Former Iowa state representative Joe Mitchell announced a campaign for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District on Tuesday, less than two months after being named the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Great Plains Regional Administrator.
Mitchell, a Republican who served in the Iowa Legislature from early 2019 through early 2023, said in a post on X that he would be a "trusted voice in the MAGA movement" and pledged to "have President Trump’s back." His announcement comes as Rep. Ashley Hinson, who currently represents the 2nd District, is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Joni Ernst.
Mitchell’s campaign website lists priorities that include fiscal responsibility, lower taxes and economic growth, along with support for family farmers, ethanol producers and small businesses. The site also says Mitchell will defend the right to life and the Second Amendment and "stand with President Trump in protecting our freedoms." The campaign did not immediately provide further details on fundraising plans or a campaign schedule.
Hinson has received public support from former President Donald Trump, who posted on Truth Social that she has his "Complete and Total Endorsement" and called her a "WINNER." Hinson’s Senate campaign aims to succeed Ernst, who has said she will not seek re-election in 2026. The endorsement from Trump underscores his involvement in key Republican contests ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Mitchell was first sworn into the Iowa Legislature at age 21, which his campaign notes made him the youngest state legislator in Iowa history. He left the legislature in early 2023 and was later named HUD’s Great Plains Regional Administrator; the department announced that appointment this summer.
The open 2nd Congressional District seat will set off a competitive Republican primary now that Hinson has shifted her campaign to the Senate. Mitchell’s entry adds to a field that will determine who runs to hold the seat for the GOP in the 2026 federal election cycle.
There was no immediate comment from Hinson’s campaign about Mitchell’s bid. Election officials and party committees in Iowa have not yet set a schedule of candidate forums or primary dates tied to the open seat. Further filings and announcements are expected as the 2026 campaign calendar develops.
Reporting for this article relied on campaign statements and public postings by the candidates, and on department announcements regarding Mitchell’s recent federal appointment.