2026 general election
Iowa 2nd District
The candidate who raised the most money won. · Incumbent retired to run for U. S. Senate. Democratic gain.
$32M was spent on the 2026 Iowa 2nd District race: $6.9M raised by the campaigns, $1.1M of it from PACs, plus $25M from outside groups (FEC filings through Oct 14, 2026). Lindsay James (Democrat) won and was the top fundraiser.
Total money
$32M
Raised by campaigns
$6.9M
PAC checks
$1.1M
Outside money
$25M
Candidates
Raised by the campaign Outside money supportingOutside money attacking Democrat Republican Other
Lindsay JamesDemocrat
✓ Won- Raised
- $3.9M
- Spent
- $3.7M
- From individuals
- $3.4M
- From PACs
- $477K
- From party
- $18K
- Own money & loans
- $120
- Outside money for
- $8.9M
- Outside money against
- $7.9M
Who paid: 12% of James's money came from PACs
Trade group $5K (2%)Leadership PAC $58K (19%)Membership $26K (8%)Union $119K (39%)Super PAC $49K (16%)Party $3K (1%)Other $44K (14%)
- Swing Left Super PAC$12K
- Zinc Collective PAC Super PAC$11K
- Women Vote Other$10K
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union$10K
- International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Union$10K
- Defend the Vote Leadership Fund Super PAC$10K
- American Association for Justice (Aaj) Membership$10K
- United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Union$10K
Biggest outside spenders
- Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund (Everytown Victory Fund) · $5.4M supporting
- No Going Back PAC Inc. · $4.0M attacking
- Congressional Leadership Fund · $3.5M attacking
- Project 218 · $1.6M supporting
- Cffe PAC · $719K supporting
Joe MitchellRepublican
✗ Lost- Raised
- $2.9M
- Spent
- $2.4M
- From individuals
- $2.1M
- From PACs
- $573K
- From party
- $7K
- Own money & loans
- $100K
- Outside money for
- $696K
- Outside money against
- $7.6M
Who paid: 20% of Mitchell's money came from PACs
Corporate $3K (1%)Trade group $61K (15%)Leadership PAC $228K (57%)Membership $14K (3%)Super PAC $34K (8%)Party $5K (1%)Other $52K (13%)
- Emmer Victory Committee Leadership PAC$10K
- Buckeye Victory Fund Leadership PAC$10K
- National Electrical Contractors Association Trade group$10K
- American Revival PAC Other$10K
- Rvfpac Leadership PAC$10K
- Anti-Woke Fund Super PAC$10K
- National Association of Home Builders Trade group$10K
- Scalise Leadership Fund Leadership PAC$10K
Biggest outside spenders
- House Majority PAC · $3.3M attacking
- Your Community PAC · $2.1M attacking
- Ab PAC · $993K attacking
- No Going Back PAC Inc. · $541K supporting
- Elect Democratic Women · $299K attacking
Dave BushawIndependent / other
✗ Lost- Raised
- $38K
- Spent
- $27K
- From individuals
- $30K
- From PACs
- $5K
- From party
- $0
- Own money & loans
- $2K
- Outside money for
- $0
- Outside money against
- $0
Who paid: 13% of Bushaw's money came from PACs
Super PAC $5K (100%)
- Forward Party - Restricted Super PAC$5K
Rick StewartLibertarian
✗ LostThe FEC's 2026 summary file has no campaign finance record for this candidate.
Biggest outside spenders
- Our Heritage Matters · $148K supporting
Questions people ask
- How much money was spent on the 2026 Iowa 2nd District race?
- $32M was spent on the 2026 Iowa 2nd District race: $6.9M raised by the campaigns, $1.1M of it from PACs, plus $25M from outside groups (FEC filings through Oct 14, 2026). Lindsay James (Democrat) won and was the top fundraiser.
- Who raised the most money in the 2026 Iowa 2nd District race?
- Lindsay James (Democrat) raised $3.9M and had $8.9M in outside spending on their side.
- Which outside groups spent the most on the 2026 Iowa 2nd District race?
- Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund (Everytown Victory Fund) ($5.4M), No Going Back PAC Inc. ($4.5M), Congressional Leadership Fund ($3.5M).
- Which PACs gave the most to candidates in the 2026 Iowa 2nd District race?
- Swing Left gave $12K to Lindsay James; Zinc Collective PAC gave $11K to Lindsay James; Emilys List gave $10K to Lindsay James.