Iowa Dem who touted 'strong work ethic' misses more than half of her House votes

In 2026, James missed 177 of 342 votes, according to the legislature's records, accounting for 51.7% of the whole.

The absences clash with assurances James made about how her campaign might impact her legislative duties and has opened her up to Republican-led criticisms that she has prioritized her potential role instead of the one she has now.

"James chose her own political ambitions over showing up for work, proving that when given the choice between serving constituents and serving herself, she puts herself first," Tuttle continued.

James' campaign said that she has a track record of representing constituents well.

"Lindsay has always fought for Iowa families, taking on corporate greed and predatory landlords and writing the bill to cap the cost of insulin," Jackson Smith, a spokesperson for the campaign, said in a statement to Fox. 

"While Lindsay listens to and works for the Iowans making impossible economic choices caused by Joe Mitchell and his Washington allies, Mitchell has been using his campaign cash to party with Washington insiders and will be a rubber stamp for the policies raising Iowa families' costs," Smith said, referring to Joe Mitchell, a former state representative and a Republican candidate for the seat.

"Full-time campaigning and, of course, fulfilling my important work in the Iowa legislature," James said when asked whether she would also continue working as a minister.

"You know me, I have a pretty strong work ethic at the capitol, early, very late, providing for my constituents. That will never stop. That's just who I am and how I'm wired," James said.

Even so, James, who first joined the Iowa House in 2019, has missed several key votes in the chamber.

Just ten days later, James also missed a vote on whether to make animal torture a felony on April 30 to host a meet-and-greet at a brewery in Decorah, Iowa.