| The nonpartisan Cook Political Report shifted Iowaâs 2nd District in Democratsâ direction to âLean Republicanâ â the latest sign that this open seat is ready to flip.
In part, Cook writes:Â
- âŚDemocrats, eager to win the competitive gubernatorial and Senate races in the state, are highly motivated to carry this now-open seat in northeast Iowa.
- The Republican nominee, Joe Mitchell, is a 29-year-old lobbyist and former state representative, and Democrats hope to paint him as an out-of-touch political insider (theyâre already pointing to his lavish spending at Mar-a-Lago). [âŚ] Jamesâ pastoral background could give her an opening with some conservativesâŚ
- Thanks to the competitive races at the top of the ticket, Democratic enthusiasm is high across the state, and outside Democratic groups have invested in significant ad reservations across the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Districts.
And there is âprecedentâ for Democrats to win this Northeast Iowa territory: Rob Sand won the district in his 2022 campaign, and heâs now running at the top of the ticket.
DCCC Spokesperson Katie Smith:
âNonpartisan race rater Cook Political said it best: Joe Mitchell is a âlobbyistâ whose background as an âout-of-touch political insiderâ makes him a uniquely toxic candidate â he doesnât get what regular Northeast Iowans are going through because he cares only about his own political career. Iowans are ready for new leaders who stand up to corrupt politicians, and thatâs why weâll flip this seat.â |
