James says she’s committed to addressing the struggles of everyday Iowans as she announces Congressional campaign

Iowa state Rep. Lindsay James, a Democrat from Dubuque, announced her candidacy for Congress on Tuesday, emphasizing her commitment to addressing the struggles of everyday Iowans.

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“Too many hardworking families are being forced to make impossible choices,” James said. “Do I pay child care costs or save for a house? Do I pay my utility bill or buy my child a winter coat? Washington is working for billionaires and lobbyists, not for everyday families, and they need to hear the truth from us here in Iowa.”

James is running to seek her party’s nomination to challenge Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson for Northeast Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District seat.

The district includes Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Dubuque and Mason City.

Other Democrats running for the seat include Clint Twedt-Ball, a longtime Cedar Rapids nonprofit leader who fueled neighborhood flood recovery, and Kathy Dolter, a U.S. Army veteran and former dean of nursing at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids.

James, an ordained Presbyterian pastor and chaplain, was first elected to the Iowa House in 2018 and is currently serving her fourth term. She won re-election in 2024 by 12 percentage points, defeating Republican Jim McClain, a real estate investor, first-time candidate and owner of a fencing and excavation company.

In 2023, she was named House Minority Whip, making her the No. 2 Democrat in the Iowa House.

James, 44, said she was spurred to run over Hinson’s support of President Donald Trump’s agenda-setting tax and spending bill. James criticized the so-called “big beautiful bill” for favoring the wealthy over working families.

Democrats argue that the bill prioritizes tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations, while relying on spending cuts to programs like Medicaid and food assistance to offset the cost.

Hinson and the rest of Iowa’s all-Republican congressional delegation have defended the bill by arguing the tax cuts will benefit working families and businesses, not just the wealthy. Republicans argue the tax breaks will stimulate the economy and create jobs. They assert the reductions in future spending are necessary to ensure Medicaid’s long-term financial stability and that the spending cuts and recently enacted work requirements will ensure the program is preserved for those who truly need it.

Hinson, 42, of Marion, has also lauded the bill for providing historic investments in border security and immigration enforcement, and tax relief for working Iowans.

Drawing on her experiences as a mother and chaplain, James said she’s running to fight for working families and focus on practical solutions to the challenges facing Iowans.

“As I stand on people’s doorsteps and listen, the concerns I hear most are about housing, health care, affordable child care, and the state of our schools,” she said. “These are the kinds of priorities I’m passionate about working for.”

In the Iowa House, James has championed affordable housing initiatives, particularly for residents of manufactured housing communities, and plans to continue advocating for policies that relieve pressures on schools and provide teachers with the resources they need.

“People are tired by politicians who get blown about by whatever political wind comes their way,” she said. “ … As a chaplain, as a legislator, as an Iowa mom, I am guided by the principle of ‘Love your neighbor.’ I make this long commitment to listening, serving, and fixing broken systems, and I am ready to get to work.”

Hinson’s campaign has criticized James for voting against state income tax cuts and taxpayer-funded savings accounts families can use to pay private school costs, while supporting physicians’ right to prescribe puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones or authorizing surgery for treatment of gender dysphoria for minors under the age of 18. Hinson’s campaign also notes James’ support of racial justice reform and the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as her support of universal health care.

"Lindsay James supported BLM protesters, wants to eliminate private health insurance, and sides with bureaucrats over parents when it comes to education. Lindsay belongs in New York with AOC, not Iowa,“ Hinson’s campaign said in a Aug. 11 press release about James planning to launch her campaign for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District.

James pushed back on the criticism, saying, “People are tired of partisan politics and culture war attacks. I’m focused on the issues that really matter — building a better life for families here in Iowa.”

“I am passionate about having strong schools and lowering the costs for Iowans, everyday families,” she said. “One of the most important things we can think about is when it comes to our tax structure, how do we give relief to everyday Iowans, not billionaires, not millionaires, not big corporations, right? So my voting record reflects my priorities to everyday families who are being forced into making impossible decisions in their everyday lives.

“… I'm a champion, and I have always been from Day One in the Iowa Legislature, and when I go to Washington, D.C., to fight for housing and child care and schools and health care, this is about giving our kids their best chance at life. It's about creating a state where grandparents no longer have to worry about whether or not their grandkids will stay here and build their life here.”

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