Trump Urges Iowa Supporters to Turn Out for Ashley Hinson Against Josh Turek/ NEWSLOOKS/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ President Donald Trump rallied in Sioux City on Thursday to support Republican Senate nominee Ashley Hinson and energize Iowa voters. Hinson emphasized her relationship with Trump while maintaining that she would challenge policies she believes hurt the state. Democrat Josh Turek is campaigning on affordability and selective cooperation with the president as television advertising spending exceeds $200 million.
Quick Look
- Sioux City rally: Hinson appeared before Trump in conservative northwest Iowa.
- Turnout appeal: Trump urged supporters to vote as though he were running.
- Independence message: Hinson promises to support Trump when it benefits Iowa and push back when necessary.
- Policy disagreements: She has criticized expanded beef imports and deals involving Russian diesel.
- Turk's pitch: The Democrat blames tariffs and the Iran war for higher costs but offers cooperation on immigration.
- Heavy advertising: Broadcast and cable television spending has surpassed $200 million.
- Another visit expected: Trump is scheduled to return to eastern Iowa on Nov. 1.
Deep Look
Trump Campaigns for Hinson in Sioux City
President Donald Trump visited Sioux City on Thursday to rally support for Republican Senate nominee Ashley Hinson, whose campaign combines an appeal to his loyal supporters with promises of independence.
Hinson spoke before Trump at the gathering in Iowa’s conservative northwest, highlighting her access to the president and her requests for assistance for the state.
“I’m not sure, frankly, that he’s always happy when we’re talking because I ask him for a lot of things for Iowa when we’re on the phone,” she told hundreds of supporters. “And that’s exactly what you would expect me to do, right? As your next United States senator.”
Trump later joked that Hinson was “such a pain” because of those requests.
He attacked Democratic nominee Josh Turek as a “woke, far-left radical” and warned that Democratic midterm victories would mark the “start of something very bad, very dark, very horrible for our country.”
“I’m asking you to do me a very big favor,” Trump said. “I’m asking you to pretend that I’m running.”
The president is expected to return to the other side of Iowa on Nov. 1.
Hinson Balances Presidential Access With Promises to Push Back
Hinson, a U.S. representative, has presented different aspects of her relationship with Trump as she courts both Republican loyalists and undecided voters.
She recently recalled receiving a telephone call after dropping her sons off at school and seeing “DJT” appear on her phone.
“’Ashley, it’s your favorite president,’” she recounted. “That’s how he introduced himself.”
During a debate with Turek, she emphasized her willingness to disagree with him.
“I’ll be President Trump’s ally when it is important for Iowa, but I will push back on him,” Hinson said. “He knows this.”
The approach comes as Iowa confronts manufacturing job losses, healthcare clinic closures and reduced farm profits. Hinson must address those concerns while encouraging the president’s supporters to participate in the midterms.
Campaign Message Shifts Toward Bipartisanship
When Hinson launched her Senate bid last year, she promoted Trump’s endorsement and described her goal as becoming his “top ally” in the Senate.
She now says she wants to be “Iowa’s best bipartisan fighter.”
Polling from late September and early October suggests she has attracted approximately one in 10 voters who disapprove of Trump while retaining overwhelming support among those who approve of him.
Her public disagreements with the administration have become more frequent since the summer.
In August, Hinson called Trump’s proposal to increase beef imports to reduce prices “a bad idea,” arguing it would harm Iowa farmers.
Iran War and Russian Diesel Expose Policy Differences
Last month, two Republican members of Iowa’s House delegation voted to restrict Trump’s ability to continue the Iran war without congressional approval.
Hinson did not join them. She later said the conflict had become too costly for Americans and called for a “successful and immediate end.”
She has also criticized Trump’s decision to ease Russian sanctions in exchange for diesel fuel.
On Tuesday, she said the United States must ensure that “dictators aren’t allowed to win wars.”
“I think the president and I share the goal of lowering costs for working families and for people who are using diesel,” she told reporters. “I, again, just don’t think we need to be making any deals with Russia.”
At that point, Hinson said she had not discussed the issue directly with Trump.
“Maybe I’ll have a chance to come have a conversation with him at the rally,” she added.
Turek Criticizes Trump’s Economic Policies
Turek, a state lawmaker, campaigned in Sioux City on Tuesday and said Trump’s visit offered the president an opportunity to see the consequences of his policies.
He argued that tariffs and the Iran war have “hurt Iowa more than any other state.”
Turek portrays Hinson as a rubber stamp for policies he blames for higher costs. At the same time, he says he would cooperate with Trump on selected issues, particularly immigration.
That positioning allows him to criticize the administration while appealing to voters who want bipartisan action.
Democrat Offers Cooperation on Border Security
An Associated Press analysis of AdImpact data found that Turek is the only Iowa candidate seeking federal office who explicitly mentions Trump in general election television advertisements.
In one advertisement, Turek discusses Interstate 35, saying it “connects Iowa to the southern border and the broken immigration system that both parties have failed to fix.”
“In the U.S. Senate, I’ll work with anyone to fix it, including President Trump, to secure the border, stop the flow of drugs into Iowa,” he says.
Republicans argue that his moderate presentation is intended to win votes rather than reflect how he would govern.
Mazie Stilwell, executive director of Progress Iowa, said his immigration message reaches voters who prioritize the issue without displacing his focus on affordability.
She described Trump’s visit as “a terrific reminder of the disaster that he has been and his administration has been for our bottom line, for everyday Iowans who are trying to make ends meet.”
Iowa Senate Advertising Surpasses $200 Million
Broadcast and cable television advertising spending has exceeded $200 million this cycle, according to AdImpact.
Republicans have spent slightly more supporting Hinson than Democrats have supporting Turek.
That reverses the financial advantage Democrats held in 2020, when they spent nearly $30 million more than Republicans in an unsuccessful attempt to defeat Sen. Joni Ernst.
Adjusted for inflation, total advertising spending in that earlier race was even higher than the current total.
The investment reflects Iowa’s competitive Senate contest despite Trump’s double-digit victory in the state during the last presidential election.
Republicans Work to Counter Voter Complacency
Republican activist Kelley Koch worries that some conservatives believe Trump can deliver results without their participation in congressional elections.
“They say, ‘Why are you all hyped up about the midterms, Kelley, Trump will take care of everything,’” Koch said.
She expects “the Trump effect” from his visits to help Republicans defend their House and Senate majorities.
Although Koch supports Hinsonshe disagrees with the candidate’s emphasis on challenging the president.
“Right now,” Koch said, “we had better unite around our president.”
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