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Issue record

Energy and utility costs

In short

Mitchell's campaign backs every energy source to lower costs; James's backs fast-tracking new energy and holding utilities responsible for price gouging. Stewart's campaign backs a carbon tax refunded to everyone; Bushaw's backs letting states and towns regulate data centers. On the record, Mitchell voted for laws crediting self-made power like solar and requiring E-15 sales; neither tests other sources he names. James voted for a 2026 nuclear tax cut law that sets no utility rates.

Campaign positions

What each campaign says.

Joe Mitchell

He wants every source used, from oil, gas, coal and nuclear to hydro, solar and wind, to lower costs and reach energy independence.

Lindsay James

She wants new energy sources fast-tracked to bring utility costs down, and big utilities held responsible for price gouging.

Rick Stewart

He wants a universal carbon tax, with the money paid back to every person in participating countries.

Dave Bushaw

He wants states and towns to keep the power to regulate data centers, which he links to rising utility bills.

Evidence timeline

What the record shows.

  1. official action

    Lindsay James: Matches stated direction

    In April 2026 she voted for a bill, now law, ending Iowa sales tax on building, repairing or restarting nuclear plants. It sets no utility rates, and her price-gouging call was not tested.

    Read the full check

    Full detail

    Her campaign says new energy sources should be fast-tracked to bring down utility costs, and big utilities held responsible for price gouging. On April 15, 2026 she voted for House File 2757, which passed the House 94-1. It exempts from Iowa sales tax the goods and services used to build, repair or restart a nuclear power plant. She was absent for the final House vote on April 30, after the Senate changed the bill; the governor signed it on June 1, 2026. Limit: The law cuts taxes on nuclear plant projects; it does not set utility rates. Her call to hold utilities responsible for price gouging was not tested.

  2. official action

    Joe Mitchell: Matches stated direction

    He voted for a 2020 law on how utilities credit customers who make their own power, such as solar, and a 2022 law requiring most gas stations to sell E-15; both passed widely.

    Read the full check

    Full detail

    His campaign says the country should use every energy source, from gas, oil, nuclear and coal to hydro, solar and wind, to lower costs. He voted for two energy bills that became law. On March 3, 2020 he voted for Senate File 583, which passed the House 98-0. It sets how utilities bill customers who make their own power, such as with solar panels, and credits them for power they send to the grid. On April 26, 2022 he voted for House File 2128 on its final House vote, 81-13. It requires gas stations, with some exceptions, to sell E-15, a gasoline and ethanol blend. Limit: Both passed by wide margins. Ethanol is not on his list, and neither bill tests the oil, gas, coal, nuclear, hydro or wind parts of it.

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Sources15 source records

How we use sources

  1. The Issueshttps://joemitchell.com/issues

    Joe Mitchell for Congress · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Campaign issues page, sixteen sections from corporate PAC money to elections. Positions are attributed, not independently verified facts.

    candidate statement

    For: Joe Mitchell: campaign position; Joe Mitchell: Matches stated direction

  2. Bring Down the Cost of Living for Working Iowanshttps://www.lindsayforiowa.com/issues/issue-1

    Lindsay for Iowa · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Campaign issue page on housing, child care, utilities, groceries, long-term care, paid leave and taxes.

    candidate statement

    For: Lindsay James: campaign position; Lindsay James: Matches stated direction

  3. Libertarian wants to repeal income tax, welfare programs, immigration policyhttps://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/libertarian-wants-repeal-income-tax-004220831.html

    Iowa Capital Dispatch (republished by Yahoo News) · Published Aug 15, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Report by Cami Koons on his August 15, 2026 speech at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox, with direct quotes. The original Capital Dispatch page (iowacapitaldispatch.com/2026/08/15/libertarian-wants-to-repeal-income-tax-welfare-programs-immigration-policy/) blocks the desk's script, so this Yahoo copy is cited; a browser read of the original on October 1, 2026 found the same article text, both quoted lines included. His only 2026 platform statement found.

