Christina Bohannan

Christina Bohannan
Official portrait, 2021
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives
from the 85th district
In office
January 11, 2021 – January 9, 2023
Preceded byVicki Lensing
Succeeded byAdam Zabner
Personal details
Born (1971-07-02) July 2, 1971
PartyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Florida (BS, JD)
WebsiteHouse website
Campaign website

Christina Bohannan (born July 2, 1971)[1] is an American politician and law professor who served as the Iowa State Representative for the 85th district from 2021 to 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, she was elected in 2020, succeeding Vicki Lensing who served ten terms in the Iowa House of Representatives.

Bohannan was the Democratic nominee for Iowa's 1st congressional district in 2022, losing to incumbent Republican U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks. In a 2024 rematch, she narrowly lost once more. She is a candidate for a third time in 2026.[2]

Early life and education

Bohannan was born in 1971 and grew up in Florida.[1][3] She was the youngest of three children.[3] Her father was a construction worker, and her mother worked at a daycare.[3]

She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental engineering from the University of Florida in Gainesville and a Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law.[4]

Career

Bohannan began her career as an environmental engineer with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in the 1990s.[5] She then attended law school and, after graduating, served as a law clerk for a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.[6][7]

In 2000, she moved to Iowa, where she became a professor of law at the University of Iowa College of Law.[8] While teaching at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Bohannan served as president of the faculty senate.[9]

Iowa House of Representatives

Bohannan announced her candidacy for the 85th district seat in the Iowa House of Representatives in October 2019.[10][11] She defeated incumbent legislator Vicki Lensing by 32 percentage points in the Democratic primary[5][12] and won the general election unopposed.[13]

During her tenure, Bohannan helped advance bipartisan legislation addressing human trafficking and elder abuse, and opposed a proposed constitutional amendment declaring that the Iowa Constitution does not protect a right to abortion.[14]

In the Iowa House, she served on the Natural Resources and Veterans Affairs committees and the Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee.[6] She previously served on the Information Technology, Judiciary, and State Government committees.[6]

U.S. House of Representatives campaigns

Bohannan ran for the United States House of Representatives in Iowa's 1st congressional district in the 2022 election. She was the Democratic nominee but lost in the general election to incumbent Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks.[15] In August 2023, Bohannan announced another campaign for the same seat in the 2024 election but was unsuccessful after a close race with Miller-Meeks which was decided after a recount.[16] She announced a third run for the seat in the 2026 election on June 17, 2025.[17] She won the Democratic primary in June 2026, advancing to the November general election.[18]

Political positions

Healthcare

Bohannan has advocated for healthcare reform aimed at expanding access to affordable health insurance. She supports making a public Medicare buy-in available to Americans of any age and has called for extending enhanced subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, reversing federal Medicaid cuts, and expanding Medicare to include dental, hearing, and vision benefits.[19] She has also supported allowing Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices and extending the $35 monthly insulin cap to all Americans.[19]

Institutional reform

Bohannan has advocated for ethics reforms for Congress, including term limits and age limits for members of Congress, banning congressional stock trading, and prohibiting members of Congress, their immediate families, and congressional staff from serving as lobbyists.[20] She has also supported establishing an independent bipartisan agency to investigate congressional ethics violations.[20]

Personal life

Bohannan is married and has a daughter.[20][21] She and her husband live in Iowa City.[22]

References

  1. 1 2 "Iowa Democrats talk politics, hint at future campaigns at a party for Rep. Christina Bohannan". Little Village Magazine. July 4, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Former congressional candidate seeks third match against Miller-Meeks". The Hill.
  3. 1 2 3 Shillcock, George (August 24, 2021). "State Rep. Christina Bohannan of Iowa City announces bid to take on Mariannette Miller-Meeks". Iowa City Press-Citizen. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Christina Bohannan". College of Law - The University of Iowa. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  5. 1 2 Steppe, John (June 2, 2020). "UI law professor Christina Bohannan defeats Rep. Lensing in Iowa House primary". The Gazette. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 "Representative Christina Bohannan". The Iowa Legislature. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  7. ↑ Cook, Linda; Niedelman, Jim (August 14, 2022). "Christina Bohannan confident voters interested in individual more than Democrat or Republican". WHBF-TV (Channel 4; CBS affiliate) – OurQuadCities.com. Nexstar Media Group. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  8. ↑ Brennan, Paul (November 14, 2019). "'Democracy means voter choice': Christina Bohannan kicks off her campaign for the District 85 seat in the Iowa House". Little Village Magazine. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  9. ↑ Harrell, Kelsey (October 21, 2019). "UI law professor launches bid for Iowa House". Daily Iowan. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  10. ↑ Brennan, Paul (October 21, 2019). "Christina Bohannan announces run for an Iowa City seat in the Iowa House of Representatives". Little Village Magazine. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  11. ↑ Smith, Zachary Oren (October 21, 2019). "UI law professor Bohannan to primary Lensing for Iowa House District 85". Iowa City Press Citizen. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  12. ↑ White, Lauren (June 2, 2020). "Christina Bohannan wins Democratic nomination for the Iowa House". The Daily Iowan. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  13. ↑ Draisey, Brooklyn (November 4, 2020). "Johnson County keeps Democrats in uncontested seats". The Daily Iowan. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  14. ↑ Barton, Tom (August 24, 2021). "Iowa City Rep. Christina Bohannan announces run for Mariannette Miller-Meeks' seat in Congress". The Gazette. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
  15. ↑ Dunlap, Natalie. "UI law professor Christina Bohannan announces bid for Congress". The Daily Iowan. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  16. ↑ Neukam, Stephen (January 5, 2024). "Democrat Running on Abortion in Iowa House Race Smashes Fundraising Records (Exclusive)". The Messenger. Archived from the original on January 5, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  17. ↑ Altimari, Daniela (June 17, 2025). "Iowa Democrat launches third challenge to vulnerable GOP Rep. Miller-Meeks". Roll Call. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  18. ↑ Yilek, Caitlin (June 3, 2026). "Democrat Christina Bohannan to take on Iowa GOP Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks for third time in key swing district - CBS News". CBS News. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  19. 1 2 Payne, Marissa (January 27, 2026). "Democrat Christina Bohannan wants to allow Medicare buy-in at all ages". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
  20. 1 2 3 Henderson, O. Kay (November 20, 2025). "First district candidate Bohannan backs age limits, ethics reforms for congress - Radio Iowa". Radio Iowa. Archived from the original on January 1, 2026. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  21. ↑ Hansen, Ryan (July 29, 2024). "Bohannan criticizes Miller-Meeks as 'devastating and dangerous' abortion law takes effect". Iowa City Press-Citizen. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  22. ↑ Barton, Tom (August 15, 2023). "Iowa City Democrat Christina Bohannan launches second U.S. House bid". The Gazette. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
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