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2026 candidates we're tracking in IA-2
Joe Mitchell
Joe Mitchell is the Republican candidate for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's 2026 General Election candidate list. Mitchell is a homebuilder in Clear Lake who was elected to the Iowa House at age 21 and served two terms, per Iowa Capital Dispatch / CBS2 Iowa. Mitchell previously served as a regional director for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and founded Run Gen Z, a young conservative organization, per Iowa Capital Dispatch. Mitchell led Republican fundraising in the 2nd Congressional District primary, with more than $1 million in individual contributions, per Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Lindsay James
Top priorities
- Lowering the cost of living and expanding access to affordable health care
- Removing money from politics through campaign finance reform
- Supporting public education funding and Iowa farmers
Per the campaign site.
About Lindsay James
James is a chaplain who currently serves as an Iowa state representative from Dubuque, per the campaign site. She co-founded Iowa's first bipartisan, bicameral legislative caucus and has worked on expanding affordable insulin access and protections for mobile home residents, per the campaign site.
Rick Stewart
Top priorities
- Ending the federal income tax
- Overhauling immigration policy
Per the Iowa Capital Dispatch.
About Rick Stewart
Rick Stewart is the Libertarian candidate on the ballot for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District, according to Iowa Capital Dispatch. He has said he wants to end the federal income tax and overhaul immigration policy. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026; the Secretary of State's certified candidate list is the only verifiable source for Rick Stewart.
Dave Bushaw
Top priorities
- Building an independent political movement outside the two major parties
Per Iowa Capital Dispatch.
About Dave Bushaw
Dave Bushaw is the No Party candidate for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's 2026 General Election candidate list. Bushaw is a farmer and musician who worked on Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign, per Iowa Capital Dispatch. Bushaw qualified for the November ballot in Iowa's 2nd Congressional District by collecting signatures as a No Party candidate, per KCRG.
About this race
Iowa's 2nd Congressional District elects one member of the U.S. House of Representatives to a two-year term. Every House seat in the country is on the ballot in 2026. The Iowa primary is Tuesday, June 2, 2026, and the general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.