    original reporting

    For: Rick Stewart: campaign position

  4. Where Dave Bushaw Stands on the Issueshttps://www.davebushaw.com/platform

    Dave Bushaw for Congress · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Campaign platform page. Positions are attributed, not independently verified facts.

    candidate statement

    For: Dave Bushaw: campaign position

  5. Iowa House Journal, April 15, 2026, pages 908-909 (document)

    Iowa Legislature · Published Apr 15, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Roll call on House File 2757: ayes 94, nays 1. James among the ayes.

    official legislative record

    For: Lindsay James: Matches stated direction

  6. House File 2757 (2026), as passed by the House April 15, 2026 (document)

    Iowa Legislature · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    The version she voted for: sales and use tax exemptions for building, repairing or restarting a nuclear plant. The workforce fund in the final law came later, in Senate amendment H-8428.

    official legislative record

    For: Lindsay James: Matches stated direction

  7. Iowa House Journal, April 30, 2026, page 1051 (document)

    Iowa Legislature · Published Apr 30, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Final House vote on House File 2757 after concurring in the Senate amendment: ayes 83, nays 2, absent or not voting 15. James among the absent.

    official legislative record

    For: Lindsay James: Matches stated direction

  8. House File 2757 (2026), bill historyhttps://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/billTracking/billHistory?billName=HF2757&ga=91

    Iowa Legislature · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Ways and Means bill on nuclear electric generation facilities. Passed the House 94-1 on April 15, 2026 and 83-2 on April 30, 2026 after the House concurred in Senate amendment H-8428; signed June 1, 2026 as 2026 Iowa Acts, chapter 1146.

    official legislative record

    For: Lindsay James: Matches stated direction

  9. 2026 Iowa Acts, chapter 1146 (House File 2757) (document)

    Iowa Legislature · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    The enacted text. Exempts goods and services used to build, expand, repair or restart a nuclear power plant from sales and use tax, and sets up a nuclear energy workforce fund under the Board of Regents.

    official legislative record

    For: Lindsay James: Matches stated direction

  10. Iowa House Journal, March 3, 2020, page 422 (document)

    Iowa Legislature · Published Mar 3, 2020 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Roll call on Senate File 583: ayes 98, nays none. James and Mitchell among the ayes.

    official legislative record

    For: Joe Mitchell: Matches stated direction

  11. Senate File 583 (2019-2020), bill historyhttps://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/billTracking/billHistory?billName=SF583&ga=88

    Iowa Legislature · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Commerce Committee bill on billing for distributed generation. Passed the House 98-0 on March 3, 2020; signed March 12, 2020 as 2020 Iowa Acts, chapter 1004.

    official legislative record

    For: Joe Mitchell: Matches stated direction

  12. 2020 Iowa Acts, chapter 1004 (Senate File 583) (document)

    Iowa Legislature · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    The enacted text. Sets the billing methods utilities may use for customers who generate their own power, credits them for power sent to the grid, and provides for a later value-of-solar rate.

    official legislative record

    For: Joe Mitchell: Matches stated direction

  13. Iowa House Journal, April 26, 2022, page 863 (document)

    Iowa Legislature · Published Apr 26, 2022 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Final House vote on House File 2128 after concurring in the Senate amendment: ayes 81, nays 13. Mitchell among the ayes.

    official legislative record

    For: Joe Mitchell: Matches stated direction

  14. House File 2128 (2022), bill historyhttps://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/billTracking/billHistory?billName=HF2128&ga=89

    Iowa Legislature · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Ways and Means bill on renewable fuels. Passed the House 82-10 and, after a Senate amendment, 81-13 on April 26, 2022; signed May 17, 2022 as 2022 Iowa Acts, chapter 1067.

    official legislative record

    For: Joe Mitchell: Matches stated direction

  15. 2022 Iowa Acts, chapter 1067 (House File 2128) (document)

    Iowa Legislature · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    The enacted text. Among other changes it sets an E-15 access standard that requires retail gas stations, with exceptions and waivers, to sell E-15 gasoline.

    official legislative record

    For: Joe Mitchell: Matches stated direction