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Issue record

Farming

In short

Mitchell's campaign backs fewer farm rules, wider global market access and more U.S.-made fertilizer; James's backs a new farm bill, conservation and ending tariffs she says cost farmers their markets. Stewart's campaign would replace farm subsidies with a basic income; Bushaw's backs labor rights for farm workers. On the record, James cosponsored a 2020 bill to raise a state resource protection fund that sends about a fifth to soil and water; it did not pass.

Campaign positions

What each campaign says.

Joe Mitchell

He wants fewer regulations on farms, wider access to global markets and more fertilizer made at home.

Lindsay James

She wants a new farm bill, a national right-to-repair law, support for conservation practices and an end to the tariffs she says have cost farmers their markets.

Rick Stewart

He said farm subsidies would end along with every other assistance program, replaced by a basic income.

Dave Bushaw

He wants federal labor protections for farm workers, including the right to unionize, and says private equity is buying up farmland. His platform has no farm-program proposals.

Evidence timeline

What the record shows.

  1. official action

    Lindsay James: Matches stated direction

    In 2020 she cosponsored a bill to raise the state's REAP fund from $20 million to $25 million a year; about a fifth goes to soil and water, and the bill did not pass.

    Read the full check

    Full detail

    Her campaign says the country should invest in farm practices such as cover crops, wetlands and prairies to improve soil and protect water. In 2020 she was one of 36 sponsors of House File 2342, which would have raised the yearly amount state law sets for the state's Resource Enhancement and Protection fund from $20 million to $25 million. State law sends about a fifth of that fund to soil and water programs. The bill went to the Appropriations Committee and no further. Limit: The bill did not pass. Most of the fund goes to parks, open space and other uses, not farm practices.

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Sources7 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

  2. Support Iowa Farmershttps://www.lindsayforiowa.com/issues/agriculture

    Lindsay for Iowa · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Campaign issue page on the farm bill, right to repair, conservation and tariffs.

    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. House File 2342 (2020), bill historyhttps://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/billTracking/billHistory?billName=HF2342&ga=88

    Iowa Legislature · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Introduced February 11, 2020 by 36 members, Isenhart first and James among them, and referred to Appropriations. No further action.

    official legislative record

    For: Lindsay James: Matches stated direction

  6. House File 2342 (2020), bill text (document)

    Iowa Legislature · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Its explanation: the REAP fund receives $20 million a year from the general fund; the bill raises that to $25 million and makes it permanent.

    official legislative record

    For: Lindsay James: Matches stated direction

  7. Iowa Code section 455A.19, allocation of REAP fund proceeds (document)

    Iowa Legislature · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Current Code text. After small set-asides, 20 percent of the fund goes to the soil and water enhancement account, 28 percent to open spaces and 15 percent to city parks, among other shares.

    official legislative record

    For: Lindsay James: Matches stated direction