Iowa’s 2nd Congressional district candidate Lindsay James is ‘committed to defending civil rights and voting rights’

Democrat Lindsay James, who is running for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, responded to Black Iowa News’ 2026 Candidate Questionnaire. Here are her unedited responses.

BLACK IOWA NEWS: Black Iowans face challenges involving household income, homeownership, access to capital and business development. What specific policies would you support to expand economic opportunity, increase homeownership and help Black-owned businesses grow and succeed in Iowa?

James: The cost of living crisis in Iowa means Iowans everyday are forced to make impossible decisions. Our neighbors are forced to choose between putting food on the table or paying rent, between keeping the lights or the water on. In the wealthiest country in the world, this is wrong. Congress must begin to cut the red tape and address the barriers that are preventing families from building the life they know they deserve. We must cut red tape and rein in the tariffs so we can build new affordable homes, and provide down payment support for first-time homeowners. We must invest into programs like The 24/7 Vitality Business accelerator in Black Hawk County, where participants take a 12 week course to understand what it means to be a business owner. It’s time for our elected leaders to prioritize everyday Iowans and our main streets, not large corporations.

BLACK IOWA NEWS: Black Iowans experience disparities in maternal health, chronic disease and access to affordable, quality health care. What specific actions would you take to address these disparities, improve health outcomes and ensure Black Iowans have access to the care they need?

James: Too many families are forced to make impossible decisions because of the policies coming down from D.C. “The One Big Beautiful Bill” threatens to kick 27,000 Northeast Iowans off their health insurance. The devastating cuts to the ACA have caused clinic closures and healthcare layoffs across the district. When healthcare becomes increasingly inaccessible, it’s our minority communities that feel the pinch the most. Northeast Iowans deserve a Representative that puts patients and providers first, not profit margins. I’ve spent the last eight years in the Iowa House fighting to expand affordable healthcare. My first speech on the Iowa House floor called out AmeriGroup for denying my constituent critical care; the next day services were restored. I’ve fought to cap the price of insulin and ensure it can be dispensed in emergencies, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. I’m committed to taking this same fight to Congress – to reverse the disastrous ACA cuts and restore funding for rural healthcare, allow Medicare to negotiate the price of prescription drugs, and to hold medical companies accountable for predatory pricing.

BLACK IOWA NEWS: Educational achievement, school funding, access to higher education and the teaching of Black history remain important issues. What policies would you support to improve educational outcomes for Black students, ensure equitable opportunities and prepare young Black Iowans for successful careers and futures in Iowa?

James: Education is the backbone of our communities, ensuring our children have the best opportunity at life. As a mom myself, I know personally how imperative it is to give our kids a quality education.The politicization of the Department of Education has put an unfair burden on our schools, educators, and families. It is the responsibility of our elected officials to support our schools so they can provide the best opportunities for our students, not dismantle the very department responsible for ensuring their success. I’ve fought back against the privatization of Iowa’s education and defunding of our public schools in the Iowa legislature because I believe that every student regardless of their demographics, zip code, or tax bracket, deserves a quality education. It’s imperative that D.C restores the funding and jobs to the Department of Education to ensure students’ rights to education are restored and administrators and educators have the tools and resources they need to guarantee every student succeeds.

BLACK IOWA NEWS: Issues surrounding discrimination, voting rights, policing and criminal justice continue to affect Black communities. What specific actions would you take to protect civil rights, address racial disparities in the justice system and ensure Black Iowans are treated fairly by government institutions?

James: My first commitment is my neighbors – not special interest groups or corporations. That is why I am proud to have passed police reform after the murder of George Floyd, supported ending lifetime disenfranchisement and fought back against the erosion of voting rights in Iowa. I am committed to defending civil rights and voting rights in Congress – That is why it is my priority to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. 

BLACK IOWA NEWS: Why should Black Iowans entrust you with their vote? What in your record demonstrates that you understand the challenges facing Black communities and will take specific actions to improve their lives?

James: As a chaplain, caring for my neighbor is not optional. I live my life by the Parable of the good Samaritan, refusing to ignore the least, the lost, and the lonely. But not only am I devoted to helping those on the side of the road, I am also deeply committed to fixing the road itself. That is why I fought against Iowa’s flat income tax, because every day Iowans are carrying the tax burden under it, not corporations or the ultra-wealthy. I’ve spent my career taking on private equity groups looking to price out residents from their mobile homes. My commitments are to my neighbors and my communities and that’s why I’m proud to be an End Citizens United Candidate, working to end money’s influence in politics, establish term limits, and end Congressional stock trading. It’s time to put people over politics again.