The Senate Majority PAC is investing an additional $17 million in Iowa, with plans to roll out a fall ad campaign criticizing U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson’s voting record in Congress as she runs for U.S. Senate.
The Thursday announcement from the Senate Majority PAC, a super PAC supporting Senate Democrats and aligned with party leadership, builds on a $13.4 million television reservation made in May, before the primary elections when Hinson officially became the Republican nominee seeking to fill the seat left by U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst in the 2026 general election. On the Democratic side, Iowa Rep. Josh Turek, D-Council Bluffs, defeated Iowa Sen. Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, to become the Democratic nominee for the seat.
Both television reservations are set to air in the fall. The PAC stated in a news release that the ad campaign will “focus on Ashley Hinson’s record of supporting legislation that raises prices on Iowa families,” specifically highlighting her vote for the “One, Big Beautiful Bill” Act that cut Medicaid funding, as well as support for President Donald Trump’s tariff policies and for continuing the war in Iran — though she has since called the war a “political liability.”
Political forecasters like Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball still favor Hinson to win over Turek, but Democrats are hopeful their party’s candidates may have better chances than expected in the upcoming midterms. National election watchers particularly see the U.S. House races in Iowa’s 1st and 3rd Districts, currently represented by Republican Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn, and the now-open gubernatorial seat where State Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat, takes on Republican nominee Zach Lahn, as races where Democrats have the potential to see victories.
