Iowa 2nd District

Toss Up Cook Political Report, as of October 16, 2026

Incumbent: Open (Ashley Hinson) (R). Data pulled from the FEC on October 20, 2026.

Campaigns through 2026-09-30Outside money through 2026-10-18Source: FEC

outside money is 1.8×
what the campaigns raised

The short version

Lindsay James has raised $3.5M to Joe Mitchell's $2.7M (1.3x), through September 30, 2026.
Outside groups have reported $11.0M in general election spending: $6.9M helping the Democrat and $4.1M helping the Republican.
Largest outside spender: No Going Back PAC Inc., $3.5M opposing Lindsay James.

Campaign money
Outside spending
Where it came from
Top PAC donors

Campaign money

D Democrat

Lindsay James

Raised: $3.5M
Spent: $2.8M
Cash on hand: $676K
From PACs: $432K
From individuals: $3.1M
Self funding: $120
Outside money for (general): $6.9M

Campaign totals through September 30, 2026.

R Republican

Joe Mitchell

Raised: $2.7M
Spent: $1.8M
Cash on hand: $869K
From PACs: $527K
From individuals: $2.0M
Self funding: $100K
Outside money for (general): $4.1M

Campaign totals through September 30, 2026.

Outside spending

$11.0MGeneral election independent expenditures in this raceFEC 24 and 48 hour notices, through October 18, 2026

$6.9MSpent to help Lindsay James in the general (supporting them or opposing their opponent)

$4.1MSpent to help Joe Mitchell in the general (supporting them or opposing their opponent)

Not included above: $64K in outside spending that filers reported for the primary, a runoff, or no specific election, involving these two nominees.

Biggest outside spenders, general election

Spender	Position	Amount	FEC ID
No Going Back PAC Inc.	Oppose Lindsay James	$3.5M	C00960435
HMP	Oppose Joe Mitchell	$2.3M	C00495028
Your Community PAC	Oppose Joe Mitchell	$1.7M	C00886614
AB PAC	Oppose Joe Mitchell	$958K	C00492140
Project 218	Support Lindsay James	$723K	C00871368
No Going Back PAC Inc.	Support Joe Mitchell	$388K	C00960435
Cffe PAC	Support Lindsay James	$280K	C00744920
HMP	Support Lindsay James	$206K	C00495028
America PAC	Oppose Lindsay James	$205K	C00879510
American Federation of State County & Municipal Employees P E O P L E	Oppose Joe Mitchell	$142K	C00011114
End Citizens United	Oppose Joe Mitchell	$113K	C00573261
Elect Democratic Women	Oppose Joe Mitchell	$109K	C00685297
Progressive Turnout Project	Support Lindsay James	$94K	C00580068
Women Vote	Support Lindsay James	$70K	C00473918
Fight for Working People	Support Lindsay James	$68K	C00960245

Where the outside money came from

For the biggest spenders, the money is followed upstream while a single donor supplied at least half of it. From FEC receipts.

Project 218 ← $5.9M from Democracy Matters (50% of its reported receipts) No donor disclosure
Cffe PAC ← $2.0M from Pivotal Ventures (55% of its reported receipts) No donor disclosure
America PAC ← $82.8M from Elon Musk (59% of its reported receipts)

The Gap

These totals come from the 24 and 48 hour notices outside groups must file before ads run. They are the disclosed floor. Spending by groups that do not file independent expenditure notices, such as issue ads paid for by 501(c)(4) groups, does not appear here.

Top PAC donors to each campaign

D Lindsay James

PAC	Given	Checks
International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers Political Action League	$10K	2
Emilys List	$10K	3
Machinists Non Partisan Political League of the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers	$10K	2
American Federation of State County & Municipal Employees P E O P L E	$10K	2
UAW - V - Cap (UAW Voluntary Community Action Program) 'Int'l Union United Automobile Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America UAW	$10K	2
Defend the Vote	$10K	2
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Political Action Committee	$10K	2
Carpenters Legislative Improvement Committee United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners	$10K	2
Elect Democratic Women	$6K	2
New Democrat Coalition Action Fund	$5K	1

Itemized PAC contributions processed by the FEC through June 30, 2026. 41 PACs in total.

R Joe Mitchell

PAC	Given	Checks
The Eye of the Tiger PAC	$10K	2
National Electrical Contractors Association PAC	$10K	2
Build PAC of the National Association of Home Builders (Buildpac)	$10K	2
American Revival PAC	$10K	2
Senate Conservatives Fund	$10K	2
Buckeye Liberty PAC	$10K	2
Conservative Opportunity Leadership and Enterprise PAC	$10K	2
Anti-Woke Fund	$10K	2
Restoring Our Nation PAC (Ron PAC)	$10K	2
On Wisconsin PAC, Inc.	$10K	2

Itemized PAC contributions processed by the FEC through June 30, 2026. 105 PACs in total.

Next raceArizona 6th District →

Primary Sources

FEC candidate page, Lindsay James: fec.gov/data/candidate/H6IA02211
FEC committee filings, Lindsay James principal campaign committee: C00916452
FEC candidate page, Joe Mitchell: fec.gov/data/candidate/H6IA02237
FEC committee filings, Joe Mitchell principal campaign committee: C00918979
FEC independent expenditures, 2026 cycle: fec.gov independent expenditures
Race rating: Cook Political Report, October 16, 2026
Nominees: www.iowapublicradio.org