Iowa House candidates divided on tariffs, Iran
Candidates in Iowa’s second congressional district are divided on tariffs, healthcare and gas prices as the race for control of Congress comes to the heartland.
Iowa Rep. Lindsay James, D-Dubuque, and Republican former Iowa state Rep. Joe Mitchell are battling to win Iowa’s second congressional district. With U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, running for U.S. Senate, the race has narrowed between both candidates.
The Cook Political Report, a national polling aggregate, ranks Iowa’s second congressional district as a “toss up,” which means either party has a good chance of winning control in the district.
While rising gas prices remain a central issue across the country, Mitchell, 29, said he would seek to reduce regulations on American energy and increase domestic supply. He touts his previous experience as a housing developer and state representative as his qualifications for the seat.
“There’s too many regulations, too much compliance, too much red tape, to unleash the American dream,” Mitchell told Iowa Public Radio in an interview.
Bernie Hayes, chair of the Linn County Republican Party, agreed with Mitchell. He said the United States needs to increase its refining capacity to reduce dependence on foreign oil.
“We might have the oil, but we don’t have the refining capacity to get it to the consumer,” Hayes told The Center Square. “And that’s what’s frustrating, and that’s going to have to change at some point.”
James said rising gas prices due to the U.S. military conflict in Iran and the Trump administration’s tariff policies have harmed Iowa families. She said affordability is a key concern in the state.
“I’m going to fight against these tariffs and fight to roll back decisions like the Affordable Care Act cuts and Medicaid cuts that have resulted in a billion dollars of economic loss for our rural healthcare systems,” James said in an October debate.
James pointed to the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” legislation that implemented work requirements on individuals receiving federal benefits including Medicaid. She accused President Donald Trump’s tariff policies of being “chaotic.”
“They’ve caused exponentially high input costs. These are impulsive,” James said. “They are chaotic, and they are actually doing the opposite of what they should be.”
Mitchell praised the tariff policies for balancing trade deficits between the United States and foreign countries. He said the policies are meant to equalize foreign trade policies.
“For decades, we’ve been ripped off by countries like China and like Brazil, the European Union,” Mitchell said in a debate. “They’ve been eating our lunch. They’ve been imposing tariffs on the United States that we’ve not been reciprocating back.”
Hayes pointed to the economic growth that tariff policies spurred. He touted the development of a $15 billion Mesabi Metallic steel mill in Iowa, which was supported by the Trump administration’s tariffs.
Linn County, where Hayes leads the Republican party, is one of several regions within Iowa’s second congressional district. The new steel mill will be located in the first congressional district. However, Hayes touted its benefits for workers across the state.
“I’m thinking it looks pretty good, but we just have to get through some of the sand traps and tunnels first before we can get to the other side,” Hayes told The Center Square.
Both candidates called for an end to the U.S. military conflict in Iran, which has resulted in higher gas prices the past seven months. Mitchell urged a conversation between negotiators from the United States and Iran, rather than a War Powers Resolution to limit the president’s military authority.
James called for passage of a War Powers Resolution and said she would vote to support advancing one if it came out of the U.S. House of Representatives.
“It is time to end the war and send someone with courage of conviction who is going to go stand by Iowans to make sure that they are not losing the resources that we so desperately need, those billions of dollars that are being lost in Iran could be funding healthcare for our kids here in this country,” James said.
James has a fundraising advantage over Mitchell with more than $3.9 million in campaign contributions. Mitchell has slightly more than $2.9 million in contributions, according to the Federal Election Commission.
James received $10,000 from the United Auto Workers PAC, $5,000 from Emily’s List, an organization to support pro-abortion Democratic women running for Congress. She also received $5,000 from the American Federation of Teachers.
Mitchell loaned his campaign $100,000 in September 2025, and received $21,000 from Emmer Majority Builders, a group associated with Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., and $7,000 from real estate developer Richard Weekly.
Early voting in Iowa is available from Oct. 14 to Nov. 1. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 3. For more information, visit the Iowa Secretary of State at sos.iowa.gov. For updated results on Election Day, visit thecentersquare.com/iowa.
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