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U.S. House — Iowa 2nd District

Joe Mitchell (R) faces Lindsay James (D) in an open-seat race after Rep. Ashley Hinson chose to run for U.S. Senate.

About the Office

A U.S. Representative serves a two-year term in the U.S. House, representing approximately 770,000 Iowans in their district. The House has 435 voting members, who write and pass federal legislation, control federal spending and taxes, conduct oversight of federal agencies, and have sole authority to initiate impeachment proceedings.

Your House member is your direct voice in federal lawmaking, casts one of 435 votes on every federal law, and handles constituent casework with federal agencies like Social Security, Medicare, the VA, and immigration services.

The District

Iowa 2nd Congressional District (Northeast Iowa)

Covers 22 counties anchored by Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Dubuque, and Mason City. Cook PVI: R+4. Open seat since incumbent Ashley Hinson is running for U.S. Senate.

Race at a Glance

Race Type
Open Seat
GOP Primary
Mitchell (61.4%)
Election Day
Nov 3, 2026

Open seat created when Rep. Ashley Hinson chose to run for U.S. Senate. Mitchell, a former state representative and HUD official, defeated state Sen. Sandy Salmon in the GOP primary. James, a Presbyterian minister and four-term state rep, won the Democratic primary 57.3%.

The Candidates

Each candidate's positions are drawn from primary sources: campaign communications, voting records, debates, and direct interviews.

Joe Mitchell

Joe Mitchell (R)

Republican nominee · Former Iowa state representative · Real estate developer

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Bio

Age 29. Born in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. Lives in Clear Lake. Drake University B.S. in Business Administration. Parents own a small manufacturing business in Wayland, Iowa.

Career

Elected to Iowa House at age 20 (youngest state legislator in Iowa history). Served 2019-2023. Was Vice-Chair of Ways & Means and Assistant Majority Leader. Founded Run GenZ (recruits young conservatives). Served as HUD regional director and FHFA Chief of Staff in Trump's first term. Currently runs J. Mitchell Real Estate.

Primary Issues
Fiscal responsibility & lower taxes

Making the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent, ending "reckless spending," reducing the size of the federal government

Border security & immigration enforcement

Supports full ICE/Border Patrol funding and the administration's deportation priorities

Anti-corruption & institutional reform

Refuses corporate PAC money, supports a ban on congressional stock trading, supports term limits, and pledges to stop the "lawmaker-to-lobbyist pipeline."

Family farmers, ethanol, & small business

Rural-economic priorities for the district's ag base; supports E-15 year-round.

Pro-life & Second Amendment

Conservative social values through and through, full Trump alignment.

Position on James's Priority Issues
Public Education

Mitchell voted for Iowa's ESA voucher program as a state representative and supports school-choice expansion.

Endorsements
  • President Donald Trump
  • Turning Point Action
  • National Republican Congressional Committee
Donor Information
  • Total individual contributions: 1,891
  • In-state: 137 (7.2%) Out-of-state: 1,754 (92.8%)
  • Small-dollar donors ($100 or less): By count: 1,395 of 1,891 (73.8%) By dollar volume: $32,988 of $1,214,389 (2.7%)
1. Branstad Family — West Des Moines and Johnston, IA — $19,500
Combined contributions from Terry E. Branstad (former Iowa Governor), Christine A. Branstad, Eric Branstad, and Adrianne H. Branstad.
2. Valery Needham — Dallas, TX — $12,000
3. Electing Majority Making Effective Republicans (Emmer PAC) — Elk River, MN — $10,000
Republican leadership PAC.
3. Anti-Woke Fund — Beverly, MA — $10,000
Republican leadership PAC.
3. Mr. Southern Missourian in the House PAC (Mr. Smith PAC) — Bethesda, MD — $10,000
Republican leadership PAC.
3. On Wisconsin PAC, Inc. — Oak Creek, WI — $10,000
Republican leadership PAC.
3. Restoring Our Nation PAC (RON PAC) — Wichita, KS — $10,000
Republican leadership PAC.

Source: Federal Election Commission (FEC), Schedule A, as of July 23, 2026. fec.gov/data

Lindsay James

Lindsay James (D)

Democratic nominee · Iowa state representative · Presbyterian minister · Chaplain

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Bio

Age 45. Born in Portland, Oregon. Lives in Dubuque. Santa Clara University B.A. in Communications; Fuller Theological Seminary M.Div. Married to Christopher James; one daughter and one son. Ordained Presbyterian (USA) Pastor and interfaith chaplain.

Career

Pastor at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, then interfaith chaplain at Endicott College, then associate pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Adjunct faculty at University of Dubuque. Currently serves as Coordinator of Interfaith Engagement for the Des Moines Area Religious Council Food Pantry Network. Elected to Iowa House in 2018; currently in fourth term.

Primary Issues
Lowering the cost of living

Centers her attack on the One Big Beautiful Bill as a giveaway to billionaires that has raised housing, grocery, utility, and gas costs for working Iowans.

Healthcare access

Lower Medicare eligibility age to 55, reverse One Big Beautiful Bill Medicaid cuts, and expand rural healthcare.

Ending DC corruption

Faith-based moral framing and refuses corporate PAC money.

Standing with Iowa farmers

Frames Trump tariffs as hurting Iowa producers; supports family farms over corporate consolidation.

Protecting public education

Strengthening rural public schools and opposes voucher expansion.

Position on Mitchell's Priority Issues
Border Security

James supports immigration reform that pairs stronger border security with an earned pathway to citizenship.

Pro-life & Second Amendment

James supports the right to abortion and supporter of common-sense gun saftey, voting against Iowa's 2025 law lowering the handgun age to 18, advocating for red-flag laws and other gun violence prevention measures.

Endorsements
  • Former U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer (D)
  • Former U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack (D)
  • Former Iowa State Sen. Liz Mathis (D)
Donor Information
  • Total individual contributions: 1,219
  • In-state: 793 (65.1%) Out-of-state: 426 (34.9%)
  • Small-dollar donors ($100 or less): By count: 398 of 1,219 (32.6%) By dollar volume: $20,313 of $753,972 (2.7%)
1. Drenkow Family — Waverly, IA — $14,000
Combined contributions from Rodney and Bonnie Drenkow. Associated with Advantage Administrators, an employee benefit consultant company.
1. Kawasaki Family — Watsonville, CA — $14,000
Combined contributions from Guy and Beth Kawasaki. Guy Kawasaki is a former Apple executive and marketing author.
3. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers PAC — Washington, DC — $10,000
Supports local unions and pro-labor candidates.
3. Carpenters Legislative Improvement Committee — Washington, DC — $10,000
Pro-union PAC.
5. Lorilee Hamel — Dubuque, IA — $8,000
Multi-decade educator.

Source: Federal Election Commission (FEC), Schedule A, as of July 23, 2026. fec.gov/data

Also on the Ballot

Rick Stewart (Libertarian), founder of Frontier Cooperative Herbs

Visit campaign site →

Dave Bushaw (Independent), community organizer

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