There is an Iowa House race that local activists do not believe is getting the proper attention nor has been properly vetted. And that is the race in Iowa House District 26 between former State Sen. Mark Chelgren and former campaign manager and communications guy for Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Austin Harris.
Local activists have expressed concern to The Iowa Standard that Harris has “scrubbed” his social media accounts.
We’re not sure about that as we do not have access to his Facebook page. However, we have screenshots from social media that would certainly call into question Harris’ conservative credentials.
For example, when Hillary Clinton retweeted her own tweet asking Trump to delete his Twitter account with a checkmark after Trump was removed from Twitter, Harris “liked” Clinton’s checkmark tweet.
The Iowa Standard reached out to Miller-Meeks’ office in January of 2021 about the tweet, but heard nothing in return.
It was newsworthy because of Miller-Meeks’ own previous comments about President Donald J. Trump when he ran for President in 2016. Miller-Meeks had previously said Trump is a liar and corrupt.
Then there was a three-heart reaction from Harris to a photo of Pete and Chasten Buttigieg holding babies on a hospital bed.
It seems Harris is a fan of Buttigieg. Not sure why…
Harris also was quick to point out that Miller-Meeks did NOT sign a letter with 26 incoming Republican House legislators asking Nancy Pelosi to investigate the 2020 Presidential Election as was originally reported:
Speaking of the 2020 Presidential Election, Harris liked this tweet calling Jan. 6 “domestic terrorism.”
And this one referencing Jan. 6 as an “invasion” of the Capitol” by a “mob” that was “incited by lies from some entrusted with power.”
And when both Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst voted to certify Joe Biden’s victory, Harris liked a tweet calling it “commonsense constitutional conservatism.”
He also liked this tweet of Congresswoman Liz Cheney thanking Vice President Mike Pence for his efforts on Jan. 6 to certify Biden’s victory.
There was a tweet from Congressman Peter Meijer, one of the Republicans who voted to impeach President Trump, that called the Jan. 6 protestors “domestic terrorists.”
Chief Justice Mark Cady left his mark on Iowa, especially when it came to legalized abortion and legalizing homosexual marriage. And Harris liked this tweet thanking Cady for giving the author the courage to “come out” after knowing they could marry in their own state. 
And finally, it appears Harris is fond of Mitt Romney.
What does all this mean? Well, that is up to the voters in House District 26. For some, it may mean nothing. They may prefer a moderate Republican representing them in the Iowa House in Des Moines.
For others, it may mean they should proceed with caution. Harris has not answered The Iowa Standard’s legislative survey where many questions would be answered.
At 26 he is still getting his footing. Not yet his own man, beliefs and “likes” are still anchored to the wind…
Oh no, he believes in the “rule of law” as Republicans were once wont to parrot.