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Democratic candidates dominate Q3 fundraising
Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) is highlighted as an example of GOP incumbents who were outpaced in fundraising in the third quarter.
Updated Oct 16, 2026, 2:28 PM ET
Democratic · 3 November 2026
Lindsay James
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives from the 71st district (since 2019)
Lindsay James, a Democrat and Presbyterian minister who has served in the Iowa House of Representatives since 2019, faces Republican Joe Mitchell for Iowa's open 2nd congressional district seat in 2026.
2026 Races & Market Forecast
Live TruthIndex™ and prediction market consensus for races contested by Lindsay James.
Latest coverage
Live News
Recent media coverage for Lindsay James.
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Anti-corruption push shapes Iowa's toss-up 2nd Congressional race
Race context: Iowa's 2nd Congressional District features a toss-up contest between Democratic state Rep. Lindsay James and Republican former state lawmaker Joe Mitchell, both emphasizing anti-corruption platforms.
Des Moines Register
Mitchell -
Democrats and Republicans fight over beef and how much it costs. – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth
The article notes that Republican opponents are targeting two Democratic candidates for the U.S. House: Lindsay James in Iowa’s 2nd District and Amish Shah in Arizona’s 1st District.
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Political Money Wire: New Spending in Alaska and Eight Other Races
Topic: Political spending in Colorado’s 5th District (CO-05) as part of the broader report “Political Money Wire: New Spending in Alaska and Eight Other Races.”
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Candidate Profile: Bushaw rejects pressure to step aside in Iowa’s 2nd District race
In Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District race, candidate Dave Bushaw (labor advocate) is challenging Republican Joe Mitchell and Democrat Lindsay James.
KCRG NewsMitchell
No story this week names this candidate.
- Birthplace
- Portland, Oregon
- Education
- West Linn High School (1999)
Santa Clara University (degree in communications, 2003)
Fuller Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity, 2007)
Biography & Campaign Analysis
Background
Lindsay James, born Lindsay Beals in Portland, Oregon, in 1980, graduated from West Linn High School in 1999. She obtained a degree in communications from Santa Clara University in 2003 and earned a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary in 2007.
James then worked in ministry and education, serving as a minister for Menlo Park Presbyterian Church from 2007 to 2010, an interfaith chaplain for Endicott College from 2012 to 2015, and an associate pastor for Westminster Presbyterian Church from 2016 to 2017.
She began teaching as an adjunct professor at the University of Dubuque in 2015, and in 2017 she co-founded the Loras College Peace Institute and served as its director.
Career
Lindsay James was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives for the 99th district in 2018, when Democrat Abby Finkenauer left the seat to run successfully for the U.S. House.
After a primary against Brad Cavanagh and Pat Cullen, she defeated Republican Pauline Chilton with 60% of the vote, and she beat Chilton again in 2020 with 56.6%.
Redistricting moved her into the 71st district, where she was re-elected in 2022 and won a fourth term in 2024 with 56.1% against Republican James McClain. In 2022 she was elected to the House Democratic leadership team as minority whip.
James serves on the Environmental Protection Committee and was previously ranking member of the Government Oversight and Judiciary committees. In 2026 she sponsored legislation that would limit rent increases for mobile homes and restrict the termination of their rental agreements.
2026 race
Iowa's 2nd congressional district is based in northeastern Iowa and contains the cities of Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, and Dubuque.
Lindsay James announced her campaign on August 19, 2025, against Republican incumbent Ashley Hinson, who later entered the race for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator Joni Ernst, leaving the House seat open.
James won the Democratic primary with 27,717 votes, or 57.8%, over nonprofit founder Clint Twedt-Ball and Kathy Dolter, a former dean of nursing at Kirkwood Community College.
In the general election on November 3, 2026, she faces Republican Joe Mitchell, a former state representative from the 84th district, and independent candidate Dave Bushaw, a community organizer.