2 Local Democrats Announce Campaigns for Iowa House Seats

By Reade Snelling, Telegraph Herald

Published November 26, 2025

DeLano Cain-Watson, who previously ran for both Dubuque City Council and the Dubuque Community School Board, has officially launched his campaign for the Democratic nomination in Iowa House District 71. The seat is currently held by Rep. Lindsay James, D-Dubuque, who has announced her intention to run for U.S. House District 1 in 2026. Cain-Watson said that his lived experience growing up as a young Black man in public housing and public schools positions him to bring a distinct, necessary voice to the Iowa Legislature.

“On the Democratic side, we often talk about supporting those from communities that are struggling, but it’s far too often that the candidates who actually run don’t come from those communities,” he said.

A graduate of Jefferson Middle School and the University of Dubuque, Cain-Watson now operates a massage therapy business and works as a patient services representative at Crescent Community Health Center. He said one of his driving motivations for running is the urgent need to represent young Iowans, whose concerns he believes have been overlooked for far too long.

“We’re losing young people at a rate that’s really hurting us,” he said. “I want people to see Iowa as a place to live and grow.”

His campaign centers on strengthening education, stabilizing housing, and increasing access to healthcare. Cain-Watson pointed to rising state budget deficits, a challenging economic climate, and a weakening public school system as critical issues he plans to confront if elected.

“The state isn’t doing their part,” he said. “We can’t keep defunding things like mental health and schools and public health systems and expect that these issues are going to solve themselves.”