An Iowa Democratic congressional candidate has expressed regret for her whiteness on her past campaign website, acknowledging her “great benefits from privilege.”
In 2020, Lindsay James, a current candidate for Congress, included a segment titled “Confessions” on her campaign website where she confronted her racial identity and the concept of privilege, as reported by the Daily Caller. “I am a white, cisgender, able-bodied, middle-class, college-educated woman,” the archive of her Iowa State House campaign site stated.
James’s “confession” elaborated:
While I have worked hard to achieve my goals, I also recognize the substantial privilege that has aided me. My journey of self-reflection regarding my privilege hasn’t been flawless, yet I am dedicated to engaging in honest self-examination, welcoming constructive criticism, and striving to better myself while using my privilege to help others.
–Lindsay James
Her website further highlighted experiences of discrimination against LGBTQ individuals in various sectors such as healthcare, education, housing, and employment.
According to the Iowa State Capital Dispatch, it was recently announced that James will compete against former Republican state Representative Joe Mitchell in the general election for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, which encompasses areas like Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Dubuque, and Mason City. This district has been Republican-held since 2021 and is currently represented by U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, who is not running for re-election.
In January, President Donald Trump expressed support for Mitchell, stating, “He will never let you down!”
On Thursday, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) released a social media statement referring to James’s past apology regarding her whiteness.
“Out of all the issues Democratic Sen. Lindsey James could address for Iowa families, she focused on ‘whiteness’… not a far-left identity agenda, not policies that create divisions among Americans along racial lines,” the committee commented.
In a recent statement, Mitchell characterized James not just as a Democrat but as “far left.” He criticized using taxpayer funds for certain healthcare expenses related to prisoners, asserting that such views disqualify one from involvement in health care, education, taxation, or politics.
