Rep. Ashley Hinson Announces Run for Ernst’s Senate Seat

WASHINGTON—Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) announced on Sept. 2 her campaign for the Senate to succeed Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa).

In a post on X, she aligned herself with President Donald Trump.

“I’m running for the United States Senate to fight alongside President Trump and deliver on the America First agenda,” she said. “From securing our border and deporting illegal aliens, to keeping men out of girl’s sports and cutting taxes for working families, I will fight every day for Iowans and our conservative values.”

Hinson, who represents Iowa’s Second Congressional District, was first elected to Congress in 2020. She was previously a member of the Iowa House of Representatives and a TV journalist.

Hinson already has the support of at least one GOP senator.

“I have supported Ashley Hinson since she first flipped her seat from Democratic control in 2020. She is a rising star in our party and staunch America First conservative, and now I’m excited to endorse her for the United States Senate,” Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said in a Sept. 3 statement posted by Hinson on X.

“Ashley and I have partnered on legislation to expel secret Chinese police stations from our cities, defend life, and uphold the rule of law. We need her leadership in the Senate to advance President Trump’s agenda and make America safe and prosperous.”

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the main fundraising and campaign arm of Senate Democrats, came out against Hinson.

“Republicans failed to convince Joni Ernst to run for reelection, and now they may be stuck with Ashley Hinson, who has repeatedly voted to raise costs and make life harder for Iowans by voting to slash Medicaid, cheering on the chaotic tariffs that threaten Iowa’s economy, voting against measures to lower the cost of insulin, and threatening Social Security,” Maeve Coyle, a spokesperson for the group, said in a Sep. 2 statement.

“In 2026, Iowans will reject Republicans’ efforts to rip away health care and spike costs for hardworking families.”

Five Democrats have entered the race to succeed Ernst. They include former Iowa state Rep. Bob Krause, Iowa state Sen. Zach Wahls, and Iowa state Rep. Josh Turek.

On Sept. 2, shortly before Hinson announced her campaign, Ernst announced that she would not run for reelection.

“My fellow Iowans, serving as your United States senator is the privilege of a lifetime, from growing up and working on my family’s farm in rural southwest Iowa to more than two decades of leadership in the U.S. Army Reserves and Iowa Army National Guard, where I deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom to my work as Montgomery County auditor, state senator, and now as your United States Senator,” she said in a video posted on X.

“It has been an honor to dedicate my life to the service of our great state and country, having been raised in a family who has given me so much love and support. Now, as our family ages and grows, it’s my time for me to give back to them.

“After a tremendous amount of prayer and reflection, I will not be seeking reelection in 2026.”