U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., will visit Iowa City on Sunday evening alongside U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, for a campaign fundraiser at the Courtyard by Marriott.
Johnson’s visit comes as he faces a possible ousting by hard-right members of the House Republican Conference. Led by U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., a member of the House Freedom Caucus, the speaker faces a motion to vacate that has intensified division among House Republicans.
During interviews with The Daily Iowan in Washington, D.C., this month, Miller-Meeks and U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, said they would not support the measure.
Miller-Meeks and the other three Republicans in Iowa’s delegation did not support the ouster of former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy in October 2023.
Iowa’s federal delegation then supported U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., who serves as House Majority leader, in early rounds of voting for House Speaker.
However, Miller-Meeks eventually threw her support behind House Appropriations chair U.S. Rep. Kay Ivey, R-Texas, and received death threats for her support of Ivey. During that round of voting other members of Iowa’s delegation supported Jim Jordan before he dropped his bid after several failed votes.
During the last speakership vote, Iowa’s federal delegation supported Johnson and has ever since.
Iowans for Palestine and several other activist groups will hold a protest in response to Johnson’s visit calling for Johnson and Miller-Meeks to advocate for a ceasefire to stop fighting in Gaza.
View this post on Instagram
Miller-Meeks is running for reelection in Iowa’s first congressional district. She faces a primary challenge from David Pautsch, a religious leader from Davenport and Democrat Christina Bohannan is set to challenge her in the general election this fall.
The event will be from 5-6 p.m. on Sunday and tickets are $50 per person.
