Iowa Democrats outraise House GOP incumbents ahead of Iowa’s primary

Democratic challengers continued to outpace GOP incumbents in fundraising as they prepare to turn the page on primaries and brace for a hotly contested November election.

University of Iowa law professor Christina Bohannan and state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott of West Des Moines, both Democrats, led GOP incumbents in Iowa’s 1st and 3rd congressional districts during the last fundraising period before the June 2 primary, new reports show.

The latest figures are a signal of how heavily national Democrats and Republicans will pour money into these races as they battle for control of Congress in the November midterm elections.

Bohannan, of Iowa City, is trying for a third time to unseat U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks in southeastern Iowa’s 1st District after a narrow 2024 loss. She out-raised the Ottumwa Republican, raking in $543,861 this period.

And Trone Garriott, who is looking to stop GOP U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn from securing a third term in south-central Iowa’s 3rd District, which includes Des Moines, tallied $811,849 this period.

Nonpartisan analysts with Cook Political Report consider both matchups a “tossup,” meaning either party has a fair shot at nabbing the seat.

Frontrunners in Iowa’s 1st District both keeping hefty war chests

Democratic and Republican frontrunners in the 1st District have their sights set on the general election, each continuing to stockpile major cash to gear up for a tough contest once they officially stave off primary challenges from their left and right flanks.

Bohannan’s latest haul bumps her campaign coffers to $4.3 million, giving her more money in her overall war chest for the first time this cycle.

Miller-Meeks tallied $423,146 this period, pushing her cash on hand to $4.2 million — trailing her Democratic challenger by $88,188.

Republican David Pautsch, who is challenging Miller-Meeks for the GOP nomination for a second time, has $9,892 in the bank after raising $3,825 this period. He unsuccessfully challenged the incumbent in 2024 for the party’s nomination in the 1st District, though he came within 12 percentage points of ousting her, despite low fundraising and name ID.

Democrat Travis Terrell, a University of Iowa Health Care worker from Tiffin, did not file a report by the time of publication.

The 20-county 1st Congressional District encompasses the cities of Davenport, Iowa City, Keokuk and Indianola.

Trone Garriott leads, Nunn has more money overall

Trone Garriott had strong fundraising game this period, raking in more than three times the amount of Nunn’s $264,209 haul.

But the Ankeny Republican kept more money in the bank, boasting $3.2 million to Trone Garriott’s $2.7 million in cash on hand.

Neither candidate has an opponent on the June 2 primary ballot.

The 21-county 3rd Congressional District encompasses the cities of Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ottumwa and Winterset.

Mitchell keeps lead in 2nd Congressional District fundraising

Republican former state Rep. Joe Mitchell of Clear Lake continues to lead northeastern Iowa’s 2nd District in fundraising, bringing in $225,000 and spending $226,000.

State Rep. Lindsay James, D-Dubuque, leads the Democratic field with $130,000 raised and $325,000 spent. Former Cedar Rapids nonprofit leader Clint Twedt-Ball raised $73,000 and spent $153,000.

The seat is open after sitting U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, a Republican, announced she would run for U.S. Senate to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst.

Dawson leads Democrats, but McGowan tops 4th District

Republican Chris McGowan, the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce president, topped the field of northwest Iowa’s 4th District contenders as his party’s lone candidate in the race for Iowa’s most deeply conservative district.

He raised $9,610 this period, pushing his campaign coffers to $375,342.

Former state Rep. Dave Dawson leads the Democratic fundraising field over Stephanie Steiner and Ashley WolfTornabane with $8,626 raised.

Candidates in Iowa’s June 2 primary faced a final preprimary deadline on May 21 to report their fundraising and spending. The candidates’ reports cover April 1 through May 13.

Candidates must file paperwork with the Federal Election Commission once they raise or spend more than $5,000.

Here’s a look at how Iowa’s U.S. House campaigns fared with raising money.

1st Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-incumbent)

• Raised this period: $423,146
• Raised this election cycle: $6,500,517
• Spent this period: $493,468
• Spent this election cycle: $2,663,708
• Cash on hand: $4,246,864

David Pautsch (R)

• Raised this period: $3,825
• Raised this election cycle: $57,495
• Spent this period: $5,257
• Spent this election cycle: $53,302
• Cash on hand: $9,892

Christina Bohannan (D)

• Raised this period: $543,861
• Raised this election cycle: $5,759,611
• Spent this period: $214,004
• Spent this election cycle: $1,575,850
• Cash on hand: $4,335,052

Travis Terrell (D)

Terrell did not file a report by filing deadline.

2nd Congressional District

State Sen. Charlie McClintock (R)

• Raised this period: $1,378
• Raised this election cycle: $17,322
• Spent this period: $45
• Spent this election cycle: $1,201
• Cash on hand: $16,121

Joe Mitchell (R)

• Raised this period: $224,678
• Raised this election cycle: $1,560,824
• Spent this period: $225,750
• Spent this election cycle: $683,158
• Cash on hand: $877,666

Kathy Dolter (D)

• Raised this period: $18,546
• Raised this election cycle: $73,292
• Spent this period: $19,396
• Spent this election cycle: $71,310
• Cash on hand: $1,982

State Rep. Lindsay James (D)

• Raised this period: $130,277
• Raised this election cycle: $872,614
• Spent this period: $325,392
• Spent this election cycle: $633,389
• Cash on hand: $239,225

Clint Twedt-Ball (D)

• Raised this period: $72,590
• Raised this election cycle: $537,637
• Spent this period: $153,278
• Spent this election cycle: $463,503
• Cash on hand: $74,133

3rd Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn (R-incumbent)

• Raised this period: $264,209
• Raised this election cycle: $4,231,246
• Spent this period: $143,837
• Spent this election cycle: $1,455,505
• Cash on hand: $3,160,505

State Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott (D)

• Raised this period: $811,849
• Raised this election cycle: $3,892,746
• Spent this period: $294,028
• Spent this election cycle: $1,186,605
• Cash on hand: $2,706,141

4th Congressional District

Chris McGowan (R)

• Raised this period: $9,610
• Raised this election cycle: $636,623
• Spent this period: $13,377
• Spent this election cycle: $261,281
• Cash on hand: $375,342

Dave Dawson (D)

• Raised this period: $8,626
• Raised this election cycle: $98,357
• Spent this period: $15,711
• Spent this election cycle: $61,895
• Cash on hand: $36,462

Stephanie Steiner (D)

Steiner’s financial report is not yet available through the FEC. She told the Des Moines Register she filled out her paperwork by hand and mailed it to the organization. She said she is unsure why her information isn’t reflected in the FEC’s online portal.

She shared copies of her paper documents with the Register that showed the following:

• Raised this period: $1,701
• Raised this election cycle: $20,743
• Spent this period: $1,745
• Spent this election cycle: $20,508
• Cash on hand: $235

Steiner’s fundraising reflects a $1,000 loan she issued her campaign during the most recent fundraising period, which brings the total she’s loaned her campaign over the election cycle to $9,000.

Ashley WolfTornabane (D)

• Raised this period: $5,140
• Raised this election cycle: $22,548
• Spent this period: $2,206
• Spent this election cycle: $14,043
• Cash on hand: $8,505

Des Moines Register reporters Brianne Pfannenstiel and Stephen Gruber-Miller contributed to this article.

Marissa Payne covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. Reach her by email at mjpayne@registermedia.com. Follow her on X at @marissajpayne.