Lindsay
James
Iowa state representative and pastor running as the 2026 Democratic nominee for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District
- sources
- 18
- positions
- 7
- endorsements
- 30
Background
Lindsay James is an Iowa Democratic politician and ordained Presbyterian Church (USA) pastor currently serving her fourth term in the Iowa House of Representatives, representing District 71, with a term running from January 2025 through January 2027. 7 She was born in Portland, Oregon, and now resides in Dubuque, Iowa. 7
Before entering politics, James worked as a Presbyterian pastor and inter-religious chaplain, co-founded and directed the Loras College Peace Institute, and served as adjunct faculty at the University of Dubuque. She also chaired the Dubuque Community Development Advisory Commission and led the Irving Elementary School Parent Teacher Association. 7 She holds a B.A. in communications from Santa Clara University and a master's degree in divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary. 7
James first joined the Iowa House in January 2019, initially representing District 99, then District 90, and now District 71. 7 In 2026, she won the Democratic primary for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District and is the Democratic candidate in the November 3, 2026 general election. [10, 13] She has received endorsements from the Iowa AFL-CIO, Iowa State Council of Machinists, and Statewide Iowa Teamsters. [2, 3, 20]
At a glance
- Party
- Democratic
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 2, Iowa
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Iowa State Representative, District 71
- Website
- lindsayforiowa.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 9pollCook Political Report shifts IA-02 rating from 'Lean Republican' to 'Toss-Up'
Cook Political Report changed its rating of Iowa's 2nd Congressional District from 'lean Republican' to 'toss-up,' reflecting movement in Democrats' favor. This is a race rating, not a poll result.
Iowa's 3 top congressional races move in Democrats' favor · Oct 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 8debateJames and Mitchell debate on Iowa PBS, clashing over tariffs, Social Security, and AI
At the Iowa PBS debate, James called for rolling back Trump's tariffs and proposed removing the cap on Social Security payroll-taxable earnings so higher earners pay on all annual income rather than only the first $185,000. She also defended her vote for the steel-plant incentive package.
Candidates in Iowa's 2nd district meet for final debate · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 2filingJames votes for Iowa steel-plant incentive package (HF 2801) in state House
The Iowa House journal records James's vote for HF 2801, a steel-plant incentive package, on October 2. The measure passed 75–17 and became law that day. James described it as an opportunity for good-paying jobs.
Candidates in Iowa's 2nd district meet for final debate · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 1debateJames and Mitchell face off in first televised debate on Iowa's News Now
James and Mitchell debated on Iowa's News Now, covering immigration, health care, the economy, and data centers. The candidates also disputed aspects of each other's records. Independents Dave Bushaw and Libertarian Rick Stewart were excluded under the outlet's debate criteria.
Despite common ground, 2nd District candidates trade ... · Oct 2, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 30newsJames releases anti-corruption campaign plan pledging no corporate PAC money
James's campaign released a plan reiterating her pledge to reject corporate PAC money and calling for a lobbying ban, term limits, and court ethics measures. The campaign stated she had held more than 50 town halls.
Iowa 2nd District Race 2026: Mitchell vs. James | The Stated ... · Oct 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 29pollSabato's Crystal Ball rates IA-02 a toss-up
Sabato's Crystal Ball moved its rating of Iowa's 2nd Congressional District to 'toss-up,' reflecting a more competitive race between James and Mitchell.
Despite common ground, 2nd District candidates trade ... · Oct 2, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 21endorsementMoveOn endorses Lindsay James for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District
MoveOn endorsed Lindsay James in her bid for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District seat.
Lindsay James : MoveOn: People-Powered Progress · Sep 21, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 15newsJames and Mitchell both cite corruption as a key issue in Iowa's 2nd District race
Candidates in Iowa's 2nd Congressional District highlighted corruption as a central campaign issue, with James emphasizing her pledge to reject corporate PAC money.
Candidates cite corruption as key issue in Iowa's 2nd ... · Sep 15, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 14newsEnd Citizens United and Lindsay James hold anti-corruption town hall in Dubuque
ECU reiterated its endorsement of James at a Dubuque town hall, where James called for anti-corruption reform including lobbying bans, term limits, and court ethics measures.
