Rita Hart

Hart was born in Charles City, Iowa.[1] She earned an associate degree from North Iowa Area Community College, a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Northern Iowa, and a Master of Arts from the University of Iowa.[2]

Before entering politics, Hart worked as a public school teacher at Bennett Community School in Bennett, Iowa, and in the Calamus–Wheatland Community School District.[3] She and her husband also own and operate a farm.[4]

Hart served on the Senate Agriculture, Economic Growth, Education, Local Government, and Veterans Affairs committees.[1] She also served on the Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee, as well as the International Relations Committee, the Local Government Mandates Study Committee, the Recycling Policy Study Committee, the Early Childhood Iowa State Board, the Economic Development Authority Board, the Human Rights Board, the Prevention of Disabilities Policy Council, and the Watershed Improvement Review Board.[1]

On June 16, 2018, Fred Hubbell announced that Hart would join the Democratic ticket as the nominee for lieutenant governor in the 2018 Iowa gubernatorial election.[5] Hubbell and Hart lost the election to Republican nominee Kim Reynolds.[6]

On May 14, 2019, Hart announced her candidacy for Iowa's 2nd congressional district in the 2020 election.[7] She was unopposed in the Democratic primary election on June 2, 2020, and the next day released a list of 20 Republicans who supported her campaign,[8] one of a number of Democrats making similar announcements during the 2020 United States elections.[9] She faced Republican state senator Mariannette Miller-Meeks in the November general election.[10]

The 2020 election for Iowa's 2nd congressional district was the closest federal election in the U.S. that year,[11] and possibly the closest congressional election in recent memory.[12] On November 30, following a recount, the Iowa Board of Canvass voted 5-0 to certify Miller-Meeks as the winner by six votes (196,964 to 196,958).[12][13][14] Hart challenged that determination through a petition with the House Administration Committee under the 1969 Federal Contested Elections Act, which sets forth procedures for contesting state election results. Under the Constitution, each chamber of Congress is "the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members."[15][16]

Hart's petition contends that the House should count certain ballots that were not included in the recount.[15] In her petition, she contends that 22 legally cast votes were not counted.[17] House Speaker Nancy Pelosi provisionally seated Miller-Meeks on January 3, 2021, pending adjudication of Hart's petition.[17][18]

Hart and her husband, Paul, have five children. They reside in Wheatland, Iowa.[2]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rita Hart.

• Member profile at the Iowa General Assembly
• Rita Hart for Congress campaign website

• Profile at Vote Smart
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Rita Hart at Ballotpedia