Lindsay James, a Democratic state legislator and congressional candidate in Iowa, missed more than half of her votes in the state's House of Representatives this year while running for federal office, according to legislative records.
James is competing to fill the seat currently held by Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, who announced she will not seek reelection as she pursues a Senate bid. James won the Democratic primary earlier this month.
What the Right Is Saying
Republicans have seized on the attendance record as evidence that James has prioritized her political ambitions over her current duties.
"Lindsay James promised Iowans that campaigning wouldn't distract her from the job she was elected to do. That didn't last long," said Emily Tuttle, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee. "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 pointed to specific instances where James missed key legislative votes while attending campaign events in Cedar Rapids, Decorah, and Dubuque.
What the Left Is Saying
James's campaign defended her record and argued she has been an effective representative despite the absences.
"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 spokesperson for James's campaign, said in a statement. "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," Smith added, referring to her Republican opponent.
The campaign did not directly address the specific vote count but emphasized James's legislative accomplishments during her tenure in the House.
What the Numbers Show
According to Iowa Legislature records, James missed 177 of 342 total votes in the state House during 2026, accounting for 51.7% of all roll call votes.
In three documented instances, James skipped chamber business to attend campaign activities: a vote on limiting student screen time while holding an event in Cedar Rapids on April 20; a vote on making animal torture a felony while hosting a meet-and-greet in Decorah on April 30; and consideration of property tax reductions for a candidate event in Dubuque.
James has served in the Iowa House since first elected in 2019. She currently faces Republican Joe Mitchell, a former state representative, in the race for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District.
The Bottom Line
The attendance record is likely to feature prominently in the general election campaign as both parties seek to define James's candidacy. Her campaign has already sought to counter by highlighting policy contrasts with her opponent and emphasizing legislative accomplishments. Whether voters weigh missed votes more heavily than policy positions remains to be seen, but the data provides a concrete metric for opponents to highlight through November.