Iowa

After months of pressure, Miller-Meeks to hold long-awaited in-person town hall in Keosauqua

Republican Iowa U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks will hold an in-person town hall Monday in Keosauqua after facing months of criticism and pressure to hold an in-person forum after she pledged to do so earlier this year.

Her office announced Sunday morning that the town hall will take place at 2 p.m. at Roberts Memorial Center in Keosauqua. The event will be moderated by Kadie Johansson, general manager of KILJ AM/FM Radio, and is open to residents of Iowa’s 1st Congressional District.

Miller-Meeks’ office, in response to a question about the short notice, said it’s common to announce such events just a day in advance for planning and security reasons, adding that Sundays tend to draw higher engagement on the congresswoman’s social media platforms since most people aren’t working.

The announcement follows months of pressure from Democrats and some constituents who accused the second-term congresswoman of avoiding public scrutiny. Miller-Meeks, who narrowly beat Democrat Christina Bohannan to win re-election in 2024 by 799 votes, represents a district that national election forecasters rate as a “toss-up” heading into 2026.

Months of scrutiny over lack of in-person forums

The debate over Miller-Meeks’ accessibility reignited after CNN reported last month that she told attendees at a Johnson County Republicans meeting in August she would hold a town hall “when hell freezes over.”

...https://www.thegazette.com/campaigns-elections/after-months-of-pressure-miller-meeks-to-hold-long-awaited-in-person-town-hall-in-keosauqua/