Hart served on the Senate Agriculture, Economic Growth, Education, Local Government, and Veterans Affairs committees.[3] 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.[3]
The 2020 election for Iowa's 2nd congressional district was the closest federal election in the U.S. that year;[12] the 2nd closest US House Race by percentage in American history, behind only the tied race for Pennsylvania's 2nd District seat in 1826, and the closest election by vote margin since the 1984 race for Indiana's 8th District.[13] 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).[13][14][15] Hart challenged the results 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."[16][17]
Hart's petition contended that the House should count certain ballots that were not included in the recount.[16] In her petition she contended that 22 legally cast ballots were unlawfully excluded, and two, that the 24 counties' recount boards' procedures were irregular across the district.[18] Had they been counted, she continuedm she would have won the race by nine votes.[19][20] These uncounted ballots were excluded for a variety of reasons including errors in the canvasing, signatures in the wrong place, envelopes that were improperly sealed and other errors in voting and counting.[18]
In response to a letter containing questions from House Administration Committee Chair Zoe Lofgren, Hart and her attorney Marc Elias wrote, "Where necessary to effectuate the will of the voters of the Second Congressional District, the Committee should therefore exercise its discretion to depart from Iowa law, and adopt counting rules that 'disenfranchise the smallest possible number of voters.'"[22] Republicans and some Democrats sharply criticized Pelosi's decision to review the race in the House Administration Committee, calling it an attempt to steal the election. They argued that it was hypocritical to overturn a certified state election after criticizing Republican attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.[23]
On March 31, 2021, in a surprise announcement, Rita Hart withdrew her challenge to the results in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, citing a “toxic campaign of political disinformation”, thus ending her campaign.[24] Her contest was subsequently dismissed and Miller-Meeks was sworn in non-provisionally for the seat.
Personal life
Hart and her husband, Paul, have five children. They reside in Wheatland, Iowa.[4]
