A former Drake University student is taking on the challenge of running for Congress after already making history as the youngest Iowa House representative. 

Joe Mitchell, a 2018 graduate from Drake, began putting together his political career before he held any official office. Growing up in a conservative, small-business-owning family, Mitchell developed an interest in politics at an early age. 

“They were always interested in current events and history and government,” Mitchell said. “That was sort of the first interest I had.”

That early interest flourished when he started attending Drake. He was able to take advantage of the school’s proximity to the Iowa State Capitol. As a student, Mitchell worked as a clerk in the state legislature and interned for both the governor’s office and Sen. Joni Ernst.

Seeing that process up close left a lasting impact. Mitchell said the experience “really cemented the idea that I would be involved some way or another in government.” 

State Rep. Steve Holt, who served with Mitchell in the legislature, talks about the first time he met him when Mitchell entered the legislature.

“At that time, he was the youngest member elected to the Iowa House,” Holt said. “We had a lot of fun kidding him about how young he was … but he was full of energy and very energetic. He was a good addition to the caucus.”

While at Drake, Mitchell was a law, politics and society major. Professor and department chair William Garriott had Mitchell in class. 

“Joe took full advantage of the many opportunities Drake has to learn about law, politics and society,” Garriott said. “I remember he got involved at the Capitol early on and brought insights from those experiences back into the classroom. It was always helpful to have real-world examples of the issues we were talking about.”

Although he later switched to the business school, Mitchell remained very involved in politics. He had a strong relationship with faculty members, including Professor Deb Bishop, who supported him academically and during his campaign efforts for the state house. 

The campaign began unexpectedly during Mitchell’s junior year. State Rep. Dave Heaton announced his retirement, and Mitchell decided to throw his hat in the ring. After knocking on doors and building support across his district, Mitchell won the Republican primary by about 100 votes and later won the general election in November 2018. He was sworn into office at 21 years old, just a month before he graduated from Drake.

Holt said Mitchell’s experience working in government gave him an advantage as a new legislator. 

“He came in already understanding how the place worked because he had clerked and seen how things operated,” Holt said. “That kind of experience … helps you become effective more quickly. You already know the system, so you can hit the ground running.” 

Now, Mitchell is looking for a higher office, running for the Second Congressional District of Iowa. If he is elected and Rep. Zach Nunn is re-elected, there will be two Drake alumni representing Iowa in the U.S. Congress. His campaign focuses on economic issues, specifically housing. As a developer, Mitchell said he has seen how rising housing costs are affecting younger Americans. 

“The average age of a first-time home buyer right now is 40 years old, which is far too old,” Mitchell said.

Along with housing, Mitchell is also pushing for political reform, limiting corporations’ influence in elections, implementing term limits and banning stock trading by members of Congress. 

Mitchell says his motivation comes from the people he has met throughout his campaign. Speaking with families, small business owners and young voters has reinforced his belief in expanding opportunities and maintaining what he describes as the American dream.

Looking back, Mitchell says Drake was a critical part of his journey. The combination of academic support, mentorship and experiences helped him prepare for a career in public service at a young age.

Holt added that it has been a pleasure watching him grow in politics and that those who have served with Mitchell are now watching closely to see what comes next.