"This is About All of Us": 2nd Congressional District Candidate Lindsay James Visits Decorah for Campaign Event

Without your donation, some stories vanish. Support Decorah News. DECORAH — About 120 people attended Thursday evening at Pulpit Rock Brewing Company in Decorah for a campaign event featuring Democratic congressional candidate Lindsay James, where supporters and organizers focused on grassroots organizing, healthcare, and issues shaping the upcoming election. The event, hosted by local supporters, combined informal conversation with speeches and a question-and-answer session. Attendees were invited to share their reasons for attending and engage directly with the candidate. Ann Mansfield, one of the event's organizers, welcomed guests and said she had been reflecting on the kind of future she wants for her children and grandchildren. She said she was motivated to help host the event after learning more about James' campaign. "This is the kind of leader that I want to see in Congress," Mansfield said, citing James' focus on healthcare, education, and family support. Speakers throughout the evening described the race as consequential, pointing to concerns including healthcare access, education, immigration, and economic pressures on working families. Kayla Koether, who introduced James, described her as a collaborative and engaged legislator with experience in grassroots organizing. Koether referenced James' involvement in past campaigns and volunteer efforts. "We don't have time to waste," Koether said. "We need to get off the sidelines and step up." James, a state legislator, Presbyterian minister, and mother of two teenagers, focused her remarks on economic challenges facing Iowans and her campaign in Iowa's 2nd Congressional District. She said she has heard from residents across the district who are making difficult financial decisions related to housing, food, and medical care. "People across the state are making impossible choices because of their financial realities," James said. "And they're doing that in the wealthiest country in the world." She identified healthcare as a central issue in her campaign, expressing concern about policies she said could affect coverage for some Iowans. She also called for lowering the Medicare eligibility age and expanding access to care. James also referenced her time in the Iowa Legislature, recalling a previous floor speech in which she challenged a company over healthcare coverage decisions affecting a constituent. She said the company later changed its position following the discussion. "It should not take a legislator to call out a large corporation when they should have been doing the job we paid them to do," she said. Throughout the evening, James emphasized the importance of grassroots engagement, noting her experience door-knocking and speaking directly with voters. During a question-and-answer session, attendees raised topics including healthcare policy, artificial intelligence regulation, reproductive rights, immigration reform, and national party support. On healthcare, James reiterated support for expanding access and reducing costs. On artificial intelligence and data centers, she said she supports establishing a national regulatory framework. On reproductive rights, she called for restoring protections she said have been reduced in recent years. On immigration, she said federal reform is needed and criticized ongoing gridlock at the national level. In a brief interview after the event, James also addressed water quality concerns in northeast Iowa, citing nitrate levels, private wells, and agricultural runoff. She said monitoring and conservation efforts should be expanded. "I believe that healthy water and healthy air are rights for all of us," she said. Organizers concluded the event by encouraging attendees to volunteer and support the campaign financially, emphasizing the role of local engagement in a competitive race. "This is not about just me running in a race. This is about all of us," James said. "Not only are we going to flip Iowa's congressional district, I think we are going to be in a moment in the life of our country where we are going to have some incredibly consequential votes." To learn more about James' campaign, visit www.lindsayforiowa.com. Stay connected and informed! Join the free newsletter for curated news, trending topics, and insider perspectives you won't find anywhere else.