Christina Bohannan, a Democratic candidate in a competitive Iowa House district, is facing renewed scrutiny over her past remarks characterizing patriotism as "sensitive and controversial." The comments, made in a 2021 newsletter from her state House office, have resurfaced as Bohannan challenges Republican incumbent Mariannette Miller-Meeks in a rematch for Iowa's 1st Congressional District.
In the newsletter, Bohannan, then an Iowa State Representative, acknowledged that patriotism can be a contentious subject, particularly due to its perceived co-option by Republicans. She wrote, "Many progressives have turned away from it. And I see the point, especially when the concept of patriotism has been so co-opted and distorted by the other side." However, she also stated her own patriotic beliefs and advocated for redefining patriotism to encompass a commitment to "democratic ideals of America and a willingness to fight to make those ideals a reality."
These remarks emerged in the weeks following the January 6th Capitol riot and amid broader national conversations about patriotism, with recent polling indicating a partisan divide on displays of the American flag. Data from an Associated Press poll in June found that a significant majority of Republicans display the flag, while a majority of Democrats and independents reported not flying it.
Bohannan's newsletter also addressed a February 2021 bill that mandated the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in Iowa schools, a bill she ultimately supported. While voting in favor, she expressed reservations, noting the political pressure on Democrats in swing districts. She wrote that she supported the bill not for rote recitation, but to encourage critical thinking about the pledge's meaning and whether the U.S. lives up to its ideals. "For example, the pledge is not just to the flag, but to the republic for which it stands. So our kids might ask whether our republic can last when our leaders fail to denounce those who subvert our democracy," she explained.
Bohannan's campaign manager, Dan Driscoll, stated that Bohannan stands by her vote and her defense of patriotism. "That's why in Congress she'll put that into action by fighting to clean up Washington, enacting term limits, and getting corporate money out of our elections, so our government focuses on working for Iowans — unlike Rep. Miller-Meeks who is funded by millions in special interest contributions while voting to raise drug, healthcare, and energy costs," Driscoll said.
Miller-Meeks, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, countered that patriotism has never been controversial for her. "Bohannan and her DSA allies are free to call loving America ‘controversial,’ but they have no business representing Iowa," she stated.
Republican National Committee spokesman Zach Kraft criticized Bohannan's comments, linking them to her previous support for the "1619 Project" and describing her as a "woke warrior."
This is not the first time Bohannan's past statements have become a focal point in the campaign. In a previous election cycle, she drew criticism for suggesting Iowa could become a "backwater" if lawmakers banned transgender athletes from women's sports, a bill that was enacted in 2022. The district, which includes Davenport and Iowa City, is considered one of the most competitive in Iowa. Miller-Meeks narrowly defeated Bohannan by approximately 800 votes in the 2022 election, following a recount.