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Republicans rally behind Hinson as she launches 2026 Iowa U.S. Senate campaign
President Donald Trump endorsed Hinson’s campaign in a Friday social media post
Sep. 5, 2025 3:42 pm, Updated: Sep. 5, 2025 7:10 pm
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WEST DES MOINES — Iowa U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson launched her bid for the U.S. Senate on Friday with a hometown rally in West Des Moines, kicking off a 99-county tour she says will mirror the storied grassroots tradition of Iowa GOP U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley while Republicans — including President Donald Trump — swiftly rally behind her campaign.
Hinson, a Republican from Marion who grew up in West Des Moines, is currently serving her third term in the U.S. House. She told supporters she intends to carry forward the “America First” agenda she championed in Congress alongside President Donald Trump.
Hinson announced Tuesday she will run for the Senate seat being vacated by Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, who announced she is not seeking a third term — pledging to be a strong ally of Trump and advocate of Iowans’ concerns in the Senate.
She pointed to her conservative record in the House and vowed to “deliver even more wins for hardworking Iowans.”
“I’ve worked very hard to stand up for President Trump, working alongside him in my service in Congress, and I would say that job’s not done,” Hinson said to a small gathering of supporters at Bevy's Tavern in West Des Moines. “It’s why it’s such an important time to be stepping up to run for this U.S. Senate seat, because we look at what we’re up against.”
She outlined a platform focused on border security, agriculture, small business growth and parental rights.
“You want a safe and secure country and a safe and secure community,” Hinson said. “You want to make sure we have a closed off border and we’re deporting dangerous illegal immigrants from our communities. We need to be standing up for the backbone of Iowa — our small businesses, our farmers, our producers and our ranchers. You want to make sure we are standing up for parental choice and keeping boys out of girls sports.”
Hinson also vowed to oppose what she called “woke ideology” in schools and government.
“I don’t want Iowa to look anything like California,” she said. “They’re continuing to give taxpayer benefits to illegal aliens. They are standing up for criminals over citizens. They’re trying to reinsert that woke ideology in everyday life. That doesn’t seem very common sense, does it?”
Hinson pledged to follow Grassley’s model by visiting all 99 counties.
“I will listen. I’ll get out and do the full Grassley, and I look forward to hearing your stories and telling those stories in Washington,” she said.
Hinson’s campaign said her tour will take her to every corner of Iowa to meet with small business owners, farmers and local leaders.
She will host her official U.S. Senate campaign kickoff Sept. 14 in Cedar Rapids, her campaign announced.
Hinson hails GOP’s tax bill; Democrats call it devastating for Iowans
Hinson highlighted her support of the “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” a sweeping tax and spending package that makes permanent provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, reduces federal income taxes on tips and overtime, expands the child tax credit, and boosts funding for border security and immigration enforcement. GOP leaders assert the measure prevents an average $1,700 tax hike and could increase take-home pay for a typical family with two children. Hinson also touted tax benefits for small businesses and seniors.
Democrats argue the bill massively slashes Medicaid and SNAP, jeopardizing access to health care and food aid for millions. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated the changes could cause millions of Americans to lose health insurance coverage and add trillions to the national debt.
Independent analyses suggest the biggest tax relief benefits flow disproportionately to the wealthiest Americans.
Republicans have argued the spending reductions are necessary to ensure Medicaid’s long-term financial stability and that the spending cuts and also recently enacted work requirements will ensure the program is preserved for those who truly need it.
Iowa Democrats accused Hinson of siding with wealthy interests over working families.
“Ashley Hinson has spent her career prioritizing multimillionaires like herself while she sells out working people in Iowa,” Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said in a statement. “She is ‘proud’ of her vote to kick thousands of Iowans off their health care … and she has sold out our veterans by making it harder for them to get the care they deserve from the VA.”
Hart said Iowans “deserve better than Washington Republicans” and vowed Democrats would aggressively compete for the open Senate seat.
Voter cites tax relief and immigration stance in backing Senate bid
Jamila Jones of Ankeny said she backs Hinson “100 percent,” citing her work on the recently passed “One Big, Beautiful Bill.” Jones said provisions cutting taxes on tips and overtime will directly help her family and other hourly workers.
“That helps working families keep some of that money so that maybe they can plan out a vacation with it,” Jones said.
She also applauded the bill’s focus on immigration enforcement.
