Joe Mitchell, a 29-year-old Republican congressional candidate in Iowa, is facing scrutiny after videos reportedly recorded during his time at Drake University in 2017 surfaced publicly.
Mitchell, who has the backing of US President Donald Trump and Turning Point Action, is running in Iowa’s competitive 2nd Congressional District against Democratic candidate Lindsay James.
The footage, obtained by the Daily Mail, shows Mitchell discussing his genital size, challenging other men to compare measurements and making remarks about Black women and white people.
In one exchange, Mitchell says he wants to have children who are not white, adding that he does not like white people and asking why he spends time with people who are not white.
He also discusses a Black woman he had a crush on at the time, using explicit language to describe his attraction to her before saying he wanted to marry a Black woman.
Candidate Responds, Saying He Has Changed Since College
Mitchell’s campaign did not dispute the authenticity of the video when approached by the Daily Mail. An attorney representing the campaign instead accused political opponents of attempting to damage his electoral prospects.
In a statement, Mitchell acknowledged that the footage dated from his college years and said he had changed since then.
“My entire generation has had a camera in their face since we were born. I was 19, in college, and I have grown up,” he said.
Mitchell added that after graduating, he found better friends, established a small business and launched a nonprofit organisation. He also said he had helped build affordable homes across northeastern Iowa.
He described his achievements as part of the American Dream and said he was running for Congress to help other Americans reach their potential.
Snapchat Screenshots Show Alleged References to Alcohol and Xanax
The Daily Mail also obtained two screenshots reportedly taken from Mitchell’s Snapchat account during his college years.
One appeared to show him sharing a selfie while boasting about receiving two alcohol violations within a week.
Another screenshot appeared to show a message in which he said he was taking a large amount of Xanax that night and added that nobody would stop him.
The newspaper shared the screenshots with Mitchell’s campaign alongside the video.
A woman who supplied the footage and screenshots said she expected Mitchell to blame alcohol for his behaviour. She said that although people may make mistakes when young and intoxicated, they remain accountable for their words.
The woman, who said she had been friends with Mitchell in college but had not spoken to him since, explained that she came forward because voters deserved a fuller picture of the candidate.
Former College Acquaintances Offer Differing Accounts
Other people who knew Mitchell during his university years also commented on the allegations.
A male source who knew him at the time said Mitchell had repeatedly expressed a preference for having children who were not white and had asked acquaintances to introduce him to Black women.
The source described Mitchell as someone who was known for making outlandish statements. However, a campaign attorney rejected allegations that the candidate had been known for behaving ridiculously.
A second woman, who said some of her friends had dated Mitchell during college, described the conduct shown in the footage as consistent with his behaviour at the time. She acknowledged that she no longer knew him personally.
An Iowa Democratic operative who had been friends with Mitchell in college told the newspaper that the candidate had largely stopped drinking and dating while concentrating on his campaign.
Trump Supporters Defend Mitchell Against Political Attacks
Several Republican figures and former associates defended Mitchell, arguing that the release of the material was politically motivated.
Andrew Turner, a former Iowa Democratic operative, told the Daily Mail that Mitchell had long been a Republican and a strong Trump supporter. Turner argued that some former associates had become hostile towards him after his political career advanced.
He claimed that people who had previously been friends with Mitchell were now attempting to damage his campaign because of their political disagreements.
Eric Branstad, a longtime Republican operative in Iowa and son of former governor Terry Branstad, also defended the candidate.
Branstad said those circulating the material were jealous of Mitchell’s success and work ethic. He described Mitchell as someone who had a clean record regarding drugs, alcohol and partying, while noting that many people had difficult or embarrassing experiences during their college years.
Mitchell’s campaign also provided the newspaper with a photograph showing him with Trump in 2015.
Mitchell Built Political Career Through Conservative Organisations
Mitchell was elected to the Iowa state legislature in 2018 at the age of 20, becoming the youngest person ever elected to the state legislature, according to the report.
While still at Drake University, he began building a political profile and later founded Run GenZ, a national nonprofit organisation focused on recruiting young conservatives to run for public office.
The organisation worked with conservative groups including Turning Point USA and the American Legislative Exchange Council.
Mitchell has also been a fellow at Harvard’s Institute of Politics and held two positions during Trump’s second administration, including serving as regional administrator for the Great Plains region at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Outside politics, he operates a real estate development business. Turning Point Action has endorsed his congressional campaign.
Iowa Congressional Race Rated a Toss-Up
The controversy comes as Mitchell faces a closely contested race against Democrat Lindsay James in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District.
The Cook Political Report has classified the contest as a toss-up. The district has a Republican partisan voting index of R+4, indicating that it typically leans towards the Republican Party.
A poll cited by the Daily Mail and published by the House Majority PAC in August showed James leading Mitchell by 46 per cent to 45 per cent in an initial head-to-head matchup.
The district has attracted attention as both parties compete for seats in the House of Representatives.
The report also noted that economic concerns, including rising living costs and diesel prices, are affecting voters in Iowa as early voting coincides with the autumn harvest season.
