Democratic House candidate Christina Bohannan described Iowa as a "backwater" in 2021 due to Republican-led efforts to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls' and women's sports. The comments have resurfaced as Bohannan seeks to unseat Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks in Iowa's 1st Congressional District, a seat considered a toss-up.
In unearthed footage from a 2021 legislative forum, Bohannan, then an Iowa state legislator, opposed a proposal that would have barred biological males from competing on female sports teams. She warned that enacting such legislation would send a negative message about the state, potentially hindering its reputation and economic prospects.
"And I think even that is really damaging to people and sends a very bad message about our state that’s going to make the state look like a backwater," Bohannan stated in the 2021 forum.
Iowa enacted a ban on transgender athletes participating in K-12 and college sports in 2022, a measure Bohannan voted against. She also reportedly criticized a bill later signed by Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds that prohibited diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training in public schools and universities, suggesting it would make the state appear "backwards" and out of touch with issues like systemic racism.
Bohannan's campaign has previously drawn attention for her stance on DEI initiatives and support for the Black Lives Matter movement, including encouraging students to financially support activist funds that advocated for defunding police. This past election cycle, Bohannan lost to Miller-Meeks by fewer than 800 votes, making it the closest House race in the nation.
The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) criticized Bohannan's remarks, with spokeswoman Emily Tuttle stating, "Liberal Christina Bohannan didn't just vote against protecting girls' sports, she mocked Iowans for standing up for women and girls."
The controversy comes as transgender issues remain a divisive topic within the Democratic party, though public opinion polls have indicated broad support for restricting women's sports to biological females. A 2025 New York Times/Ipsos poll found that nearly 80% of Americans opposed biological males participating in women’s sports, with approximately 70% of Democrats sharing that view.
Miller-Meeks has publicly supported state-level bans on transgender athletes in sports. Following a Supreme Court decision that upheld such bans, she stated, "Today’s Supreme Court decision is a win for girls' sports. I have and will continue to fight to ensure every female athlete has a fair chance." Bohannan has not appeared to publicly comment on the Supreme Court ruling.