Iowa Democrat Lindsay James missed more than half of her state’s House votes in 2026
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Lindsay James, a state legislator and Democratic candidate for Congress in Iowa, missed more than half of her votes in the state House of Representatives this past year, records show.
In 2026, James missed 177 of 342 votes, according to legislative records, making up 51.7% of the total.
The absence contradicts assurances James has made about how his campaign would affect his legislative career and opens him up to Republican-led criticism that he prioritized his potential role over his current one.
“Lindsay James promised Iowans that campaigning would not interfere with the work he was elected to do. That did not last long,” said Emily Tuttle, spokeswoman for the National Republican Congressional Committee.
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Iowa’s state capital, left, pictured next to Iowa Rep. Lindsay James, D-Iowa, is a candidate for Congress in the state’s 2nd congressional district. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images; Iowa House of Representatives)
“James chose his political ambitions over work, which proves that when given the opportunity to choose between serving members and serving himself, he puts them first,” continued Tuttle.
James’ campaign said it has a history of representing voters well.
“Lindsay has been fighting for Iowa families, taking on the greed of corporations and predatory homeowners and writing a bill to cover the cost of insulin,” said Jackson Smith, a campaign spokesman, in a statement sent to Fox.
“While Lindsay listens and works for Iowans making impossible economic decisions caused by Joe Mitchell and his allies in Washington, Mitchell has been using his campaign money to engage with the people of Washington and will be a rubber stamp for policies that increase costs for Iowa families,” Smith said, referring to Joe Mitchell, a former state representative and Republican candidate for the position.
At the beginning of his campaign, James told viewers in an interview that he would continue to prioritize his work in the House of Representatives despite the intentions of campaigning “full time.”
“Full campaigning, and fulfilling my important role in the Iowa Legislature,” James said when asked if he would continue to serve as minister.
“You know me, I have a strong work ethic at the capitol, early in the morning, very late, providing for my people. That’s not going to stop. That’s just who I am and how I’m connected,” said James.
However, James, who joined the Iowa House for the first time in 2019, missed several important votes in the chamber.
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The Iowa State Capitol building is seen in Des Moines, Iowa, on Oct. 9, 2019, ahead of the 2020 Iowa Democratic caucuses scheduled for Feb. 3, 2020. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Instead of voting for a bill to reduce screen time for students in schools, he held a campaign event in Cedar Rapids on April 20, about two hours from Des Moines.
Just ten days later, James also missed a vote on whether to decriminalize animal cruelty on April 30 to hold a rally at a brewery in Decorah, Iowa.
In a third issue, he also bypassed the chamber’s consideration of a property tax abatement to take another job in Dubuque – a three-hour drive from the capital.
James recently won a Democratic Alliance award earlier this month as he led the campaign to fill the seat held by Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa.
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Attorney Ashley Hinson speaks to guests during the Ashley’s BBQ Bash fundraiser in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Aug. 23, 2025. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
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Hinson, who has represented the district since 2021, has announced that he will not seek re-election as he pursues a Senate seat to replace Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa.
