Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, voted against House resolutions directing President Donald Trump to stop the war with Iran six times, including last week. But on Monday, the Republican Senate candidate called for an “immediate end” to the conflict. “Iowans are being squeezed and should not have to foot the bill at the pump or in the checkout line for the war in Iran,” Hinson wrote in “These cost-reducing actions are necessary as soon as possible, and the war must come to a successful and immediate end,” he said. This prompted a swift response from his Democratic opponent, Josh Turek, who also noted a seventh Hinson vote against ending US hostilities in Lebanon as part of the conflict in the Middle East. In response to Hinson, Turek wrote on X, “it’s easy to tweet, but when you had the chance to vote to end this war, you chose not to.” “I’m glad you’re finally following my lead after dithering over the proposals I put forward last week to address the rising costs of the war in Iran.” Last month, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report with Amy Walter changed its rating of the Iowa Senate race from “leans Republican” to “unbalanced.” Trump won the state in the last three presidential elections, and Democrats have not won a Senate race there since 2008. Hinson’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment about his past votes against Iran’s war powers measures in the House. The latest resolution passed the House 220-204 last Tuesday, with seven Republicans joining all Democrats present to support it. Among those seven were Reps. Zach Nunn and Marianette Miller-Meeks of Iowa, who had previously opposed such measures but changed their position. Both are running for re-election in contested House districts. The Cook Political Report calls their races “divergences.” Hinson, a three-term congressman, has increasingly characterized himself as “bipartisan” and has slowly distanced himself from the Trump administration as polls show voters disapprove of the president’s handling of the war and the economy. Their messages and votes highlight the difficult balance between winning Trump’s strongest supporters while appealing to the growing number of voters who are angry with him. Last month, Hinson opposed his proposal to import more foreign meat. Last week, when Vice President JD Vance went to Council Bluffs, Iowa, to rally for Republicans, Hinson did not attend, citing a scheduling conflict. “I want to thank an incredible public servant,” Vance said in his remarks. “I know she couldn’t be here today, but are we going to elect Ashley Hinson as the next United States Senator from the great state of Iowa?” Meanwhile, another Midwestern Republican Senate candidate running Tuesday in a tough race said the Iran war must end. Former Rep. Mike Rogers said in a video posted on social media that “the war with Iran must end and end quickly.” “When that happens, energy costs will plummet,” Rogers said. “But Michigan families can’t afford to wait for that to happen.” Like Hinson, Rogers said he supported suspending the state and federal gasoline tax and a temporary embargo on U.S. diesel exports. In response, Rogers’ Democratic opponent, Abdul El-Sayed, said on X: “You have spent your entire campaign supporting the war in Iran. Liar, coward, fraud.”
