Iowa 2nd District GOP candidate Joe Mitchell part of 'MAGA Majority'
National Republicans are adding 2nd District candidate Joe Mitchell to their national "MAGA Majority" program in a show of support as the GOP seeks to hold the seat being vacated by Ashley Hinson.
President Donald Trump endorsed Mitchell in January, and the former state representative and Trump administration official has a large fundraising lead in the Republican primary, where he faces state Sen. Charlie McClintock, R-Alburnett.
MAGA Majority is the new name for the National Republican Congressional Committee's longstanding Young Guns program, which provides resources and support to candidates around the country.
"Joe Mitchell is a fighter who will deliver at every opportunity for Iowans. By working hand in hand with President Trump, he’ll help make Iowa more safe and more prosperous for working families," National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Emily Tuttle said in a statement.
The effort is focused on "America First" candidates who "embody the Trump agenda: securing the border, lowering costs, restoring energy dominance and putting American workers first," according to a news release.
Mitchell, of Clear Lake, served two terms in the Iowa House from 2019 to 2023 representing portions of southeast Iowa. He later founded Run Gen Z, a group that aims to elect young conservatives to office.
And Mitchell worked for the Trump administration as chief of staff at the Federal Housing Finance Agency as well as serving briefly as a regional administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The 2nd Congressional District covers 22 counties in northeast Iowa, including the cities of Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Waterloo and Mason City.
The seat is vacant with U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson's decision to run for U.S. Senate to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst.
If he wins the the June 2 primary, Mitchell will face one of three Democrats running for their party's nomination in the 2nd District: state Rep. Lindsay James, D-Dubuque; former Cedar Rapids nonprofit leader Clint Twedt-Ball; and former Kirkwood Community College Dean of Nursing Kathy Dolter.
Community organizer Dave Bushaw is running as an independent.
Katie Smith, a spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, criticized Mitchell in a statement.
"Joe Mitchell is a Des Moines lobbyist, connected political insider, career politician and carpetbagger who just doesn’t get Northeast Iowa," Smith said. "Mitchell is more focused on his next political promotion and schmoozing with Washington politicians than doing anything to lower costs for Iowa families, who will see Mitchell is just out for himself."