16 Facts About James McDowall

James Samuel McDowall was born on 6 January 1988 and is a former New Zealand politician.

James McDowall was a Member of Parliament for ACT New Zealand from 2020 until 2023.

James McDowall has worked for the Wise Group, one of the largest providers of mental health and wellbeing services in New Zealand.

James McDowall is a Cantonese speaker due to it being his wife's mother tongue.

James McDowall became politically involved with the ACT Party after the 2005 general election.

James McDowall stood for ACT in the Hamilton East electorate in the 2017 general election, but received only 140 votes.

James McDowall was placed 13th on the ACT party list, but ACT did not win enough party votes to be entitled to any list MPs.

James McDowall led the development of ACT's firearm policy in response to the Government's 2019 Arms Amendment Act.

James McDowall focused on raising awareness of ACT rather than his own individual electorate.

James McDowall spoke about immigration, sharing his parents-in-law's immigration story and describing Immigration New Zealand as inefficient, low quality, and disrespectful.

James McDowall criticised New Zealand's "unacceptable levels" of poverty, homelessness, and over-representation of Maori in prisons.

James McDowall was a member of Parliament's transport and infrastructure committee and the ACT Party's spokesperson for economic development; research, science and innovation; immigration, defence; and tourism.

James McDowall supported a law which allowed people to change the gender on their birth certificate.

In November 2022, James McDowall was selected as the ACT Party candidate for the 2022 Hamilton West by-election.

James McDowall came third with ten percent of the vote.

James McDowall did not seek re-election at the 2023 general election.