Joe Mitchell (politician)
Joe Mitchell | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Iowa House of Representatives from the 84th district | |
| In office January 14, 2019 – January 9, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Dave Heaton |
| Succeeded by | Jeff Shipley (redistricted) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 23, 1997 Wayland, Iowa, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | Drake University (BA) |
Joe Mitchell (born April 23, 1997) is an American politician from the state of Iowa. He was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in 2018.[1][2] Sworn in at the age of 21, he was the youngest member to ever be elected to the Iowa House.[3] Mitchell was previously a student at Drake University.[4]
Early life
Mitchell's parents are John and Jean Mitchell.[5]
Political career
Mitchell was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in the 2018 elections. He served as a House Assistant Leader and he served on the following committees: Administration and Rules, Commerce, Judiciary, State Government, Ways and Means, and the RIFF Budget Subcommittee.[6]
In 2022, Mitchell lost to fellow state Representative Jeff Shipley in the Republican primary after redistricting placed both of their homes in the same district.[7]
Following his defeat, Mitchell worked on President-elect Donald Trump's 2024 transition team. He then worked as Chief of Staff in the Federal Housing Finance Agency before being appointed as a regional administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development of the Great Plains Region.[8]
In September 2025, Mitchell announced that he would run for the U.S. House of Representatives in Iowa's 2nd congressional district, seeking to succeed Ashley Hinson, who is running for U.S. Senate.[9]
Personal
Mitchell is the founder of Run Gen Z, a nonprofit with the mission to "prepare Generation Z leaders to take action, take charge and take control of the future by supporting the vision of the founders of this country and supporting conservative political values such as limited government, free market capitalism, individual responsibility and fiscal restraint."[10]
Elliott Engen, the first Gen Z Republican elected to the Minnesota legislature, was inspired to run for office by Mitchell after a long night discussing policy in a hot tub.[11]
Mitchell was friendly with Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, whom he first met in 2019. He has said he was profoundly affected by Kirk's assassination.[12]
Mitchell owns and operates a real estate company based in Clear Lake that works to develop housing for rural communities.[13]
References
- ^ "Iowa House Republicans » Joe Mitchell". www.iowahouserepublicans.com.
- ^ Meyer, Elizabeth. "Age is only a number for young House candidate Joe Mitchell". The Hawk Eye Newspaper.
- ^ Henderson, O. Kay (January 22, 2019). "21-year-old from Wayland is now the youngest member of Iowa House". Radio Iowa.
- ^ Meyer, Elizabeth. "21-year-old Joe Mitchell keeps House District 84 red". The Ames Tribune.
- ^ https://futurecaucus.org/future-caucus/state-future-caucus-network/state-caucus-chairs/joe-mitchell/
- ^ "House Assistant Leader, Representative Joe Mitchell". Iowa House Republicans.
- ^ "Shipley defeats Mitchell in District 87 race".
- ^ Kelley, James (September 8, 2025). "Regional HUD administrator launches campaign to represent Iowa's 2nd District". Iowa Public Radio. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
- ^ Hanson, Ric (September 8, 2025). "Joe Mitchell, former state legislator, regional Trump Admin. official, running for congress". KJAN. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
- ^ "Board & Staff – RungenZ". Run Gen Z Board-Staff. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022.
- ^ Gerezgiher, Feven (2023-03-20). "Meet the first Gen Z Republican elected to the Minnesota Legislature". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
- ^ "Iowa Republican Joe Mitchell Reflects on the Assassination of Charlie Kirk". September 11, 2025.
- ^ Hoogland, Nathan (September 8, 2025). "Former Iowa State Representative Joe Mitchell seeks Congress seat". WHO13. Retrieved November 5, 2025.