Republican candidate Ashley Hinson has begun airing television ads in the race to claim Iowa’s open U.S. Senate seat.
Hinson is the favorite to defeat former state Sen. Jim Carlin in the June 2 primary race. She is expected to face the winner of a competitive Democratic primary featuring state Rep. Josh Turek and state Sen. Zach Wahls.
Early voting for the primary begins May 13.
In the ad, her campaign’s first of the election cycle, Hinson sits in a diner and speaks directly to camera. She emphasizes her work with “both parties” and with Republican President Donald Trump.
“I’m Ashley Hinson and here’s what I believe,” she says in the spot. “Our veterans deserve a hell of a lot better, health care companies are ripping you off, and members of Congress should not trade stocks. That’s why I worked with both parties to expand mental health care for veterans. I’m working with President Trump to take on insurance companies and I’m fighting to ban stock trading in Congress.”
Hinson currently represents northeast Iowa’s 2nd District in Congress. She reported raising more than $2.3 million in the first quarter of 2026, and she has more than $6.5 million in cash on hand.
Both Wahls and Turek each raised about $1.12 million during that same time frame. Wahls ended the quarter with about $1 million in cash on hand and Turek reported about $757,000 in the bank.
Both Democrats have launched television ads in the primary race.
Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register. She writes about campaigns, elections and the Iowa Caucuses. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on X at @brianneDMR.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Republican Ashley Hinson launches first TV ad in 2026 US Senate race
Reporting by Brianne Pfannenstiel, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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