Public Policy Polling
40%30%20%10%0%
36%
Democrat
Lindsay James
IA-02 Democratic nominee?
$2.1K
JUN 3, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current rolePolitician
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
GenderFemale
LocationIowa
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BackgroundPolitician
EducationSanta Clara University — B.A. in Communications
Notable personal detailsLindsay James is an American politician and Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) pastor who serves in the Iowa House of Representatives, representing Dubuque-area House District 71. She earned a B.A. in communications from Santa Clara University and a master’s degree in divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary. In 2026, she ran for U.S. House in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District and won the Democratic nomination.
SourcesShowHide
legis.iowa.govfec.govlindsayforiowa.comkttc.comen.wikipedia.orgtransparencyusa.orgbremercountyelections.iowa.goviowapublicradio.orggovprofiles.commccmeetingspublic.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.netgis.linncountyiowa.govmultistate.usiowacapitaldispatch.comkalshi.comblackhawkcountyelections.iowa.govkcrg.comelections.claytoncountyia.govreddit.comiowatorch.comdubuquechamber.comradioiowa.comdailyiowan.comthegazette.comiowastartingline.comgiffords.orgbearingarms.comcareers.arena.runlcv.orgafge.orgfacebook.comcbs2iowa.comnrcc.orgwbznewsradio.iheart.comopb.orgmother.lydesmoinesregister.comalternet.orgthepostmillennial.comemilyslist.orgballotpedia.orglocalcandidates.orginstagram.comdocquery.fec.govdeveloper.ballotpedia.orglegislation.ballotpedia.orgdata.ballotpedia.orgvoterguide.ballotpedia.orgdonate.ballotpedia.orgjustfacts.votesmart.orgvotesmart.orghistory.house.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Lindsay James supports policies that provide tax relief and credits targeted to working families and small/local businesses and opposes large, regressive tax cuts that primarily benefit the wealthy. Her campaign prioritizes lowering costs for working Iowans and expanding supports such as child and dependent tax credits and local tax-credit tools for community development. She publicly criticized a proposed Iowa flat-tax plan as disproportionately benefiting the ultra-rich.
Healthcare
Supports affordable, expanded access to healthcare and reproductive health services; has advocated removing prescription requirements for contraceptives and lists affordable healthcare as a campaign priority.
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Immigration & Border
Supports handling immigration at the federal level and opposes state laws that expand local enforcement of federal immigration policy; expresses concern that broadly written state smuggling/enforcement bills could criminalize religious or community members who provide shelter or aid. Advocates for meaningful immigration reform while resisting state-level criminalization or expanded local enforcement powers.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports reproductive rights and a person’s right to choose, advocating protection of abortion access. Endorsed by pro-choice organization EMILY’s List and has spoken about harms from Iowa’s near-total abortion ban.
Climate & Energy
The candidate emphasizes protecting clean water and a healthy environment and standing with Iowa farmers but does not present detailed federal climate or energy policy proposals on her campaign site or public biography. Public materials available emphasize environmental protection in broad terms rather than specific climate targets, clean-energy investment, or fossil-fuel phase-out plans.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports expanded gun-safety measures including universal background checks, extreme risk protection orders (red flag laws), and raising the minimum age to purchase certain assault-style weapons to 21; opposed legislation that would lower Iowa’s handgun purchase age to 18 and voted against that bill.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 15, 2026
Lindsay James is the Democratic nominee in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District and is now facing Republican former state Rep. Joe Mitchell in the 2026 race for the open seat. Recent coverage has focused on her campaign’s fundraising, where she trailed Mitchell in cash on hand. She has also drawn criticism over a 2020 campaign website section in which she apologized for being white and said she benefited from privilege.
legis.iowa.gov+50
Articles
BNBreitbart News Network2 months ago
Iowa Dem Candidate Apologized for Being White, Cisgender in 2020 Campaign
Negative
ATAmes Tribune2 months ago
Iowa Democrats build cash edge as US House races shift to November
Neutral
DMDes Moines Register3 months ago
Iowa 2nd Congressional District candidates discuss tariffs, high costs
Neutral
Polls
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
IA-02 Democratic nominee?
Endorsers of Lindsay James for IA-02 Democratic nominee?
EMILYs List
Public endorsement
EMILYs List backed Lindsay James as a 2026 candidate for Congress
League of Conservation Voters Action Fund
Political organization
League of Conservation Voters Action Fund endorsed Lindsay James for U.S. House
American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)
Public endorsement
AFGE endorsed Lindsay James for Congress
Iowa State Council of Machinists
Political organization
Iowa State Council of Machinists endorsed Lindsay James in her congressional campaign
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Total raisedCash on hand
$1.6M
$1.2M
$814.1K
$407.1K
$0
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2026
$1.6M
$755.8K
$872.4K
$48.5K
Source: FEC