President Trump is rallying in Sioux City, Iowa, on Thursday with Rep. Ashley Hinson, the Republican running for Iowa's open Senate seat. He is trying to help Republican candidates in a political climate that has dimmed for the party, and some of those candidates are now offering modest pushback on him 1.
Hinson first pledged to be the president's "top ally" in the Senate. As her race against Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek has grown more competitive than expected, she has adjusted that promise 1. The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan election forecaster, rates the race a toss-up 2.
What Hinson is saying now
At a debate earlier this month, Hinson said she would be Mr. Trump's ally when it is important for Iowa, and that she would push back on him when needed 1.
Last week she told Fox News: "If he's going to say something that's wrong, I'm going to challenge him on it." This week, according to Semafor, she said, "I don't think we need to be making any more deals with Russia." That referred to Mr. Trump's waiver of sanctions against Moscow 1.
Late last month Hinson also wrote that "The war needs to be brought to a successful and immediate end." She was writing about the war with Iran, and it was one of the first splits by a GOP Senate candidate with the president over the war 1.
The vote Democrats are pointing to
In September, the House considered a resolution aimed at reining in the president in Iran. Two other Iowa Republicans in tight races supported it. Hinson opposed it 1.
Turek pressed her on that at the debate. Asked why she does not back war powers resolutions, Hinson answered, "I don't think we need another resolution" 1.
We are in this situation because of this unnecessary war in Iran that Ashley Hinson voted in favor of continuing.
Why Iowa is in play
Mr. Trump won Iowa by double digits in 2024, yet Democrats look competitive in several races there. Iowa has been hit hard by high energy prices and last year's U.S.-China trade war. In that war, Beijing boycotted American soybeans 1.
That picture appeared unthinkable at the start of the election cycle, and it puts the Republican Senate majority on the line 1. On Oct. 9, Cook also moved two congressional districts in Iowa toward Democrats and rated the 2nd District a toss-up 2.
What happens next
The Sioux City rally is Mr. Trump's second Iowa visit this year. His first was in January 1. Iowa's Republican Party chair, Jeff Kaufmann, has said Mr. Trump plans another stop on Nov. 1, with details not yet announced. Election Day is Nov. 3 2.
That matters because candidates who say they will break with a president usually do so when they fear their own voters are unhappy. Voters can compare Hinson's words this month with her September vote.
The Record
Sources
- CBS News, “Trump rallying with Hinson in Iowa as she pledges to push back on White House” (2026-10-22). cbsnews.com/news/trump-rally-iowa-ashley-hinson-senate-josh-
- KMPH (syndicated), “Trump plans two Iowa visits before Election Day, with Sioux City rally set for Oct. 22” (2026-10-15). kmph.com/news/nation-world/president-trump-planning-two-stop
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