Ashley Hinson Launches Senate Campaign to Succeed Joni Ernst in Iowa

The next conservative firebrand to watch has officially entered the Senate race. Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA), a rising Republican star and fierce Trump ally, announced her candidacy Monday to succeed Sen. Joni Ernst in 2026.

“I’m running to be President Trump’s top ally in the United States Senate,” Hinson declared on Iowa’s popular Simon Conway Show.

With Iowa’s senior Senator Joni Ernst stepping aside after over a decade of service, Hinson is stepping in not just to hold the seat, but to lead the charge in restoring American strength, securing our borders, and protecting conservative values that Washington has been all too eager to abandon.

Why Ashley Hinson’s Run Matters:

• She’s already proven herself in the House, representing Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District with grit and conviction for three terms.

• Backed by national GOP leadership, Hinson launched her Senate campaign with endorsements from Republican heavyweights, including Sens. Katie Britt (AL), Markwayne Mullin (OK), Jim Banks (IN), and House leaders like Steve Scalise and Elise Stefanik.

• She’s pledging a 99-county campaign tour echoing the traditional Iowa playbook and showing she's ready to earn every vote.

Hinson brings a fresh but fearless approach to politics. A former journalist-turned-lawmaker, she’s carved out a reputation as one of the most effective conservative communicators in Congress. Her campaign priorities read like a checklist of everything the Left hates:

• Secure the southern border and end the invasion.

• Protect women’s sports from radical gender ideology.

• Cut taxes for hardworking Iowa families.

• Defend Iowa’s farmers and agriculture economy.

• Help young Iowans achieve homeownership and raise strong families.

The timing is crucial. While Joni Ernst has been a dependable conservative, Hinson offers a generational shift younger, media-savvy, and fully aligned with Trump’s populist movement. With President Trump dominating the Iowa political landscape, her message is calibrated to resonate across the Hawkeye State.

“Iowa is better off thanks to your selfless service,” Hinson said in a message thanking Ernst.

Meanwhile, the Democrats are spinning their wheels.

Despite media attempts to paint Iowa as a battleground, the state has been drifting red for years. Trump won Iowa by 9 points in 2016, 8 points in 2020, and a decisive 13 points in 2024. Republicans currently control both Senate seats, all four House seats, and all statewide offices except one.

Yet Democrats are hoping for a miracle, trotting out a crowded primary field of mostly unknown candidates. The list includes a Paralympian, a school board chair, and a local chamber of commerce director none of whom have the name ID, resources, or message to take on a Trump-backed conservative in Iowa.

In contrast, Hinson’s path is clear. She's already proven herself in Washington. Now she's bringing that experience back home, channeling it into a campaign that promises to keep Iowa firmly in Republican hands and to serve as a firewall against the radical left's grip on the Senate.

“The NRSC is confident Iowans will elect a Republican to continue fighting for them and championing President Trump’s agenda,” said Sen. Tim Scott, head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

With the Senate map already tilting in the GOP’s favor for 2026, Iowa’s open seat could be the platform for Ashley Hinson to rise not just as a successor, but as a national conservative leader in her own right.

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