Rita Hart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rita Hart
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| Chair of the Iowa Democratic Party | |
| Assumed office January 29, 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Ross Wilburn |
| Member of the Iowa Senate from the 49th district |
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| In office January 14, 2013 – January 14, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Hubert Houser |
| Succeeded by | Chris Cournoyer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 5, 1956 Charles City, Iowa, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Paul Hart |
| Children | 5 |
| Education | North Iowa Area Community College (AA) University of Northern Iowa (BA) University of Iowa (MA) |
Rita Hart was born on May 5, 1956. She is an American politician and a retired teacher. She served as a state senator in Iowa from 2013 to 2019. She is a member of the Democratic Party.
In 2018, Rita Hart ran for lieutenant governor of Iowa. She was the running mate for Fred Hubbell.
In 2020, Hart was a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Iowa. The election was very close, and her opponent, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, was declared the winner by only six votes. This was one of the closest federal elections in U.S. history. Hart challenged the results, but later withdrew her challenge.
On January 29, 2023, Rita Hart was chosen to lead the Iowa Democratic Party.
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About Rita Hart
Early Life and Education
Rita Hart was born in Charles City, Iowa. She went to college and earned several degrees. She received an associate degree from North Iowa Area Community College. Then, she earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Northern Iowa. Later, she got a Master of Arts from the University of Iowa.
Career Before Politics
Before she became a politician, Rita Hart was a public school teacher. She taught at Bennett Community School and in the Calamus–Wheatland Community School District. She and her husband also own and run a farm.
Time as a State Senator
Rita Hart served as an Iowa State Senator from 2013 to 2019. During her time as a senator, she worked on many different committees. These committees focused on topics like agriculture, education, and local government.
In 2018, she ran for lieutenant governor of Iowa with Fred Hubbell. They lost the election to Kim Reynolds.
The 2020 Election for Congress
In 2019, Rita Hart announced she would run for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. She won her party's primary election without any opponents. In the main election, she ran against Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who was a state senator.
A Very Close Race
The 2020 election for Iowa's 2nd congressional district was incredibly close. After all the votes were counted and recounted, Miller-Meeks was certified as the winner by just six votes. This was one of the closest federal elections ever.
Challenging the Results
Rita Hart believed that some votes were not counted correctly. She asked the House of Representatives to review the election results. She said that 22 legally cast ballots were not included. She also pointed out that the way votes were recounted in different areas was not always the same. If these votes had been counted, she believed she would have won.
The Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, allowed Miller-Meeks to take her seat in Congress. However, this was a temporary decision while Hart's challenge was being looked into.
Some politicians disagreed with the House reviewing the election. They felt it was wrong to try and change a certified election result.
Withdrawing the Challenge
On March 31, 2021, Rita Hart decided to stop her challenge. She said she was withdrawing because of a "toxic campaign of political disinformation." After she withdrew, Miller-Meeks officially became the representative for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District.
Personal Life
Rita Hart is married to Paul Hart. They have five children. The family lives in Wheatland, Iowa.
