Christina Bohannan’s 2021 newsletter called patriotism sensitive and controversial as she challenged the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance in Iowa.
Christina Bohannan’s patriotism remark is back in the middle of Iowa’s most competitive House race. The former state lawmaker, who is challenging Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks in a rematch, is facing scrutiny over a 2021 newsletter in which she described patriotism as “sensitive and controversial” while debating the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance.
In the newsletter, Bohannan said she remained patriotic but argued that many progressives had pulled away from the idea because, in her view, Republicans had “co-opted and distorted” it. She wrote that Americans should not surrender patriotism to any political faction and instead define it around “democratic ideals of America” and a commitment to make those ideals real. She also urged Iowans to think critically about the pledge, rather than recite it without reflection.
The controversy has returned as polling shows a split among Democrats, independents and Republicans on outward displays of patriotism. An AP poll released in June found that about six in 10 Democrats and independents said they never fly the American flag, while roughly seven in 10 Republicans said they display it at least on holidays. The renewed attention has made Bohannan’s words from the newsletter more relevant in a race where symbols of country and public service carry real political weight. Smithsonian Indoctrination Warning Sparks Backlash
Bohannan’s criticism came as Iowa lawmakers considered a Republican-led bill in February 2021 that required the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools and some private schools. The measure passed 91-3-6, and Bohannan ultimately voted for it. Still, she wrote that many Democrats in swing districts were worried about voting against the bill and said the debate showed how deeply patriotism can shape politics. In floor remarks at the time, she said she did not support the bill because she wanted children to recite it mechanically, but because she wanted them to question what the words mean and whether the United States is living up to them.
“Christina Bohannan’s 2021 newsletter called patriotism sensitive and controversial as she challenged the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance in Iowa.”
Her remarks went beyond the pledge itself. Bohannan said students might ask whether the republic can endure if leaders fail to condemn those who undermine democracy. In the same newsletter, she argued that the issue could be reframed in a way that fits her values. That language has given Republican critics fresh material as she seeks to reclaim a district that remains one of the closest in the state.
Bohannan’s campaign manager, Dan Driscoll, said she stands by her vote to require the pledge in Iowa schools and by her defense of patriotism and American democracy. He said her congressional campaign would focus on cleaning up Washington, enacting term limits and pushing corporate money out of elections. He also attacked Miller-Meeks, saying she is backed by millions in special-interest contributions while voting to raise drug, health care and energy costs.
Miller-Meeks, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and medic, said patriotism has never been controversial to her after 24 years of military service. She argued that Bohannan and her allies have no business representing Iowa. Republican National Committee spokesman Zach Kraft also tied Bohannan’s comments to her support for the 1619 Project and to earlier criticism she made of a bill limiting diversity and implicit bias training in schools and universities.
The district, which includes Davenport and Iowa City, home to the University of Iowa, has twice produced extremely close races between Bohannan and Miller-Meeks. Miller-Meeks first defeated Bohannan in 2022 by about six percentage points, and then won again in 2024 after a recount, prevailing by about 800 votes. With Iowa’s competitive map still drawing national attention, the latest fight over Bohannan’s patriotism comments shows how sharply cultural arguments can shape a House race. For voters, the stakes are simple: this contest is not only about who represents the district, but about what kind of American values its next member of Congress will defend.
Frequently asked questions
What did Christina Bohannan say about patriotism?
In a 2021 newsletter, she said patriotism was “sensitive and controversial” and argued Americans should not cede it to one political side.
Did Bohannan support the Iowa pledge bill?
Yes. Bohannan voted for the bill that required the Pledge Of Allegiance in public and some private schools, even as she criticized the politics around it.
How close have Bohannan’s races against Miller-Meeks been?
Miller-Meeks defeated Bohannan in 2022 by about six percentage points. In 2024, Miller-Meeks won after a recount by about 800 votes.
Why is this story getting attention now?
The newsletter resurfaced during Bohannan’s rematch against Miller-Meeks in one of Iowa’s most competitive House districts, making the remarks a live campaign issue.
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