Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.
Josh Mandelbaum
Josh Mandelbaum is a member of the Des Moines City Council in Iowa, representing Ward III. His current term ends on January 1, 2026.
Mandelbaum ran for election for Mayor of Des Moines in Iowa. He lost in the general election on November 7, 2023.
Mandelbaum completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Josh Mandelbaum was born in Des Moines, Iowa. He earned a bachelor's degree from Brown University in 2001 and a law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law in 2009. His career experience includes working as an attorney.[1]
Elections
2023
See also: Mayoral election in Des Moines, Iowa (2023)
General election
General election for Mayor of Des Moines
Connie Boesen defeated Josh Mandelbaum, Denver Foote, and Christopher William Von Arx in the general election for Mayor of Des Moines on November 7, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Connie Boesen (Nonpartisan) | 48.2 | 14,507 |
 | Josh Mandelbaum (Nonpartisan)  | 45.8 | 13,784 | |
| Denver Foote (Nonpartisan) | 3.2 | 971 | ||
| Christopher William Von Arx (Nonpartisan) | 2.3 | 704 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 107 | ||
| Total votes: 30,073 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Mandelbaum in this election.
2021
See also: City elections in Des Moines, Iowa (2021)
General election
General election for Des Moines City Council Ward III
Incumbent Josh Mandelbaum defeated Cory McAnelly and Brandi Webber in the general election for Des Moines City Council Ward III on November 2, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Josh Mandelbaum (Nonpartisan) | 66.8 | 5,258 |
| Cory McAnelly (Nonpartisan) | 20.2 | 1,592 | ||
| Brandi Webber (Nonpartisan) | 12.7 | 997 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 24 | ||
| Total votes: 7,871 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2023
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Josh Mandelbaum completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Mandelbaum's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
Des Moines Born & Raised Josh was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa and attended Des Moines Public Schools. He currently lives on the west side of Des Moines with his wife Katherine, son Liam, daughter Ayla, and black lab Truman.
Policy Advisor to Governor Vilsack and Lt. Governor Pederson Josh served as a policy advisor in the Vilsack-Pederson administration and had a role in many of the administration’s accomplishments. His efforts helped thousands of Iowans receive increased access to health care through Medicaid, and improved mental health, family planning, and wellness care.
Environmental Attorney Working for Clean Energy and Clean Water Josh works as a senior attorney for the Environmental Law and Policy Center. Josh is a leading voice for climate action and Iowa's clean energy economy. Josh is a strong advocate for improving Iowa’s water quality. He has successfully fought in court to protect and enforce water quality standards.
- I’m running to create a community that works better for everyone and provides opportunity to everyone. Des Moines has to lead in demonstrating how we create a place where everyone is included and accepted. We are at a moment of generational change that requires a new kind of leadership.
- My Generation Des Moines Plan provides a blueprint for the next 25 years of success in Des Moines. We must build affordable housing that meets everyone’s needs, develop a strong transit system that connects people to jobs and services, implement local climate solutions, and respond to more public safety calls with mental health workers.
- We need a Mayor that will stand up for our residents rights and take the steps that the city can to safeguard those rights. I’m the only candidate who led efforts to protect reproductive rights on the City Council with specific actions the city could enact.
• Strong transit that connects people to jobs and services
• Local climate solutions and clean water
• Safe and accessible streets
• Mental health services to respond to public safety calls
South Central Iowa Federation of Labor
Central Iowa Building Trades Council
Laborers’ International Union of North America, Local 177
Plumbers and Steamfitters, Local Union 33
International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 90
North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters
International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 234
International Association of Heat & Frost Insulators & Allied Workers, Local 74
Iowa Unity Coalition
Momentum DSM
Greater Than PAC
Current and Former Elected Officials
Fmr. Lieutenant Governor Sally Pederson
Fmr. Attorney General Bonnie Campbell
State Auditor Rob Sand
House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst
State Representative Ruth Ann Gaines
State Senator Zach Wahls
State Representative Heather Matson
Community Leaders
Shannon Henson, Pro-Choice Advocate
Steve Villatoro, Chair of the Iowa Democratic Party Latinx Caucus
Jacob Serfling, Sustainability Expert
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2021
Josh Mandelbaum did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.
See also
2023 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 13, 2023
| |||||||||
