Iowa Dem Candidate Apologized for Being White Woman in 2020
Iowa congressional candidate Lindsay James apologized for being white and acknowledged benefiting from privilege on her 2020 campaign website, prompting Republican criticism.
Lindsay James, who secured the Democratic nomination for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, featured a section titled “A Confession” on her 2020 state legislature campaign website in which she addressed her skin color and claimed privilege, as Breitbart News reports. The archived page described her as a white, cis-gender, able-bodied, middle class, college educated woman.
In the extraordinary statement, James wrote that while she had worked hard to reach her current position, she had also benefited greatly from privilege. She committed to ongoing self-examination regarding her privilege, promised to consider critical feedback, and pledged to use her privilege to advocate for others. The statement was signed “Rep. Lindsay James (she/her)”.
The same campaign website also alleged widespread discrimination against LGBTQ individuals across healthcare, education, housing, and employment sectors.
James will face Republican former state Representative Joe Mitchell in November’s general election for the 2nd District, which encompasses Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Dubuque, and Mason City. The seat has been held by Republicans since 2021 and is currently occupied by Representative Ashley Hinson, who is vacating the position to pursue a U.S. Senate bid.
President Donald Trump endorsed Mitchell in January, declaring that the Republican candidate would never let voters down.
The National Republican Congressional Committee spotlighted James’ racial apology in a social media post Thursday, criticizing her choice to apologize for being white rather than for her far-left identity politics, the woke DEI agenda, or policies that divide Americans by race.
Mitchell has characterized James as not merely a Democrat but as far left, questioning her fitness for political office based on her policy positions. He specifically criticized her stance on using taxpayer funds for sex change procedures for prisoners, arguing that anyone supporting such policies should not be involved in healthcare, education, tax policy, or politics generally.
The contest for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District is shaping up as a clear ideological battle between conservative values and progressive activism, with James’ past statements on race and privilege becoming a central campaign issue.
With information from Breitbart News
