Today, Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ campaign announced that they took in $256,374 in the first quarter of 2020. However, that includes a $95,000 loan from the candidate. The campaign currently has just shy of $400,000 cash-on-hand (COH). The campaign reported raising $259,945 in 2019.
In a statement released by the campaign, Mariannette said that the campaign was adjusting to the new reality of the COVID-19 pandemic and referenced her background in healthcare and previous roll leading IDPH.
“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.”
The 2nd district has several Republicans vying for the GOP nomination, but most see the race between Miller-Meeks and Former Illinois Congressman Bobby Schilling. Schilling, who moved to Iowa after serving one term in Congress representing Illinois 17th district. He has not released his first-quarter fundraising numbers for 2020, but in 2019, he raised a scant $80,000 and had just $50,000 COH.
Both meeks and Schilling have their work cut out for them. Whoever wins the GOP primary will take on Democrat Rita Hart. Hart RAised over 840,000 in 2019 and ended the year with just shy of $650,000 COH.
Iowa’s second congressional district is rated a “toss-up” by Cook Political Report and “tilt-democratic” by Inside Elections. In 2012, the district voted for Barack Obama 56% to 43%. But in 2016 swung back to President Trump 49% to 44 % in 2016. The Iowa second is one of 31 house seats that is held by a Democrat but carried by Trump in 2016.