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Trump-backed Joe Mitchell Hired Lobbyists, Defies Rhetoric

7/10/2026

Summary

Story summary

Report reveals Republican nominee Joe Mitchell hired lobbyists and worked for a lobbying firm, contradicting his anti-insider rhetoric.
Mitchell won the nomination with 61 percent of the vote, got an endorsement from U.S. President Donald Trump, and now faces Rep. Lindsay James.
His company co-founded the Iowa Real Estate Developers Association, which spent nearly $75,000 lobbying from 2023 to 2025 and helped pass a runoff bill signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds.

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Story summary

Report reveals Republican nominee Joe Mitchell hired lobbyists and worked for a lobbying firm, contradicting his anti-insider rhetoric.
Mitchell won the nomination with 61 percent of the vote, got an endorsement from U.S. President Donald Trump, and now faces Rep. Lindsay James.
His company co-founded the Iowa Real Estate Developers Association, which spent nearly $75,000 lobbying from 2023 to 2025 and helped pass a runoff bill signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds.