UPDATE: Candidates Differ Over Proposed Debates in Iowa's 2nd Congressional District Race

Every story starts with someone paying attention. Help us keep telling Decorah's stories. HAWKEYE, Iowa — Independent congressional candidate Dave Bushaw said Monday that he supports a proposal for multiple debates among the four candidates running for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District and that he has discussed the idea with Republican candidate Joe Mitchell and Libertarian candidate Rick Stewart. Bushaw said the three candidates support holding debates before early voting begins and including all four candidates who have qualified for the November ballot. Democratic candidate Lindsay James is the fourth candidate in the race. The proposal was outlined in a Monday press advisory from Bushaw's campaign. Bushaw said he is supporting debate proposals previously put forward by Mitchell. "Iowa voters deserve debates before they cast their ballots, and every candidate who qualifies for the ballot deserves a place on the debate stage," Bushaw said in the advisory. Bushaw also said he and Mitchell may disagree on policy but that candidates should have an opportunity to present and defend their positions before voters. The campaigns' positions on the proposed debates are not yet fully known. Bushaw said his campaign has attempted to contact James' campaign about the matter but has not received a response. His campaign did not provide correspondence documenting those attempts. James' campaign had not publicly stated in the material provided whether she supports the proposed debates, whether she would participate in a four-candidate forum or what format and schedule she would prefer. The 2nd District race is one of four congressional contests on Iowa's Nov. 3 general election ballot. The seat is currently held by Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, who is seeking the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate rather than reelection to the House. James, a Democrat, Mitchell, a Republican, Bushaw, an independent, and Stewart, a Libertarian, are running in the general election. James won the Democratic nomination in the June primary over Clint Twedt-Ball and Kathy Dolter. Mitchell won the Republican nomination over state Sen. Charlie McClintock. Bushaw entered the congressional race as an independent and said he later collected enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot. His campaign describes him as "a lifelong Iowan from West Union, a farmland owner, musician and community organizer". Stewart's ballot status was also challenged before the Iowa State Objection Panel in June. The panel rejected an objection concerning the name "Rick Stewart" on campaign paperwork. Bushaw said he has met with Mitchell and Stewart multiple times and that the three candidates agree that debates should include all four candidates. "I know Lindsay's campaign has received our requests for a meeting," Bushaw said. "They have my personal phone number and email address." The question of debate participation comes as the candidates begin campaigning for the November general election. James previously participated in a Democratic primary forum with Twedt-Ball and Dolter before the June primary. The proposed general-election debates would differ from that forum by including candidates from multiple parties as well as Bushaw, who is running without a major-party nomination. Bushaw has made his independent candidacy and access to voters outside the two major parties part of his campaign message. His campaign says he is running to represent rural and working people in the district. The candidates have not announced a mutually agreed schedule, location or format for the proposed debates in the information released by Bushaw's campaign. Bushaw said he hopes James will agree to participate. "The ball is in your court, Lindsay James," Bushaw said. "This is a 4-person race." The general election is Nov. 3. Voters can find registration and election information through the Iowa Secretary of State's office. UPDATE: Candidate Lindsay James announced Wednesday that she has agreed to participate in two televised general election debates in the Iowa Second Congressional District race. "I've spent the past year showing up and hearing from the Iowa families making impossible choices due to Washington's corruption and rising costs," said James said. "Through public town halls, meet and greets, small business visits, farm tours, labor meetings, and more, I've heard that Iowans need a leader who will fight to lower their cost of living and take on the corrupt politicians. I look forward to making the contrast in this race clear on the debate stage: Joe Mitchell works for himself and the insiders, I work for Iowans." The James campaign has committed to two televised general election debates to discuss the pressing issues facing IA-02: • Iowa's News Now • Iowa PBS Start your day with what's happening locally. Sign up for our free newsletter.