SouthernWorldwide.com – Lindsay James, a Democratic candidate for Congress and current state legislator in Iowa, has reportedly missed more than half of the votes cast in the state’s House of Representatives over the past year, according to legislative records.
The records indicate that James was absent for 177 out of 342 votes in 2026, which amounts to 51.7% of the total votes.
These absences have drawn criticism, particularly from Republicans, who argue that James’s focus has shifted to her congressional campaign rather than her current legislative duties.
Emily Tuttle, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, stated, “Lindsay James promised Iowans that campaigning wouldn’t distract her from the job she was elected to do. That didn’t last long.”
“James chose her own political ambitions over showing up for work, proving that when given the choice between serving constituents and serving herself, she puts herself first,” Tuttle added.
The James campaign, however, has defended her record, asserting that she has consistently represented her constituents effectively.
“Lindsay has always fought for Iowa families, taking on corporate greed and predatory landlords and writing the bill to cap the cost of insulin,” Jackson Smith, a campaign spokesperson, told Fox News.
Smith further contrasted James with her Republican opponent, Joe Mitchell, a former state representative. “While Lindsay listens to and works for the Iowans making impossible economic choices caused by Joe Mitchell and his Washington allies, Mitchell has been using his campaign cash to party with Washington insiders and will be a rubber stamp for the policies raising Iowa families’ costs,” he said.
In a previous interview, James had indicated that she intended to continue prioritizing her work in the Iowa House of Representatives even while campaigning “full-time.”
When asked about balancing full-time campaigning with her legislative responsibilities, James responded, “Full-time campaigning and, of course, fulfilling my important work in the Iowa legislature.”
She further emphasized her commitment, stating, “You know me, I have a pretty strong work ethic at the capitol, early, very late, providing for my constituents. That will never stop. That’s just who I am and how I’m wired.”
Despite these assurances, James, who first joined the Iowa House in 2019, has missed several significant votes.
For instance, on April 20, instead of voting on a bill concerning screen time limits for students in schools, she reportedly held a campaign event in Cedar Rapids, a location approximately two hours away from Des Moines.
Just ten days later, on April 30, James was absent for a vote on making animal torture a felony, as she was attending a meet-and-greet event at a brewery in Decorah, Iowa.
In another instance, she missed a vote on a proposal to lower property taxes to attend a candidate activity in Dubuque, a city located three hours away from the state capitol.
James recently secured a Democratic primary victory earlier this month and is currently campaigning to win the seat held by Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa.
Rep. Hinson, who has represented the district since 2021, announced that she will not seek reelection, opting instead to run for a Senate seat to succeed the retiring Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa.
