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Video footage obtained by Fox News Digital reveals that Christina Bohannan, a Democratic candidate seeking to unseat Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks in Iowa’s highly competitive House district, referred to her state as a “backwater” while opposing legislation that would prevent transgender athletes from competing on female sports teams. The comments were made during a 2021 legislative forum when Bohannan served in the Iowa state legislature.
Bohannan’s remarks about the transgender athletes measure could become a significant liability as she pursues her third consecutive campaign against Miller-Meeks in a district that President Donald Trump won by more than eight points in 2024. Bohannan narrowly lost to Miller-Meeks in 2024 by fewer than 800 votes, making it the closest House race in the nation, and the nonpartisan Cook Political Report has rated the rematch a “toss-up.”
Iowa enacted a transgender athletes ban in 2022 under Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, with Bohannan voting against the measure. The candidate’s 2021 comments also included criticism of proposed legislation restricting diversity, equity and inclusion training at public schools and universities, stating such a policy would make Iowa appear “backwards” and ignorant of systemic racism. Reynolds signed that legislation later in 2021.
The National Republican Congressional Committee swiftly condemned Bohannan’s statements, with spokeswoman Emily Tuttle characterizing her as opposing protections for girls’ sports and mocking Iowans who supported such measures. Tuttle added that “Bohannan has made it clear she’s for they/them, not Iowa families,” invoking language commonly used to attack Democratic positions on gender issues.
Public polling indicates broad support for restricting women’s sports to biological females, with a 2025 New York Times/Ipsos poll showing nearly 80 percent of Americans opposed biological males participating in women’s sports. Even approximately 70 percent of Democrats or Democrat-leaning respondents agreed with that position, the survey found.
Miller-Meeks celebrated a June Supreme Court decision upholding state-level bans on biological males competing on female sports teams, calling it “a win for girls’ sports” and pledging to continue fighting for fairness in female athletics. Bohannan did not issue a public statement regarding the ruling.
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