WATCH: Battleground Democrat called Iowa a 'backwater' over transgender athletes ban
A Democrat hoping to flip one of the country’s most competitive House seats called her state a "backwater" over Republican efforts to bar transgender athletes from girls' and women's sports,...
By Fox News · Fox News
A Democrat hoping to flip one of the country’s most competitive House seats called her state a "backwater" over Republican efforts to bar transgender athletes from girls' and women's sports, according to unearthed footage obtained by Fox News Digital. House candidate Christina Bohannan made the comments during a 2021 legislative forum while opposing a GOP proposal barring biological males from competing on female sports teams. Bohannan's comments could provide fresh ammunition for Republicans as the repeat candidate seeks a third bid against Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, in a swing district that President Donald Trump carried by more than eight points in 2024. "They’re introducing these bills and making these comments to try to make a point," Bohannan, who previously served in the Iowa state legislature, said, referring to her GOP colleagues. "And I think even that is really damaging to people and sends a very bad message about our state that’s going to make the state look like a backwater." FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS: DEMOCRATS LEAD IN THE HOUSE, BUT REDISTRICTING KEEPS THE GOP IN THE GAME Iowa, under Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, enacted a transgender athletes ban in 2022. Bohannan voted against the measure. The comments are the latest instance of Bohannan torching Iowa for rejecting left-wing policies. Bohannan also said in 2021 the Hawkeye State would be seen as "backwards" if lawmakers approved a bill prohibiting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) training at public schools and universities. Reynolds signed the legislation later that year. "I think that it's going to send a very bad message about Iowa and that it is going to seem like…this backwards state that doesn't understand there are things like systemic racism," the Democrat hopeful said on the "Under the Dome" podcast in 2021. Bohannan notably served as chairwoman of the University of Iowa College of Law's DEI committee, where she urged students to support the Black Lives Matter movement, Fox N…