Campaign Almanac: Trump pollster, former NRCC leader among Iowa-2 candidate Mitchell’s campaign hires

DES MOINES — A pollster that has served President Donald Trump’s campaigns and a former political director of U.S. House Republicans’ campaign arm are among the hires by Iowa 2nd Congressional District candidate Joe Mitchell, his campaign announced this week.

Mike Thom, a former political director for the National Republican Congressional Committee, or NRCC, will serve as Mitchell’s general consultant, the campaign said.

And Fabrizio, Lee & Associates, which has conducted polls for Trump’s presidential campaigns as well as those of many other prominent national Republicans, will serve as the campaign’s polling company, the Mitchell campaign said.

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Among the campaign’s other hires: Annie Kelly Kuhle of FP1 Strategies will serve as media consultant; Alli Brecher, founder of Alli B strategies and a finance consultant for Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, has been named finance consultant; and Tim Saler, a veteran of President Donald Trump’s caucus and general election campaigns in Iowa, will lead data and modeling.

Mitchell is a property developer and former state legislator who lives in Clear Lake. He is among four Republicans seeking the party’s nomination in Eastern Iowa’s 2nd District.

“We’re not taking anything for granted, and it’s why I hired a winning team and plan to outwork and outraise every candidate in this race,” Mitchell said in a press release. “Iowa is going to be competitive in 2026 and radical Democrats will make a serious attempt to win seats up and down the ballot. Despite these headwinds, we are prepared to be successful on June 2nd and then in the general election in November.”

Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District seat is open in 2026 with Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson campaigning for the U.S. Senate.

Linn County Democrats announce 2025 Hall of Fame inductees

The Linn County Democrats Central Committee has named four new inductees to its Hall of Fame.

Mary Burke of Lisbon, and Catherine Crist, Roy Porterfield and Shawn Gallagher, all of Cedar Rapids, will be honored Nov. 1 at the party’s biannual Hall of Fame Banquet at the Hilton Garden Inn in Cedar Rapids.

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Organizers said the honorees have long records of supporting Democratic candidates and volunteering in the community, including work on union boards and local causes. Statewide and U.S. Senate candidates have been invited to attend and speak at the event.

Ticket information is available on the Linn County Democrats’ website.

Maggie’s List backs Ashley Hinson in Senate race

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Maggie’s List, a federal political action committee that supports conservative women candidates, has endorsed Iowa U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson in her bid for the U.S. Senate.

Hinson, a Republican from Marion, is running for the U.S. Senate in 2026 to succeed retiring Iowa GOP U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, who is not seeking re-election.

The group had backed Hinson for re-election to the U.S. House, before she announced her intention to run for Ernst’s open Senate seat.

“Congresswoman Ashley Hinson has a strong conservative track record for making government more efficient, delivering tax cuts for Iowa families and respecting Americans’ taxpayer dollars,” said Maggie’s List Iowa Chairwoman Gwen Ecklund.

Maggie’s List also endorsed Hollie Noveletsky, a New Hampshire businesswoman, veteran and health care professional, in that state’s 1st Congressional District race. The group said both endorsements reflect its push to expand the number of conservative women in federal office.

Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau

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