Iowa 2nd District Voter Guide: Mitchell, James, Bushaw and Stewart on Health Care and Immigration
Four candidates are on the Nov. 3 ballot in Iowa's 2nd Congressional District, according to the county candidate lists filed for the general election: Republican Joe Mitchell, Democrat Lindsay James, independent Dave Bushaw and Libertarian Rick Stewart. The Digital Free Press voter guide video compares where they stand on health care and immigration.
The northeastern Iowa district includes Cedar Rapids, Waterloo and Dubuque, according to Wikipedia's summary of the district. The seat is open because Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson is running for the U.S. Senate. Hinson won reelection in 2024 with 57.1 percent of the vote, according to Wikipedia's summary of the results.
Why Health Care and Immigration Are Issues in Iowa's 2nd District
The Cook Political Report rates the race a Toss Up in its Oct. 23, 2026 ratings. Inside Elections also rates it a Toss-up, as of Oct. 15, and Sabato's Crystal Ball rates it Lean Democratic, as of Oct. 20, according to Wikipedia's ratings table. An Emerson College poll of 344 likely voters, conducted Oct. 12-14, found James at 50 percent and Mitchell at 47 percent, according to Wikipedia's poll table.
On health care, the TDFP video says Mitchell "wants lower costs, more choice and price transparency while preserving key ACA protections." It says James "would lower the Medicare buy-in age to 55, reverse Medicaid cuts and expand Medicare drug price negotiation." It says Bushaw "backs Medicare for All, replacing premiums, co-pays and deductibles with a payroll tax," and that Stewart "would redirect Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes and other assistance funding into a universal basic income."
On immigration, the video says Mitchell "backs secure borders, deporting criminal immigrants in the country illegally and a temporary H-1B visa ban." It says James "backs border security, more immigration judges, a path to citizenship and new ICE leadership and training." It says Bushaw "backs strong borders and a path to citizenship for non-criminal undocumented workers with English classes," and that Stewart "would auction lifetime green cards to vetted immigrants and let citizens decide refugee and humanitarian cases."
Joe Mitchell (Republican)
Mitchell, 29, is a former Iowa state lawmaker endorsed by President Donald Trump.
On health care, Mitchell's campaign website says: "We need to lower costs, increase transparency, and expand consumer choice while preserving key protections from the ACA." It adds that prescription drug and insulin prices "should be comparable to those of other developed countries."
On immigration, his website says: "By securing our borders, deporting criminal illegal immigrants, and reforming our immigration laws, we can ensure that Americans—not the Third World—have access to the American Dream. I support a temporary ban on H-1B visas."
Lindsay James (Democrat)
James is a Dubuque-area state representative and chaplain who won the June 2 Democratic primary, according to Ballotpedia.
On health care, James told the Iowa Capital Dispatch: "We can do that by reversing the disastrous Medicaid cuts that have cost Iowans millions of dollars, allowing Medicare to negotiate the prices of all drugs instead of just a few, and increasing price transparency in the healthcare marketplace." She also wants to lower the age to qualify for Medicare to 55, KCRG reported.
On immigration, James's campaign website says: "We need to invest in border security, increase the number of immigration judges to deal with the massive backlog of cases, and create a path to citizenship for hard working, taxpaying people in this country." On ICE, it says: "We need new leadership, new training methods, and get back to the basics of targeting the worst of the worst."
Dave Bushaw (Independent)
Bushaw is a musician, former squash farmer and union member from Hawkeye who says he is building an independent movement outside both major parties.
On health care, Bushaw supports a "Medicare for All" program like the one proposed by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Iowa Capital Dispatch reported. His most far-reaching proposal calls for eliminating private health insurance premiums, co-pays and deductibles and replacing them with a payroll tax, The Courier of Waterloo reported.
On immigration, Bushaw has said he supports secure borders and a pathway to citizenship for law-abiding immigrants who pay taxes, along with funding for programs to teach English, according to his answers in candidate questionnaires.
Rick Stewart (Libertarian)
Stewart, 75, of Cedar Rapids, has run before for Iowa governor and the U.S. Senate, according to the Iowa Capital Dispatch.
On health care and benefits, Stewart proposes redirecting payroll taxes from Social Security and Medicare, along with funding from other government assistance programs, to pay for a "universal basic income" for all citizens, the Iowa Capital Dispatch reported.
On immigration, Stewart proposes a system that lets vetted immigrants bid for lifetime green cards in an auction, and says refugee and humanitarian cases should be decided by U.S. citizens rather than the government, the Iowa Capital Dispatch reported.
Where to Follow the Candidates
Joe Mitchell: joemitchell.com. Lindsay James: @Lindsay4Iowa on X and lindsayforiowa.com. Dave Bushaw: @Dave_Bushaw on X. Rick Stewart: rickstewart.com.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Iowa voters can check their registration and polling place at sos.iowa.gov. This guide is for information only; The Digital Free Press does not endorse any candidate.
Yossi Schmidt, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Digital Free Press
Hold Everyone Accountable.
Sources: Clayton County Auditor, 2026 general election candidate list: https://elections.claytoncountyia.gov/files/candidate_list/2026_clayton_county_general_election_75165.pdf ; Iowa Capital Dispatch voter guide, 2nd District: https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/voter-guides/contests/2026-us-house-2-general/ ; Iowa Capital Dispatch, Rick Stewart (Aug. 15, 2026): https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2026/08/15/libertarian-wants-to-repeal-income-tax-welfare-programs-immigration-policy/ ; Joe Mitchell for Congress, issues: https://www.joemitchell.com/issues ; Lindsay James for Iowa, Keep Our Communities Safe: https://www.lindsayforiowa.com/issues/keep-our-communities-safe ; KCRG (Oct. 12, 2026): https://www.kcrg.com/2026/10/12/lindsay-james-talks-campaign-iowas-2nd-congressional-district/ ; The Courier, Bushaw policy platform: https://wcfcourier.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/elections/article_b8e4e491-eaac-4f07-9968-91f5e3dcf466.html ; Des Moines Register candidate questionnaire: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/10/08/iowa-2nd-congressional-district-candidates-lindsay-james-dave-bushaw-joe-mitchell/91880265007/ ; Cook Political Report House ratings: https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/house-race-ratings ; Wikipedia, 2026 U.S. House elections in Iowa: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_Iowa
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