(C) Iowa Capital Dispatch
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Democrat Kathy Dolter launches bid for 2nd Congressional District; Rep. Lindsay James mulls a run • Iowa Capital Dispatch [1]
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Date: 2025-07-15
Democratic hopefuls are launching — or moving toward — bids to compete for the party’s nomination in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District for the 2026 election.
State Rep. Lindsay James, D-Dubuque, said Tuesday she is considering a run for the 2nd District. The 44-year-old Presbyterian pastor, currently serving her 4th term in the Iowa House, said she is discussing with her family whether to run and speaking with people in the northeast Iowa district.
As James considers a bid for the seat, another Democrat, Kathy Dolter, has entered the race. Dolter, former dean of nursing at Kirkwood Community College and a retired Army nurse, said in an interview Tuesday that she was motivated to run because of the cuts to public health made through the federal budget reconciliation bill and by the Trump administration.
Having worked in education and the health care profession, Dolter said she wants to bring her experience as a health care professional and educator to Congress and be a part of the Democratic effort to flip Congress and stop or reverse these changes.
She said she believes she would be the best choice for Iowans as someone who has significant accomplishments outside of politics — like founding the nursing program at the University of Dubuque and graduate nursing program at Mount Mercy University, as well as working with the Army Surgeon General and Department of Defense to implement a new health program and guidelines for people serving in the military.
“I bring a lot of experience and a lot of can-do, and a lot of actual accomplishments,” Dolter said. “… I’m not a politician, but I would work hard. I’m a hard worker, and would want to get things done to to help Iowans.”
Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann called Dolter a “radical far-left political activist with Soros-ties” in a Tuesday statement, saying she was “no match” for Republican incumbent Rep. Ashley Hinson in the 2026 election.
“We are confident that once Iowans get to know her, they will reject her just like Kevin Techau – that is if she doesn’t drop out first,” Kaufmann said. “Welcome to the big leagues, Kathy!”
Kevin Techau, former Iowa commissioner of public safety, had also launched a run to become the Democratic nominee for the congressional seat in April, but suspended his campaign in June because of funding shortfalls.
Dolter said in response to Kaufmann’s statement she does not believe “name-calling” is appropriate.
“I am an American who served her country in many ways and has taken care of patients and taken care of students and taken care of Iowans,” Dolter said. “So, no. I’ll put my record up against his any day.”
Hinson had been widely expected to run for reelection, but her name has recently been mentioned in Iowa and nationally as a potential candidate for U.S. Senate. Incumbent Republican Joni Ernst has not formally announced a reelection campaign, leading to speculation that she might not seek a third term.
While the 2nd District is considered by political forecasters as less competitive than Iowa’s 1st and 3rd Districts, the area was recently represented by former U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer, a Democrat who won in 2018 and lost to Hinson in the 2020 election. Hinson won reelection in the 2022 and 2024 against Democratic challengers.
James argues Iowans are ‘exhausted’ by GOP agenda
James argued the district will be competitive in the upcoming 2026 election, saying people in the district are “exhausted” by the choices made by leaders in Congress.
“I have been traveling across the district hearing from folks across the district, and the system is not working for the majority of Iowans,” James said. “We need a change of leadership. I would argue that this district is highly competitive, because … (voters) want people who will go fight for them, who will make sure that they can afford a house and, send their young children to child care, make sure that they have food on the table and a safe working place — there’s so many important issues. For the majority of Iowans, those needs are not being met.”
If she pursues a run for Congress, James said, she would focus on a platform that tackles the “economic realities” Iowans are currently facing, like low wages, high costs of housing and child care, and decreased funding for public education. James said Hinson is not talking about these issues in Congress, and that measures supported by the Iowa Republican — like the “big beautiful bill” that included cuts to Medicaid and other public assistance programs — will hurt Iowans, especially in rural areas.
“People are very clear that Hinson has stopped listening to Iowans,” James said. “They have felt left behind when it comes to the policies that she’s passing.”
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[1] Url:
https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/07/15/democrat-kathy-dolter-launches-bid-for-2nd-congressional-district-rep-lindsay-james-mulls-a-run/
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