Democratic state Rep. Lindsay James says she’s “very seriously considering” running against Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District.
James, of Dubuque, was first elected to the Iowa House in 2018 and is serving her fourth term. She serves as the ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee and sits on the Commerce, Environmental Protection and Ways and Means committees. She is an ordained Presbyterian pastor.
James, 44, said she’s been spending time talking with Iowans in the district and hearing about “their fears and concerns about what’s coming out of Washington, D.C.”
“It’s very clear that billionaires are getting the big, beautiful tax breaks while everyday folks here in Iowa are facing the terrifying prospect of losing their health care,” she said. “And that is then a huge motivator for me to really consider a change in leadership.”
Hinson joined the rest of Iowa’s all-Republican congressional delegation in voting for President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” with tax cuts and cuts to spending on Medicaid and food assistance.
The law makes permanent a set of 2017 tax cuts that Trump signed during his first term, as well as cutting taxes on tips and overtime pay and boosting spending on border security and the military.
It cuts Medicaid spending by about $1 trillion over a decade, which is expected to lead to 11.8 million people becoming uninsured, and cuts nearly $200 billion in spending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, according to estimates from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
It also is projected to increase deficits by about $3.4 trillion over the next 10 years, according to the CBO.
James called the legislation “a moral failure” and said it could lead to health care facilities closing, especially in rural areas.
“As someone who is an ordained Presbyterian pastor and has deep faith commitments, this isn’t just a policy moment, this is a moral moment,” she said. “And I believe that Iowans have the right to be taken care of and live with human dignity, and I’m all about writing a new story for Iowa, one where we take care of each other again.”
In a July 11 news release, Hinson said the law would increase Iowans’ take-home pay and “supercharge America’s path to prosperity.”
“This historic legislation will cut taxes for working Americans, permanently secure our border and fund deportations, unleash American energy and strengthen Medicaid for vulnerable Iowans while ending waste, fraud and abuse,” Hinson said.
If she runs for Congress, James said she wants to focus on health care, housing, child care and “everyday economic realities for folks.”
“It’s about lifting up people’s voices across the district,” James said. “In order to make good policy decisions we have to understand the realities of everyday people and Hinson has stopped listening to Iowans and instead is making all of her policy decisions based off of catering to special interests and billionaires.”
Hinson was first elected to Congress in 2020, flipping a seat held by then-Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer. She won reelection in 2022 and 2024 and is serving her third term.
Hinson has not announced a formal reelection campaign, but earlier this year she ruled out running in Iowa’s open gubernatorial race, citing a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” with Republican control of Congress and the presidency.
The 2nd Congressional District includes 22 counties in northeast Iowa, including the cities of Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Waterloo and Mason City.
Democrats are currently without a candidate for Congress in the 2nd District after former U.S. attorney Kevin Techau ended his campaign on June 30, citing fundraising difficulties.
Hinson announced in a news release July 8 that she raised more than $850,000 in the second quarter of the year and has $2.8 million in cash on hand.
James said she believes she can mount a serious challenge to Hinson if she runs.
“I am a redhead who is passionate and stubborn,” she said. “And I think that we will mount a very credible campaign if we go in that direction.”
Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on X at @sgrubermiller.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Democratic state Rep. Lindsay James considering challenging Ashley Hinson for Congress
Reporting by Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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