“We all want people to come in here the right way,” she said.
Jones called Hinson’s experience in Congress, including work with veterans and alongside Trump, key strengths.
Arthur Wesley Williams, a longtime supporter of Hinson, said her record in Congress and reputation for honesty are driving his support for her U.S. Senate campaign.
A retired law enforcement officer from Ankeny, Williams pointed to Hinson’s role in helping pass legislation improving protections for law enforcement. He said the measure, now stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee, underscores why he wants her in the upper chamber.
“The Senate hasn’t been doing their job,” he said. “She is a strong conservative … smart, honest, and we need somebody who hasn’t sold their soul to the devil.”
He also praised Hinson as independent-minded.
“I don’t see Ashley as being easily controlled like some of these other people,” he said. “She tries very hard to be supportive of the people she represents. We want honest, good people — and that’s what she is.”
Republican endorsements
Friday’s rally came as prominent Republicans in Washington and Iowa moved quickly to endorse her to potentially avoid a contentious GOP primary and stave off the opportunity for a Democratic pickup.
On Friday evening, President Donald Trump posted an endorsement of Hinson’s campaign on Truth Social, saying she has his “Complete and Total Endorsement.”
“... Ashley is a wonderful person, has ALWAYS delivered for Iowa, and will continue doing so in the United States Senate. She is working hard to Create Jobs, Cut Taxes, Promote Products and Services MADE IN AMERICA by our incredible Iowa Workers, Support our Great Farmers and American Agriculture, Champion Innovation, Continue to Help Secure our now very Secure Southern Border, Stop Migrant Crime, Murderers, and other Criminals from illegally entering our Country, Strengthen our Military/Veterans, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment,” the president wrote.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Tim Scott of South Carolina also both announced Friday they are backing Hinson.
“We need conservative fighters in the Senate — and that’s exactly what we’ll get with Ashley Hinson,” Thune said in a statement. “Ashley has been a fierce advocate of President Trump’s America First agenda and has been instrumental in delivering big wins in the House for Iowans and the American people. I know she’ll bring that same unrelenting energy to the Senate.”
Scott, who has campaigned alongside Hinson in Iowa, said he considers her a proven conservative.
“Having traveled Iowa with Ashley, I know she is the fighter the Hawkeye State needs to deliver President Trump’s agenda in 2026 and beyond,” he said. “That’s why the NRSC and I are proud to stand with my friend.”
Hinson welcomed the endorsements.
“The support we’ve received from America First conservatives across Iowa is incredible,” she said. “We are ready to keep Iowa red and deliver President Trump’s agenda for working families.”
Swift consolidation
Her launch illustrates how quickly Iowa Republicans are consolidating behind her bid. Within 90 minutes of Hinson's Senate campaign announcement, her team announced endorsements from Republican U.S. Sens. Jim Banks of Indiana, Katie Britt of Alabama, and Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana, U.S. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota and U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York. Hinson's campaign also was immediately endorsed by newly minted Iowa House Majority Leader Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton.
Party leaders in Dallas County said her backing of Trump’s agenda and her victories in a competitive congressional district position her well for statewide success.
So far, only one other Republican has entered the race for U.S. Senate in Iowa. Former state lawmaker Jim Carlin, of Sioux City, announced his candidacy in June.
Kelly Koch, past chair of the Dallas County GOP, said earlier Friday — before Trump announced his endorsement — that the president’s role in the primary remained uncertain.
“President Trump is looking to expand the House and the Senate,” Koch said. “Jim Carlin’s a formidable candidate, and he is a MAGA candidate. Ashley Hinson ... also is MAGA. I’m not sure if [Trump’s] going to let the primary take care of that.”
Friday’s endorsements, though, underscores Hinson’s advantage, Koch said.
As for the broader Republican landscape, Koch predicted Iowa’s open 2026 governor’s race could be the most competitive contest.
“The real race, in my opinion, is the gubernatorial race,” she said, pointing to Democratic State Auditor Rob Sand’s fundraising edge and GOP divisions over pipelines and eminent domain.
Hinson’s departure from the House leaves her northeast Iowa district open, with former Iowa Congressman Rod Blum and other Republicans already weighing bids.
“She is so conscientious about creating a vacuum if she stepped out, who would come in. And she was concerned about that,” Koch said.
Comments: (319) 398-8499; tom.barton@thegazette.com
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