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Lindsay James, a state legislator and Democratic candidate for Congress in Iowa, missed over half of her votes within the state’s Home of Representatives this previous 12 months, information present.
In 2026, James missed 177 of 342 votes, in keeping with the legislature’s information, accounting for 51.7% of the entire.
The absences conflict with assurances James made about how her marketing campaign would possibly affect her legislative duties and has opened her as much as Republican-led criticisms that she has prioritized her potential position as an alternative of the one she has now.
“Lindsay James promised Iowans that campaigning wouldn’t distract her from the job she was elected to do. That didn’t final lengthy,” Emily Tuttle, a spokesperson for the Nationwide Republican Congressional Committee, stated.
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The Iowa state capitol, left, pictured alongside Iowa Rep. Lindsay James, D-Iowa, a candidate for Congress within the state’s second congressional district. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Photos; Iowa Home of Representatives)
“James selected her personal political ambitions over exhibiting up for work, proving that when given the selection between serving constituents and serving herself, she places herself first,” Tuttle continued.
James’ marketing campaign stated that she has a observe file of representing constituents nicely.
“Lindsay has at all times fought for Iowa households, taking over company greed and predatory landlords and writing the invoice to cap the price of insulin,” Jackson Smith, a spokesperson for the marketing campaign, stated in a press release to Fox.
“Whereas Lindsay listens to and works for the Iowans making not possible financial selections attributable to Joe Mitchell and his Washington allies, Mitchell has been utilizing his marketing campaign money to celebration with Washington insiders and shall be a rubber stamp for the insurance policies elevating Iowa households’ prices,” Smith stated, referring to Joe Mitchell, a former state consultant and a Republican candidate for the seat.
On the outset of her marketing campaign, James instructed viewers in an interview that she would proceed to prioritize her work within the Home of Representatives regardless of intentions to marketing campaign “full-time.”
“Full-time campaigning and, in fact, fulfilling my necessary work within the Iowa legislature,” James stated when requested whether or not she would additionally proceed working as a minister.
“You already know me, I’ve a fairly robust work ethic on the capitol, early, very late, offering for my constituents. That can by no means cease. That’s simply who I’m and the way I’m wired,” James stated.
Even so, James, who first joined the Iowa Home in 2019, has missed a number of key votes within the chamber.
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The Iowa State Capitol constructing is seen in Des Moines, Iowa, on Oct. 9, 2019, forward of the 2020 Iowa Democratic caucuses scheduled for Feb. 3, 2020. (Joe Raedle/Getty Photos)
As an alternative of voting on a invoice to restrict display screen time for college kids in colleges, she held a marketing campaign occasion in Cedar Rapids on April 20, roughly two hours from Des Moines.
Simply ten days later, James additionally missed a vote on whether or not to make animal torture a felony on April 30 to host a meet-and-greet at a brewery in Decorah, Iowa.
In a 3rd case, she additionally skipped the chamber’s consideration of whether or not to decrease property taxes with a view to host one other candidate exercise in Dubuque — a three-hour drive from the capitol.
James not too long ago received a Democratic major earlier this month as she wages a marketing campaign to fill the seat presently held by Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa.
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Rep. Ashley Hinson speaks to visitors throughout her Ashley’s BBQ Bash fundraiser in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Aug. 23, 2025. (Scott Olson/Getty Photos)
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Hinson, who has represented the district since 2021, introduced she wouldn’t search reelection as she pursues a Senate seat to switch outgoing Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa.
