Democrats raise, spend more in Iowa's top contested congressional races, new reports show

Democrats in Iowa's top contested congressional races have raised and spent more than their incumbent Republican counterparts going into the final weeks of the 2024 fall election, new federal financial reports show.

But Republicans have more money in the bank available for the last stretch of campaigning.

In the 1st Congressional District, Democrat Christina Bohannan has outraised and outspent incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks. And in the 3rd District, the same is true for Democrat Lanon Baccam, who is challenging Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn.

It is the fourth quarter in a row that Baccam has outraised Nunn and the fifth quarter in a row that Bohannan has outraised Miller-Meeks.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates both races among its most competitive, calling each a pure "toss up."

District 1 race sees nearly $10 million in candidate spending

Bohannan raised nearly $1.9 million in the quarter that ended Sept. 30, and she raised more than $5.2 million so far this election cycle.

That outpaces Miller-Meeks, who tallied $1 million in fundraising for the quarter, bringing her to $4.6 million for the cycle.

Bohannan's fundraising has also allowed her to spend heavily in the most recent quarter, pouring a little more than $3 million into the race at a critical time when voters are more actively tuning into campaigning. That brings her to about $4 million in spending so far this cycle.

Miller-Meeks spent less this quarter, putting about $1.2 million into the race. Overall, she has spent about $3.1 million.

Bohannan's spending surge comes as polling shows that she may be overtaking Miller-Meeks.

The Des Moines Register's Iowa Poll showed likely voters in the 1st District prefer a Democratic congressional candidate over a Republican by 49% to 46%. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has also released internal polling showing Bohannan with a four-point lead over Miller-Meeks, 50% to 46%.

Candidates raise $9.4 million in 3rd District

A similar dynamic is playing out in the 3rd Congressional District.

Baccam again outraised Nunn, tallying $1.7 million for the quarter compared to Nunn's $1.1 million. But Nunn leads in fundraising for the entire election cycle, raising about $5 million to Baccam's $4.4 million.

Baccam outspent Nunn $2.6 million to Nunn's $1.8 million this quarter. He also slightly outspent Nunn overall, recording $3.7 million spent compared to Nunn's $3.5 million.

But Nunn and Miller-Meeks have more money available to them going into the last month of the election.

Nunn has about $1.8 million compared to Baccam's $700,000. And Miller-Meeks has about $2 million to Bohannan's $1.3 million.

But the candidate fundraising and spending is only part of the money picture. According to OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan organization that tracks money in politics, outside spending from groups like super PACs has so far tallied about $8.7 million in the 3rd District and about $5 million in the 1st District.

In the 1st District, about $1.3 million has gone to support Miller-Meeks while $1.6 million has been spent opposing her. Another $283,000 has been spent supporting Bohannan while $1.9 million has been spent opposing her.

In the 3rd District, groups have spent $2.5 million supporting Nunn and $2.9 million opposing him. And organizations have spent just $164,000 supporting Baccam but $3.2 million opposing him.

Here's a closer look at the federal reports, which cover fundraising and spending directly by the candidates that occurred between July 1 and September 30.

1st Congressional District

The 1st Congressional District covers 20 counties in southeast Iowa, including the cities of Iowa City, Davenport, Newton, Indianola and Keokuk.

Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R, incumbent)

• Raised this period: $1,003,606

• Raised election cycle to date: $4,574,317

• Spent this period: $1,216,056

• Spent election cycle to date: $3,161,959

• Cash on hand: $2,055,191

Christina Bohannan (D)

• Raised this period: $1,887,603

• Raised election cycle to date: $5,261,255

• Spent this period: $3,020,238

• Spent election cycle to date: $4,064,256

• Cash on hand: $1,291,225

2nd Congressional District

The 2nd Congressional District covers 22 counties in northeast Iowa, including the cities of Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Mason City and Dubuque.

Ashley Hinson (R, incumbent)

• Raised this period: $899,423

• Raised election cycle to date: $5,059,827

• Spent this period: $652,852

• Spent election cycle to date: $3,209,604

• Cash on hand: $2,147,513

Sarah Corkery (D)

• Raised this period: $177,397

• Raised election cycle to date: $432,277

• Spent this period: $131,946

• Spent election cycle to date: $317,398

• Cash on hand: $114,879

Jody Puffett (no party)

• Raised this period: $25,244

• Raised election cycle to date: $25,925

• Spent this period: $25,620

• Spent election cycle to date: $25,767

• Cash on hand: $158

3rd Congressional District

The 3rd Congressional District covers 21 counties in central and southern Iowa, including the cities of Des Moines, West Des Moines, Winterset, Osceola and Ottumwa.

Zach Nunn (R, incumbent)

• Raised this period: $1,106,362

• Raised election cycle to date: $5,096,420

• Spent this period: $1,762,080

• Spent election cycle to date: $3,454,043

• Cash on hand: $1,783,357

Lanon Baccam (D)

• Raised this period: $1,704,079

• Raised election cycle to date: $4,418,922

• Spent this period: $2,595,712

• Spent election cycle to date: $3,714,539

• Cash on hand: $702,383

4th Congressional District

The 4th Congressional District covers 36 counties in western Iowa, including the cities of Ames, Marshalltown, Council Bluffs, Sioux City and Fort Dodge.

Randy Feenstra (R, incumbent)

• Raised this period: $420,340

• Raised election cycle to date: $4,130,819

• Spent this period: $454,146

• Spent election cycle to date: $4,019,793

• Cash on hand: $1,210,803

Ryan Melton (D)

• Raised this period: $64,086

• Raised election cycle to date: $123,143

• Spent this period: $53,094

• Spent election cycle to date: $99,812

• Cash on hand: $31,022

Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register. She is also covering the 2024 presidential race for USA TODAY as a senior national campaign correspondent. Reach her at [email protected] or 515-284-8244. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Baccam, Bohannan outraise Nunn, Miller-Meeks ahead of Election Day