Iowa’s political landscape just got a jolt as Rep. Ashley Hinson launches her bid for the U.S. Senate.
Hinson, a rising Republican star, announced her 2026 Senate campaign to succeed retiring Sen. Joni Ernst, swiftly consolidating party support to keep Iowa firmly in the conservative column., as the Daily Caller reports.
On Tuesday, Ernst confirmed her retirement plans, and Hinson wasted no time declaring her candidacy. The same day, she secured endorsements from four Republican senators, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer. This rapid unification signals the GOP’s determination to avoid a messy primary.
By Friday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and NRSC Chairman Tim Scott added their weighty endorsements. Scott praised Hinson’s alignment with President Trump, saying she’s a “fighter” for Iowa. That’s code for someone who’ll battle the progressive agenda tooth and nail.
“Having traveled Iowa with Ashley, I know she is the fighter the Hawkeye State needs,” Scott said. But let’s be real -- his enthusiasm is less about Hinson’s charm and more about her ability to keep Iowa red in a post-Trump ballot world.
Hinson, in a statement, thanked Thune and Scott, vowing to “keep Iowa red” and push Trump’s agenda. Her words are a dog whistle to conservatives wary of woke policies creeping into the heartland.
Hinson has served in Congress since 2021, representing Iowa’s 2nd District. She crushed her Democratic Party opponent in 2024 by 60,000 votes, despite the district’s narrow Republican voter edge of 30,000. That’s not just a win; it’s a mandate.
The NRSC, in a Wednesday memo, called Hinson a “formidable contender” for the Senate seat. They’re not wrong -- her track record suggests she’s a political bulldozer, ready to steamroll any Democrat in her path.
“Rep. Ashley Hinson has emerged as a formidable contender,” the NRSC memo declared. But their confidence isn’t just about Hinson; it’s a bet on Iowa’s growing rejection of left-leaning policies.
The NRSC memo crowed about Democrats’ “near-total collapse” in Iowa. They pointed to Trump’s victories in 2016, 2020, and 2024 as proof of the state’s rightward shift. Iowa, once a swing state, now feels like MAGA country.
“The result is a near-total collapse of Democrat strength,” the memo boasted. It’s a polite way of saying Democrats are floundering in a state that’s had enough of their progressive experiments.
The Cook Political Report rates the 2026 Iowa Senate race as “likely Republican.” Their analysis even suggests Hinson could outperform Ernst, who’s no slouch herself. That’s a bold claim, but Hinson’s Trump loyalty might just make it true.
Hinson’s campaign mirrors the GOP’s swift support for Mike Rogers in Michigan and Michael Whatley in North Carolina. In Michigan, Trump endorsed Rogers in July, and the NRSC backed him to fend off primary challengers. The party’s clearly playing chess, not checkers.
Michigan’s Senate race, with three Democrats duking it out in a chaotic primary, is a juicy opportunity for Republicans. The NRSC’s memo sneered that any Democrat emerging from that brawl will be “no match” for their nominee. Ouch—that’s a zinger with teeth.
Hinson, like Rogers and Whatley, benefits from the GOP’s laser focus on 2026. With her Trump-aligned credentials and Iowa’s conservative tilt, she’s poised to keep the Senate seat out of woke hands. The fight’s just beginning, but Hinson’s got the upper hand.
