University of Iowa Law Professor and Environmental Engineer Will Seek to Flip IA-02 Back to Blue in 2022

September 9, 2021

PHILADELPHIA — Today, 314 Action Fund announced its endorsement of State Rep. Christina Bohannan in the race to represent Iowa’s second congressional district. An engineer and former Florida Department of Environmental Protection employee, Bohannan currently represents HD-85 in the Iowa House of Representatives and has served as a professor at the University of Iowa Law School for two decades.

In 2020, IA-02 was the most closely contested congressional race in the country. Republican Marianne Miller-Meeks won the seat by just six votes, cementing IA-02 as a critical pick-up opportunity for Democrats in 2022.

“From her work as an engineer to her leadership in the state legislature and lecture hall, Christina Bohannan has proven that she’s not just a reliable ally in the fight for science, facts, and evidence-based policies — she’s leading the charge,” said Shaughnessy Naughton, president of 314 Action. “Rep. Bohannan is committed to ensuring that the families and small businesses of Iowa’s second district have the resources they need to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and to thrive. She’ll make that happen by fighting for pro-science policies in the U.S. House, and with control of that chamber on the ballot box, we’re proud to support her in this campaign. With her background, we know she is by far the strongest candidate to take on Rep. Miller-Meeks next November.”

“I am so proud to receive 314 Action Fund’s endorsement,” said State Rep. Christina Bohannan. “As an environmental engineer, I believe in following facts and fighting for evidence-based solutions. As a law professor specializing in intellectual property, I will also promote scientific innovation and sustainable, responsible economic growth. I know that 314 Action’s support will help us take back this targeted seat.”

In 2022, 314 Action Fund will aim to spend $50 million to elect scientists across all levels of government, with initial targets of seven U.S. Senate races, forty U.S. House races — including IA-02 — and twenty-one statewide races. 

ABOUT STATE REP. CHRISTINA BOHANNAN:

Christina Bohannan is a mom, law professor, state representative, and former engineer. She is running for Congress because she believes we need less bickering in Washington, and more working together — for a government that works for the people. Christina will fight every day for Iowa families, kids, and small businesses because she believes if you work hard, you deserve a fair shot to get ahead.

The youngest of her parents’ three children, Christina grew up living in a trailer in a rural small town. Her parents never finished high school, and her mom worked at a daycare while her dad struggled to make ends meet as a construction worker.

When Christina was in high school, her dad got sick with emphysema, and his health insurance was cancelled, forcing her family to choose between paying for his medicine and paying for everything else.

Thanks to the support and guidance of strong public school teachers, student loans, scholarships, and Christina’s hard work, she became the first in her family to graduate college. She worked her way through engineering school and then law school by picking oranges, cleaning trailers, and working as an engineer. Christina graduated first in her law school class and was Editor-in-Chief of the law review, and after graduation went on to clerk for the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

More than two decades ago, Christina was given a life changing opportunity to move to Iowa and become a law professor at the University of Iowa. She is proud to have raised her daughter here on the Iowa values of decency, fairness, and hard work. Christina’s daughter recently graduated from City High and is in her second year of college. In their community, Christina and her family have been involved in several organizations, including groups that advocate for women and girls, support hard-working and low-income families, and serve underprivileged areas.

At the University of Iowa law school, Christina teaches and writes in several areas of law, including teaching Constitutional Law, Torts, and Intellectual Property. She’s spent her career working on business innovation, capitalism, and economic growth, and teaching our young people about the importance of democracy in a country founded on the promise of freedom and equality.

In 2020, Christina stood up to run for office, taking on politics as usual and defeating a 20-year incumbent to now represent District 85 in the Iowa House. During her time in the Statehouse, Christina has listened to her community to protect working families, look out for seniors, push for more investment in our public schools, and help Iowa families and small businesses recover from the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19. She’s worked with both parties to pass

legislation to crack down on human trafficking and to address the often overlooked problem of elder abuse.

Now, Christina is running for Congress because she believes we need a government that works for the people, not Washington special interests. Too many Iowa families are struggling, worrying they’re just one bad break from not making ends meet, like her family was when her dad got sick. In Congress, Christina will work for more technical and vocational training for high-skill, high-wage jobs right here in Iowa, greater investment in our kids and schools, real steps to make Iowa a clean energy leader, strong protections for voting rights, and better access to quality, affordable health care and broadband all across Iowa.

Outside of serving her community in the Statehouse and teaching at the University of Iowa, Christina enjoys running, hiking, and bike riding, and spending time with her daughter, fiancé, and enthusiastic little spaniel named Ginger.

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314 Action Fund is powered by a grassroots community of over six million people working to elect scientists, doctors, and STEM professionals who will use science and facts to address our most pressing issues like climate change and health care. In 2018 and 2020, we played a pivotal role in flipping the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, electing eleven Democratic scientists to federal office, as well as over 100 to state and local offices. In 2021 and 2022, 314 Action Fund will continue working to elect science leaders and defeat climate deniers in Congress and legislatures across the country.