Iowa City Democrat Christina Bohannan is requesting a recount of votes in all 20 counties that comprise Iowa’s 1st Congressional District where she trails incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks by 802 votes.

Miller-Meeks has already claimed victory in the race, despite acknowledging that a recount is likely and expected. She said it is mathematically impossible for her stated win to be flipped during a recount. 

The race is not the closest that Miller-Meeks has won in the district. In 2020, Miller-Meeks defeated current Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart by six votes for the open seat. Miller-Meeks won reelection against Bohannan in 2022 by 7 percentage points. 

All 20 counties in the congressional district had canvassed their votes by Wednesday afternoon which means that Bohannan can officially file for a recount under Iowa law. Since the margin of victory for Miller-Meeks is less than one percent the recount will be paid for by the state. 

Each county in the congressional district will appoint a three-person recount board, one chosen by each candidate and a third that both candidates agree on. The recount must be completed no later than 18 days after the canvass. 

Bohannan’s campaign said that she is requesting a recount despite the 800 vote margin, “to be absolutely certain that every voter is heard.” 

“We have full trust in this process and will accept the results regardless of the outcome,” Jindalae Suh, Bohannan’s campaign manager said in a statement Thursday morning. “All Iowans should feel confident that at the conclusion of this transparent, precinct-level recount process, every lawful vote will be counted and reported accurately.” 

Following Bohannan’s call for a recount Miller-Meeks campaign said that democrats were trying to “steal” the election and are “election deniers” because Bohannan has refused to concede as Bohannan eyed a recount. 

“This is a delaying tactic to thwart the will of the people,” the Miller-Meeks campaign said. “A recount won’t meaningfully change the outcome of this race as the congresswoman’s lead is mathematically impossible to overcome.”