August 5th , 2026 Len’s Political Note #829 Lindsay James Iowa 02
2026 General Election
In November, 2025, Axios reported about an increase in the number of white Christian clergy running for political office as Democrats. Lindsay James, an Iowa State Rep and a Presbyterian minister is one of them.
As the number of Americans who identify as Christian declines, white Christian clergy have found Democratic politics to be a way of providing religious and moral leadership. Iowa’s Democratic nominee for the Third Congressional district is a Lutheran minister who had been coordinating interfaith engagement in Des Moines before entering politics. Lindsay James, running in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District and a Presbyterianb had co-founded and led a Peace Institute at a Catholic college before she entered politics.
Lindsay James is well east of her origins. Born in Portland, Oregon, she went to public high school and then to the private Roman Catholic Santa Clara College in California. Although her degree was in communications, she continued on to the Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena for her Master of Divinity Degree. Fuller was founded by radio evangelicals in the 1940s who intended the school to support social activism and to become the Caltech of religion. During the 1960s and 70s, progressive faculty were added to the existing social conservatives.
After Lindsay James’ graduation in 2007, she had a pulpit in a Menlo Park Presbyterian Church. Her husband began a PhD program at the Boston University School of Theology and she became the interfaith chaplain at Endicott College outside of Boston.
From Boston, she and her husband moved to Dubuque, where he taught at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary and she was an associate pastor for a year and then co-founded the Peace Institute at Loras College.
Elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in 2018, Lindsay James became the Minority Whip in 2022. Her legislative interests included protecting reproductive rights, regulating the legal use of cannabis, and protecting tenants in the growing number of single family rented homes. She announced her candidacy for Congress a year ago – before Ashley Hinson announced she was leaving Iowa 02 to run for the US Senate. Had Hinson sought to remain in Congress that would have been a race – representatives of two great American communication institutions: a television news anchor versus a Protestant preacher.
Lindsay James’ opponent is former state Rep Joe Mitchell. Originally a Texan, he graduated from Waco High School. He went to Drake University in Iowa for college, became politically active, and stayed. Still an undergraduate, he was elected to the state legislature when he was 21. Redistricting did him in. He lost to a fellow Republican who he wound up sharing a district with.
Graduated from the state legislature, in 2023 he went to Harvard where he was a resident fellow. In 2024 he was appointed to Donald Trump’s Presidential transition team. His reward for that loyalty was appointment as Chief of Staff at the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Trump’s man at FHFA was Bill Pulte, currently the Acting Director of National Intelligence. It seems possible that Joe Mitchell, in the role of Chief of Staff for a half year and his subsequent role as the Regional Administrator for the Great Plains region of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, could have helped to find shreds of evidence that allowed blown-up accusations of mortgage fraud against Lisa Cook of the Federal Reserve, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and US Senator from California Adam Schiff as well as others that may come down the line.
Lindsay James is on the side of the angels. In the Iowa state legislature, she has demonstrated a capacity to manage humans who had been elected as legislators. She has raised a respectable $1.6 million for the Congressional race. Joe Mitchell has raised a touch more — $1.8 million. There is only one poll. It is from April and was competitive. Lindsay James led Joe Mitchell 36-33. Help Lindsay James flip that seat. DONATE to her campaign.
Federal Iowa races
US Senate. Democratic state Rep and former US paralympic basketball player Josh Turek is running against Iowa 02 Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson. In one late June poll, Hinson led by 2 points. In another late June poll, Josh Turek led by 4 points. In an early June Republican-funded poll, Hinson led by 2 points. In another early June Josh Turek funded poll, he led by 2 points. In a very early Democratic-funded June poll, the two candidates were even. This is a toss up race. Money can make a difference. Hinson is ahead in the financial race. She has raised $10.2 million and had $6.7 million available on June 30. Josh Turek is competing. He has raised $6.3 million and, after a competitive primary, had $2.4 million on June 30. DONATE to Josh Turek’s campaign. He needs your help. See Len’s Political Note #817
Congressional races
Iowa 01 Democratic Law Professor and former state Rep Christina Bohannan is running against incumbent Republican Marianette Miller-Meeks. We have only one recent poll; this one from June. Christina Bohannanled the incumbent by 4 points – 43-39. That will count as a toss-up. The financial race is as close as the poll, or closer. Miller-Meeks has raised $7.2 million and closed out June with $4.7 million. Christina Bohannan raised $7.1 million and finished June with $5.4 million. Help Christine Bohannan stretch that lead and flip this district. DONATE to her campaign. This race is close enough to be considered a toss up. See Len’s Political Note #737
Iowa 03 Democratic State Senator and Lutheran minister Sarah Trone Garriott is challenging incumbent Republican Zach Nunn who considered running for governor and considered running for the heavily Republican Iowa 04 before settling in. The most recent poll is from March. At that time Nunn led by 6 points. Sarah Trone Garriott has a slim lead in the financial race. She raced $5.3 million and had $3.9 million on June 30. Republican Zach Nunn raised $4.9 million and had $3.6 million on June 30. This race is another toss up. DONATE to Sarah Trone Garriott’s campaign. Democrats could seep these four races – the Senate and 3 Congressional races. If that happens, Democrats would probably be winning the House and the Senate. For more about Sarah Trone Garriott see Len’s Political Note #789
State-wide races
Governor Democratic State Auditor Rob Sand has been building towards this race since he was reelected in 2022 and cherishes his reputation for doing his job in a non-partisan way. His Republican opponent is investor Zach Lahn.who spent his own money defeaating Iowa 04 Congressman Randy Feenstra in the Republican primary. Polls in June have shown Rob Sand leading by 2, 4, and 9 points. The 4 point lead was a Republican funded poll. Iowa financial reports were for July 31. Rob Sand had raised $37.8 million for this race and had available $18 million. Zach Lahn reported raisin $10 million and $1 million available. Of course, Zach Lahn also had his personal fortune available on July 31 or any other day. Help Rob Sand be the first Democratic governor since 2011. DONATE. See Len’s Political Note #746
Down ballot
Democrats have attracted a full complement of interesting candidates. If you make Iowa your project, learn more about and donate to these candidates.
- Attorney General. Democratic State Rep Nate Willems has been active in the Democratic Party long enough ago to have been a regional coordinator for Howard Dean in the Iowa caucus. DONATE to his campaign. He is running against the incumbent Brenna Bird.
- Secretary of State. Graduate of the Naval Academy, Democrat Ryan Peterman has been deployed overseas, served in the White House, and returned to the Naval Academy to serve as a mentor to Midshipmen. DONATE to his campaign He is running against the incumbent Paul Pate.
- State Auditor. Democratic Attorney Taylor Wettach was a trade and securities lawyer for the federal government who often negotiated with major corporations. He has returned home to Iowa where his family has been for seven generations after his position was eliminated in Elon Musk’s DOGE rampage. DONATE to his campaign. He is running against the current Republican Lt. Governor, Chris Cournoyer.
- A Democrat and a business advisor with Goldman Sachs’ small business program, John Norwood has lived in Des Moines for 20 years and has recently served on the local soil and water commission. DONATE to his campaign. He is running against the incumbent Roby Smith.
- Agriculture Commissioner. Retired from the University of Iowa, Democrat Chris Jones has led a non-profit that focuses on water quality and has written a book of essays about agricultural pollution titled The Swine Republic. DONATE to his campaign. He is running against the incumbent Republican Mike Naig.
