Democrat Rita Hart Surrenders To Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks
Democrat Rita Hart has formally dropped her election challenge in Iowa to Republican Rep. Miller-Meeks. This comes after Republicans protested the “steal” of her seat.
Hart officially lost Iowa’s 2nd District seat in November by just six votes. She took immediate action to file for a recount that, according to Fox, “22 ballots that were left out of the final tally, claiming she would have prevailed.”
GOP pressure to preserve Miller-Meeks’ win appeared to work. Hart formally announced Wednesday that she won’t try to overturn the election.
“After many conversations with people I trust about the future of this contest, I have made the decision to withdraw my contest before the House Committee on Administration,” Hart said in a statement Wednesday.
“Since Election Day, and throughout this entire process, my mission has been about ensuring the voices of Iowans who followed the law are not silenced. I am saddened that some Iowans’ votes will not count through no fault of their own. The work of ensuring it does not happen again will continue beyond this campaign.”
Republican House Leader Kevin McCarthy visited Iowa with Miller-Meeks to support canceling the election contest, claiming that the Democrats were trying to steal the election from Iowan Americans.
This is the People's House — not Pelosi's house. https://t.co/iPaoD3JKkW #IA02 pic.twitter.com/KQXwMHAoT7
— Kevin McCarthy (@kevinomccarthy) March 31, 2021
Hart stated that she was aware of the political repercussions of her surrender. She blamed the GOP of “political disinformation.”
“Despite our best efforts to have every vote counted, the reality is that the toxic campaign of political disinformation to attack this constitutional review of the closest congressional contest in 100 years has effectively silenced the voices of Iowans,” Hart said. “It is a stain on our democracy that the truth has not prevailed and my hope for the future is a return to decency and civility.”
Hart thanked her supporters and wished Miller-Meeks the best.