REAL DUBUQUE NEWS (RDN)
Lindsay James wins Iowa's 2nd District: AP calls the open-seat race
LOCAL NEWS WIRE • November 03, 2026
James leads Mitchell 171,484 to 157,722 in the Secretary of State's 11:18 p.m. district figures (22 of 22 counties). The AP called the race at about 11:25 p.m.; the SOS figures agree. All figures unofficial.
KEY FACTS & RECORD HIGHLIGHTS
- U.S. House District 2 (SOS, 11:18 PM): Lindsay James (D) 171,484 (49.50%); Joe Mitchell (R) 157,722 (45.53%); Rick Stewart (L) 9,500 (2.74%); Dave Bushaw (NP) 7,469 (2.16%); write-in 226. James leads by 13,762. Vote cast 346,401. Unofficial.
- 22 of 22 counties reporting. SOS district view shows no per-race precinct share.
- AP called the race ~11:25 PM CT (via KCRG, Winner badge on James): AP count James 171,512 (49.5%) vs Mitchell 157,722 (45.6%) vs Stewart 9,500 (2.7%) vs Bushaw 7,469 (2.2%), est. 98% of vote in. The SOS figures agree with the call.
- Dubuque County FINAL (34 of 34 precincts): James 22,307 vs Mitchell 19,450 vs Stewart 1,004 vs Bushaw 534.
- Open seat; Cook Political Report Toss Up. Results are unofficial until the county and state canvasses certify them.
REAL DUBUQUE NEWS (RDN)
DES MOINES: The Associated Press has called the U.S. House District 2 race for Lindsay James. In the Iowa Secretary of State's district figures, last updated at 11:18 p.m., James leads Joe Mitchell by 13,762 votes, 171,484 to 157,722, about 49.5 percent to 45.5 percent, with Rick Stewart at 9,500 votes and Dave Bushaw at 7,469. All 22 of the district's counties are reporting.
The AP's own count at about 11:25 p.m. showed James at 171,512 votes (49.5 percent) and Mitchell at 157,722 (45.6 percent), with about 98 percent of the estimated vote in. The Secretary of State figures agree with the AP call.
In Dubuque County, where all 34 precincts have reported, James leads Mitchell 22,307 to 19,450, with Stewart at 1,004 and Bushaw at 534.
The seat is open; the Cook Political Report rated it a toss up. This is a call, not a certification; results are unofficial until the county and state canvasses. That call completes RDN's watched-race list; the election night wrap follows with every race, every margin.
Official Attribution: Iowa Secretary of State election results, electionresults.iowa.gov (district view, last updated 11:17:59 p.m. CT Nov 3) • KCRG election results widget, AP-fed (~11:25 p.m. CT; AP Winner badge on Lindsay James) • Iowa Secretary of State, Dubuque County page (34 of 34 precincts, final since 9:17 PM CT)