BURSTRep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) launched her campaign for Senate on Tuesday, hours after Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) announced she would not seek reelection in next year’s midterm elections.
“I’m all in. I’m running for the United States Senate to fight alongside President Trump and deliver on the America First agenda,” Hinson said in a post on X.
“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,” she continued.
Hinson was first elected to Congress in 2020, ousting former Rep. Abby Finkenauer (D-Iowa) in Iowa’s second congressional district. Prior to serving in Congress, Hinson was a member of Iowa’s state house. The congresswoman began her career as a broadcast journalist in Cedar Rapids, Ia.
The race for Ernst’s seat is quickly becoming one of the most closely watched Senate races of the cycle. The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report had rated her seat as “likely Republican” before news of Ernst’s retirement broke.
Democrats have signaled that they see opportunity in the state.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Democratic Senate Campaign Committee Chair Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said in a joint statement following Ernst’s announcement that the GOP majority in the Senate was in jeopardy.
“Donald Trump and Senate Republicans’ devastating agenda has put their majority in jeopardy,” the Democrats said. “Republicans can see the writing on the wall: spiking costs and ripping away health care does so much damage to their states that they would rather leave the Senate than defend their actions to voters. Democrats are in a strong position to win seats and continue fighting for working families.”
However, Democrats still face an uphill climb in the Senate race. Trump won the state by 13 points in November.