Recap: ECU and Representative Lindsay James Call for Anti ... · Sep 14, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Apr 1endorsementEnd Citizens United endorses Lindsay James for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District
End Citizens United endorsed James, citing her rejection of corporate PAC money and her support for a congressional stock-trading ban and efforts to address 'dark money.' The group reiterated the endorsement at a September 14 Dubuque town hall.
Recap: ECU and Representative Lindsay James Call for Anti ... · Sep 14, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council unionlindsayforiowa.com
- Former Iowa Lieutenant Governor Sally Pederson officiallindsayforiowa.com
- Iowa State Senator Liz Bennett officiallindsayforiowa.com
- National Association of Letter Carriers unionlindsayforiowa.com
- United Association of Plumbers & Pipefitters unionlindsayforiowa.com
- Former U.S. Representative Abby Finkenauer officiallindsayforiowa.com
- Iowa State Senator Bill Dotzler officiallindsayforiowa.com
- Dubuque Mayor Brad Cavanagh officiallindsayforiowa.com
- MoveOn Political Action organizationfront.moveon.org
- Giffords PAC organizationlindsayforiowa.com
- National Education Association unionlindsayforiowa.com
- U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin officiallindsayforiowa.com
- League of Conservation Voters Action Fund organizationlindsayforiowa.com
- Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund organizationlindsayforiowa.com
- AFSCME Council 61 unionlindsayforiowa.com
- Former U.S. Representative Dave Loebsack officiallindsayforiowa.com
- Iowa State Senator Tom Townsend officiallindsayforiowa.com
- Iowa State Senator Molly Donahue officiallindsayforiowa.com
- EMILY's List organizationlindsayforiowa.com
- Planned Parenthood Action Fund organizationlindsayforiowa.com
- Social Security Works PAC organizationlindsayforiowa.com
- Defend The Vote organizationwedefendthevote.org · Jun 1, 2026
- American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) unionafge.org · May 22, 2026
- Iowa State Council of Machinists unionlindsayforiowa.com · Apr 23, 2026
- Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO unionlindsayforiowa.com · Apr 16, 2026
- End Citizens United organizationlindsayforiowa.com · Apr 2, 2026
- Iowa Unity Coalition organizationEndorsed for the Democratic primary iowaunitycoalition.com · Apr 1, 2026
- Ironworkers Local 89 unionlindsayforiowa.com · Mar 16, 2026
- Elect Democratic Women organizationlindsayforiowa.com · Mar 12, 2026
- Statewide Iowa Teamsters unionlindsayforiowa.com · Feb 23, 2026
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $1.63M
- Spent
- $872K
- Cash on hand
- $756K
As of Jun 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6IA02211(opens in a new tab)
Sources 18
- [1] Iowa's 3 top congressional races move in Democrats' favor(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [2] Candidates in Iowa's 2nd district meet for final debate(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [3] Iowa Press Debates: 2nd Congressional District(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [4] Despite common ground, 2nd District candidates trade ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 2, 2026
- [5] Iowa 2nd District Race 2026: Mitchell vs. James | The Stated ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 1, 2026
- [6] Lindsay James : MoveOn: People-Powered Progress(opens in a new tab) Sep 21, 2026
- [7] Candidates cite corruption as key issue in Iowa's 2nd ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 15, 2026
- [8] Recap: ECU and Representative Lindsay James Call for Anti ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 14, 2026
- [9] Defend The Vote Endorses Lindsay James for Congress(opens in a new tab) Jun 1, 2026
- [10] Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses Three ...(opens in a new tab) May 22, 2026
- [11] Iowa State Council of Machinists Endorses Rep. ...(opens in a new tab) Apr 23, 2026
- [12] Iowa AFL-CIO Endorses Rep. Lindsay James in IA-02(opens in a new tab) Apr 16, 2026
- [13] Iowa Unity Coalition Endorses Lindsay James for U.S. ...(opens in a new tab) Apr 1, 2026
- [14] Ironworkers Local 89 Endorses Rep. Lindsay James in IA-02(opens in a new tab) Mar 16, 2026
- [15] Lindsay James (incumbent) - Dubuque Chamber of Commerce(opens in a new tab) Mar 16, 2026
- [16] News — Lindsay James for Iowa(opens in a new tab) Jan 8, 2026
- [17] Endorsements - Lindsay James for Iowa(opens in a new tab) Jul 29, 2025
- [18] Proposed Iowa Gun Law Sparks Debate That Shouldn't Be a Debate(opens in a new tab) Apr 21, 2025