Iowa's Lindsay James Misses 177 House Votes While Running for Congress

Q: Did a candidate's absence on key votes actually change the outcome of new Iowa laws?

No evidence in the available record shows that Lindsay James’ absences changed the outcome of any new Iowa law. The measures cited in connection with her missed votes all appear to have passed despite her absence. The animal-cruelty bill making intentional torture a first-offense felony was enacted with bipartisan support. The property-tax package was approved by wide margins in the Legislature, including a 41-4 Senate vote on a key version, making a single absence non-decisive. The student screen-time provision was folded into a broader health bill that also passed. More broadly, the vote counts available from the 2026 session point the same way. Several major bills passed by comfortable margins, such as the health measure in the Senate, 30-15, and other budget and policy bills with similarly lopsided totals. In those cases, one lawmaker’s presence would not have altered the result. There were some closer votes during the session, including at least one failed amendment that lost 41-48, but the material provided does not show that James’ absence was tied to a result that would have flipped had she voted. So the criticism centers on attendance and missed participation on notable legislation, not on proof that her absence changed what became law. Based on the information available, the practical effect was political and symbolic rather than outcome-determinative.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 29

Legislative records show Lindsay James missed 177 of 342 Iowa House votes in 2026, an absence rate of 51.7% as she campaigns for Congress.
Those missed votes undercut James' earlier pledge that full-time campaigning would not distract from her legislative work, and Republicans have seized on the gap.
Several absences coincided with campaign events, including missed votes on student screen-time limits, making animal torture a felony, and lowering property taxes.
James' campaign defended her record on issues including insulin costs and cast Republican rival Joe Mitchell as aligned with Washington, while James recently won the Democratic primary for Iowa's 2nd District.
The race opened after Rep. Ashley Hinson decided not to seek reelection and instead run for the Senate seat being vacated by Joni Ernst.