EXCLUSIVE – Saying that “the election is over and it’s time to move on,” a second House Democrat is raising a red flag for possible pressure from Mayor Nancy Pelosi to overthrow Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa’s victory in last time. November elections.
Miller-Meeks defeated Democrat Rita Hart by just six votes out of nearly 400,000 cast to represent Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, which covers most of the southeastern part of Hawkeye State. It was the closest margin to any US election in nearly half a century.
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Hart is contesting the results, which were certified by the state after a recount. But instead of going through the Iowa courts, she asked the House Administration Committee to investigate 22 ballots that she argues were wrongly counted and that, she said, would put her in the lead.
Pelosi provisionally accommodated Miller-Meeks in January when the House was installed. Asked two weeks ago by reporters whether she could remove Miller-Meeks and occupy Hart, Pelosi said “there could be a scenario to that extent”.
Any potential move by the House Management Committee to grant Hart victory would have to be approved by a plenary vote, and with a fragile majority, Pelosi cannot afford to lose many Democratic votes.
But Rep. Chris Pappas of New Hampshire, in a statement Monday night to Fox News, said the election was decided. “The election result was certified by the State of Iowa and Congressman Miller-Meeks was sworn in almost three months ago,” he said. “As I said when Republicans challenged the votes of the Electoral College on January 6, the election is over and it is time to move on.”
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Pappas himself was narrowly re-elected last November for a second term representing NH-01, a decisive district of the House in an important state on the battlefield.
“I look forward to working with Congressman Miller-Meeks on the House Veterans Affairs Committee and maintaining the Congressional focus on defeating COVID, rebuilding our economy and moving this country forward,” he said.
Pappas’ statement came hours after Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota wrote on Twitter that “losing a House vote by six votes is painful for Democrats. But overthrowing it in the House would be even more painful for the United States. “.
“Just because the majority can, does not mean that the majority should,” wrote Phillips, whose district MN-03 is also considered competitive.
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On Sunday, Democratic Congressman David Price of North Carolina told Fox News’ Mike Emanuel: “I am confident that all sides of the House Administration Committee process are well aware of how delicate and difficult this is.”
Two other House Democrats – Representatives Dan Kildee of Michigan and Lou Correa of California – have also expressed concern in recent days.
Democratic Representative Zoe Lofgren of California, the president of the House of Directors, recently postponed a vote on the Miller-Meek motion to reject Hart’s election challenge. Lofgren gave both sides until early April to send written responses to a series of questions before deciding what steps to take.
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Democrats currently hold a 219-211 majority in the House, the tightest majority since World War II.
There are currently five vacant houses. Three of the vacant seats were won by Democrats and two by Republicans in last year’s elections. Special elections will be held this spring and summer to fill the vacant seats.