Republicans aren’t wasting time in Iowa. Within days of Rep. Ashley Hinson launching her bid to replace retiring Sen. Joni Ernst, party heavyweights lined up behind her—signaling they want this primary over before it starts.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune and NRSC Chair Tim Scott endorsed Hinson on Friday, with the Senate Leadership Fund—the GOP leadership-aligned super PAC—also pledging support. The message is clear: rally early, avoid a family brawl, and keep a red-leaning seat out of Democratic reach. (Dodging a competitive GOP primary, strategists note, reduces the chance of a Democratic pickup in the Hawkeye State.)
Hinson, a former TV anchor and three-term House member, is already pitching herself as a reliable Trump ally and prolific fundraiser. She reported $2.8 million cash on hand, giving her a head start against former state Sen. Jim Carlin, who’s also seeking the nomination. Donald Trump hasn’t weighed in yet, but Hinson’s backers are working to frame her as the candidate to “deliver” his agenda in 2026 and beyond.
Democrats, who need to net four seats to flip the chamber, aren’t counting Iowa among their top targets—yet. A messy Republican primary could change that math, which is precisely why GOP leaders are moving to clear the lane.
Ernst’s surprise retirement created a rare open seat in a state that’s grown friendlier to Republicans in recent cycles. If party leadership gets its way, Hinson will skip the intraparty slugfest and head straight for a general-election campaign stocked with cash, endorsements, and the aura of inevitability.
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