Already a Hall of Fame inductee, State Representative Lindsay James will be honored again in 2026 with the Ann Michalski Distinguished Service Award.
In Dubuque County, leadership starts with listening. It starts with showing up, hearing your neighbors’ stories, and working together to build something better.
That’s exactly how Lindsay James leads.
At the 2026 Dubuque County Democratic Party Hall of Fame Celebration, we are proud to honor Lindsay with the Ann Michalski Distinguished Service Award, a recognition of the steady, values-driven leadership she brings to our community and to public life.
In her eight-year tenure at the Iowa House, Lindsay has worked to support strong schools, affordable healthcare, vibrant neighborhoods, and a cleaner, healthier future for Iowa communities.
She is known for both her principles and her ability to build relationships. Lindsay has led on issues ranging from lowering prescription drug costs to improving mental health care and strengthening housing protections. Her leadership reflects a deep belief that public service should be grounded in compassion, fairness, and a commitment to the common good.
Her leadership reflects a deep belief that public service should be grounded in compassion, fairness, and a commitment to the common good.
This honor comes just two years after Lindsay was inducted into the Dubuque County Democrats Hall of Fame in 2024. That earlier recognition reflected the impact she had already made. This year’s award recognizes something more: a continued pattern of service, leadership, and deep commitment to the people of Dubuque County.
A Life Rooted in Service
Before elected office, Lindsay served as an ordained Presbyterian pastor on a college campuses, where her work centered on listening, bridge-building, and community care.
For Lindsay, public service has never been about politics for its own sake. It has always been about people — about whether families can afford healthcare, whether kids have strong public schools, whether housing is secure, and whether government is responsive to the people it serves. Her leadership has earned the trust of her colleagues and the respect of neighbors across Dubuque County.
Looking Ahead
Now, Lindsay is taking that same commitment to a larger stage. She is running for Congress in Iowa’s 2nd District, carrying forward the same values that have shaped her work from the beginning: strong public schools, lower costs, dignity for every person, and a government that helps families thrive.
That campaign matters. But this year’s recognition is not only about the office she is seeking. It is about the way she has shown up for this community, year after year — as a neighbor, a listener, a leader, and a public servant.
Why we’re honoring Lindsay
The Ann Michalski Distinguished Service Award honors people whose service strengthens both our party and the wider community we share. Lindsay James embodies that spirit. She leads with compassion, seriousness, and a clear sense that government should help people thrive.
She has already been recognized as a Hall of Fame inductee. This year, we are honored to recognize her again — not because the work is finished, but because her example continues to shape what good leadership looks like in Dubuque County.
“I believe government should be about people — about lifting each other up, ensuring our neighbors have what they need to thrive, and creating communities where everyone belongs.”
Make a tribute gift in Lindsay’s honor
Lindsay’s leadership has always been about building something bigger than any one race — a stronger, more connected Dubuque County.
A tribute gift in Lindsay’s honor is one way to celebrate that work and help carry it forward. It supports the local organizing, volunteer energy, and year-round engagement that leaders like Lindsay have always believed in.