Recap: End Citizens United and Lindsay James Expose Joe Mitchell’s Corruption Hurting Iowans

Clear Lake & Waterloo, IA — End Citizens United and Lindsay James held two press conferences today to shed light on how Joe Mitchell’s corruption, from housing to health care, is hurting Iowans.

At the first event, speaking in front of Joe Mitchell’s housing development site in Clear Lake, James and ECU President Tiffany Muller exposed the self-dealing behind it. Mitchell’s real estate businesses have raked in over $2.5 million from tax credits that he voted to support while in the Iowa Legislature. Meanwhile, he opposed the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, a similar program his businesses don’t profit from.

Volunteers and End Citizens United President Tiffany Muller stand behind Lindsay James as she speaks at a podium outdoors

Clear Lake, IA

Later in the day, Muller and James spoke at a press conference in Waterloo that focused on how Mitchell voted against capping insulin prices in the Iowa Legislature, then took corporate PAC checks from Big Pharma. They were joined by Janay Carson, who spoke about her experiences seeking care for diabetes and helping others navigate treatment as a community leader. Soaring health care costs are hurting Iowans, particularly in rural areas, and Mitchell’s vote made it worse.

Waterloo, IA

“Joe Mitchell is a sellout who pretends to care about working families while his record tells a different story,” said End Citizens United President Tiffany Muller. “He voted to line his own pockets with housing tax credits. He voted against capping insulin prices, then cashed Big Pharma’s checks. Every time, he chose himself over Iowa families. He would do the exact same thing in Washington. Iowans deserve better, and they have a chance to elect Lindsay James, who’s running to end that kind of corruption and make sure working families have a voice in government.”

“All across Iowa’s Second Congressional District, people are tired of sending millionaires to Washington to enrich themselves,” said IA-02 Candidate Lindsay James. “As I crisscross this district, I hear about families who are making impossible choices to make ends meet. We must do better. When I’m in Congress, I will fight to lower the cost of housing, healthcare, groceries, gas, and utility bills. I’m proud to be endorsed by End Citizens United, and together we’re going to fight to rid our system of corruption and ensure that Iowans can build the life that they deserve.”

While Mitchell is an out-of-touch former lobbyist and businessman who exploits every loophole he can, Lindsay James has built a career on integrity and service. As a chaplain and state representative, she earned the trust of her community, and she continues to hold herself to high ethical standards by joining ECU’s Unrig Washington program, committing to reject corporate PAC money, support a ban on congressional stock trading, and back reforms to get dark money out of elections.

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For 11 years, End Citizens United (ECU) has been dedicated to combating the two biggest challenges facing our democracy: the corrosive impact of Big Money in politics and attempts to block access to the ballot box. Since its founding in 2015, ECU has had over 1.4 million donors with an average donation of just $14. The group has more than four million members nationwide and is one of the nation’s leading anti-corruption organizations.