll go to Washington and work with President Trump to make our country healthy again. In times of crisis, we can’t quit on one another, and the people of the 2nd district need a representative they can count on when the going gets tough.”
Miller-Meeks, who is an Army veteran, ophthalmologist, and state senator from Ottumwa, seeks a seat made open by the retirement of seven-term U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack, an Iowa City Democrat. Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District is rated as a “toss-up,” according to national political forecasters. It’s the country’s only open Democrat-held district that President Trump carried in 2016. Recently, The Des Moines Register Iowa Poll showed a generic Republican leading a generic Democrat by 8 percent in the district.
“Senator Miller-Meeks continues to enjoy exceptionally strong support from Iowans. In this report, 85 percent of our contributions are from Iowa,” said campaign manager Austin Harris. “Like President Trump did in 2016, Senator Miller-Meeks is investing in her own campaign to break through the false attacks by her opponents. She recognizes Iowans are feeling a financial pinch during this pandemic and they’re concerned and worried about their future. Senator Miller-Meeks has the background and expertise to work with President Trump to end this pandemic while our opponents are more interested in investigating him.”