The Democrat now says Iowa needs “common-sense rules” to keep sports fair for girls. When lawmakers actually wrote those rules, James voted no.
Lindsay James would like Second District voters to meet the election-year version of Lindsay James.
In a new campaign ad, James declares that “we need common-sense rules to keep sports fair for boys and for girls.” She also assures viewers that “parents know what’s best for our kids.”
It is sensible language. It is also considerably more convenient than her legislative record.
In 2022, the Iowa House considered House File 2416, legislation establishing that participation in girls’ and women’s school athletics would be based on biological sex. The measure covered public schools, accredited nonpublic schools, community colleges and Iowa’s public universities.
James did not merely express reservations about some obscure provision buried in an omnibus package. She voted against the bill itself. Her name appears among the 39 “no” votes in the official House Journal. The legislation passed, 55–39, and was signed by the governor on March 3, 2022.
Those were the common-sense rules.
James opposed them.
Now, with Election Day approaching in a district President Donald Trump carried by double digits, the former state representative has apparently concluded that fairness in girls’ sports deserves a place in her advertising budget.
The shift has become obvious enough to attract national attention. Reuters reported last week that James is among several Iowa Democrats distancing themselves from their party’s progressive positions on transgender issues. The outlet noted that Democrats in competitive Midwestern races are adopting more conservative language after the issue hurt the party in 2024. Reuters
This is not a misunderstanding over terminology. James’ campaign says sports should be kept fair for boys and girls. Iowa lawmakers held a recorded vote on legislation designed to do exactly that. James voted no.
Her new rhetoric also reflects political reality. An April Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 67 percent of respondents supported prohibiting transgender athletes from participating in female school sports. Even national outlets friendly to Democrats now recognize that candidates such as James are scrambling to get closer to voters on the issue.
Campaigns are allowed to change positions. Candidates are also allowed to explain why.
What James cannot reasonably do is present herself as the champion of “common-sense rules” without acknowledging that, when Iowa put those rules in writing, she opposed them.
The campaign ad lasts only a few seconds. The roll call is permanent.
Apparently, James supports protecting girls’ sports—as long as nobody asks how she voted.
