Republicans Quickly Unify Around Ashley Hinson’s Senate Run To Succeed Retiring Joni Ernst

Republicans are quickly getting behind Iowa Rep. Ashley Hinson’s 2026 campaign as she vies to become the Hawkeye State’s next senator following Republican Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst’s decision to retire.

Hinson netted two major endorsements on Friday with Senate Majority Leader John Thune and National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) chairman Tim Scott publicly supporting her Senate run. The backing of Senate Republicans’ campaign arm — in addition to a slate of endorsements from House and Senate GOP leadership that Hinson rolled out on Tuesday to mark her campaign announcement — could help the Iowa Republican cruise to the general election contest with commanding party support. (RELATED: Ashley Hinson Announces Campaign For Retiring Joni Ernst’s Senate Seat)

“Having traveled Iowa with Ashley, I know she is the fighter the Hawkeye State needs to deliver President Trump’s agenda in 2026 and beyond,” Scott said in a statement. “Iowans are all-in for Ashley Hinson, and that’s why the NRSC and I are proud to stand with my friend, a proven conservative and staunch Trump ally.”

Hinson, a former TV news anchor, has served in Congress since 2021 while representing a northeast Iowa district. She defeated her Democratic challenger in 2024 by roughly 60,000 votes despite Iowa’s 2nd congressional district having less than 30,000 more active Republican registered voters than Democrats.

The NRSC circulated a memo on Wednesday touting Hinson’s strength as a candidate in the Iowa Senate race. The memo stopped short of fully endorsing Hinson’s candidacy, but argued that Hinson would easily beat any Democratic contenders in the race.

“Rep. Ashley Hinson has emerged as a formidable contender for the Senate seat and would be exceedingly difficult for any Democrat to challenge,” the memo reads. “Whatever Democrat emerges from their bruising primary will be no match for our nominee.”

The NRSC memo also emphasized Democrats bleeding support in the Hawkeye state over the past decade, including President Donald Trump carrying Iowa in 2016, 2020 and 2024.

“The result is a near-total collapse of Democrat strength,” the memo reads. “Once competitive at every level, Democrats have been shut out of Iowa’s federal delegation and face an electorate that now forms a cornerstone of the GOP’s Midwestern base.”

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the contest as “likely Republican” with analysis stating that Hinson could perform better than Ernst if the Senate incumbent had decided to seek a third term in 2026.

Hinson is a close ally of Trump and could motivate low-propensity voters to turn out in a midterm election year during which the president’s name is not on the ballot.

The Iowa Republican issued a statement on Friday thanking Thune and Scott for their support. The endorsement comes on the heels of four Republican senators, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer publicly backing Hinson’s campaign.

“The support we’ve received from America First conservatives across Iowa is incredible—we are ready to keep Iowa red and deliver President Trump’s agenda for working families!” Hinson wrote.

The swift consolidation of support for Hinson’s campaign mirrors Republicans’ efforts to get behind former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers‘ Senate campaign in Michigan. Republicans view the open Senate contest in Michigan as a top pick-up opportunity for the party during the midterms.

The NRSC and national Republican groups quickly unified around Rogers’ candidacy and worked to prevent any potential challengers from jumping into the race. President Donald Trump ultimately gave Rogers his endorsement in July, setting the Michigan Republican on a glide path to win the Republican nomination. The three Democratic candidates in the race continue to duke it out in a messy primary.

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