Trump rallying behind Senate candidate Ashley Hinson in Iowa as she vows to fend off White House

Sioux City, Iowa — President Trump is expected to meet with Rep. Ashley Hinson on Thursday in Iowa as he seeks to promote Republican candidates in a political environment that has faded for the party — prompting slight pushback from the very candidates he supports.

Hinson, who is running for the open Iowa Senate seat, initially pledged to be the president’s “chief ally” in the upper chamber. But as she faces Democratic Rep. Josh Turek in a contest that, like many in the Hawkeye State, has become more competitive than expected, she has adjusted that commitment in recent weeks.

When she and Turek faced off in a debate earlier this month, the former local news anchor said she would be Mr. Trump’s ally when it was “important to Iowa.” But she said she would “push him back” when necessary — as she said she would no matter who is in the White House.

Last week, Hinson told Fox News, “If he says something wrong, I’m going to challenge him.”

“I’m not afraid to say, ‘Hey, I disagree with you on this,'” she said. “But I will be someone’s ally when they are with me.”

For Republicans, the Senate race in Iowa is just one of several elections in which Democrats appear competitive despite Mr. Trump winning the state by double digits in 2024. Iowa was hit hard by high energy prices and the U.S.-China trade war last year, which led Beijing to boycott U.S. soybeans. It’s a situation that seemed unthinkable at the start of the cycle – and one that puts the Republican majority in the Senate at stake.

Hinson, who has represented the state in the House since 2021, said she would be at the rally on Thursday to welcome Mr. Trump to Iowa, “because I think this is a contrasting election.”

As the nation faces challenges, she asked the question: Who do Iowans want at the helm?

“You want a mom, a mom who drives a minivan and uses common sense, who brings that common sense back to Washington, D.C.,” she said. “I think that’s what Iowans want as a U.S. senator.”

Hinson placed the minivan motif at the heart of his campaign. She linked the image to her focus on working with Mr. Trump for Iowans earlier this week, describing a recent call with the president.

“I had just finished dropping the boys off, I was ready to run an errand,” Hinson said at an event in Des Moines for moms, alongside Sen. Katie Britt. “And I see a pop-up about my caller ID in my minivan, ‘DJT’.”

She continued: “‘Ashley, he’s your favorite president,’ that’s how he introduced himself.”

Hinson said the call lasted five minutes and that Mr. Trump “was just checking on us here in Iowa.” She said she thanked the president for his efforts to advance trade with China and asked about a deal allowing China to buy more soybeans.

At the event, Hinson also made his final break with the president, according to Semafor, telling reporters, “I don’t think we need to make any more deals with Russia,” regarding Mr. Trump’s lifting of sanctions against Moscow.

The criticism follows Hinson’s decision to part ways with the president’s handling of the presidency. war with Iran at the end of last month. Nestled in a message expressing support for methods to combat high prices, such as a pause on diesel exports, Hinson made one of the first breaks between a Republican Senate candidate and the president over the war, writing: “The war must be brought to a successful and immediate conclusion.” »

The statement contrasts with Hinson’s vote earlier in September, when the House considered a resolution to rein in the president in Iran. While two other Iowa Republicans in close races supported the resolution, Hinson opposed it.

At the debate a few weeks later, Turek pressed Hinson on those votes, saying during a discussion about energy costs, “We’re in this situation because of this unnecessary war in Iran that Ashley Hinson voted to continue.” »

Hinson clarified during the debate that she believes the war must be ended “immediately and successfully” by not allowing Iran to possess nuclear weapons and ensuring that U.S. allies in the region are protected. When asked why she didn’t support efforts to pass war powers resolutions in Congress, Hinson said, “I don’t think we need another resolution.”

“And I certainly don’t want to see the president unable to end this war in an orderly manner,” she added.

Thursday’s rally marks the president’s second visit to Iowa this year, following launched a campaign midterm with a trip to the Des Moines area in January. Mr Trump also announced plans last month to build the largest steel mill in US history in Iowa, during an Oval Office event attended by Hinson. During the announcement, the president pledged to travel to the state for a “major rally” aimed at electing Republican candidates.

“We’ll save you a good Iowa pork chop, sir,” Hinson replied.