Lindsay James
IA-02 Democratic nominee?
$1.6K
JUN 3, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleState Representative
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
GenderFemale
LocationIowa
Show moreShow less
BackgroundPolitician
EducationSanta Clara University (B.A.)
Notable personal detailsLindsay James is a Democratic politician and Presbyterian minister who has served in the Iowa House of Representatives since 2019, representing Dubuque-area districts (House District 99 from 2019–2023 and House District 71 from 2023–present). She announced a run for the U.S. House in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District on 2025-08-19. Her professional background includes ministry and chaplaincy work and teaching as an adjunct instructor at the University of Dubuque.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
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.
Show moreShow less
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
Lindsay James is in the news as a candidate in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District ahead of the June 2 primary. Recent coverage says candidates, including James, are focusing on tariffs, health care, immigration, and the cost of living. The race is open because Rep. Ashley Hinson is running for the U.S. Senate.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20262026
LatestCycle 2026
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements