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A Democrat Senate hopeful viewed arsenic captious to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s bid to retake Senate power is drafting disapproval complete his attendance record.
Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, nan Republican Senate nominee, blasted her Democratic opponent, authorities Rep. Josh Turek, D-Iowa, for missing 58% of House votes during nan 2026 convention while receiving tens of thousands of dollars successful payer benefits fixed to authorities legislators.
The absences, Hinson argues, are a achromatic people connected Turek, a two-time Paralympic golden medalist, who is seeking to flip nan Republican-held spot successful November’s midterm elections.
"The truth is out. He's an absentee legislator," Hinson told Fox News Digital successful a caller interview. "He accepted much than $20,000 successful per diem benefits, but hardly showed up."
Republican campaigner for Senate U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, is interviewed aft voting astatine Linn-Mar Educational Leadership Center successful Marion, Iowa, connected June 2, 2026. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
TRUMP-ENDORSED HINSON SECURES IOWA SENATE NOMINATION AS DEMOCRATS EYE GOP SEAT
Hinson’s comments came aft Fox News Digital previously reported that Turek missed 261 of nan chamber’s votes betwixt Jan. 12 and May 3, amounting to a astir 60% absence rate.
Turek, who has served successful nan Iowa legislature since 2023, spent overmuch of that play locked successful a contentious Democratic superior against a progressive backed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.
Under Iowa authorities law, legislators person a tax-free per diem of $201 for each time nan legislature is successful session. The per diem was paid for 100 legislative days this year, meaning Turek collected $20,100.
"He was skipping votes to be ritzy fundraisers," Hinson said, referring to a study successful The Washington Free Beacon that recovered Turek missed a ballot successful May connected an appropriations measure providing backing for veterans’ assistance while attending a fundraiser hosted by nan nonprofit broadside of nan Schumer-aligned group, VoteVets.
"He was skipping votes to support farmers done nan Iowa Farm Bill," she continued.
Hinson, who has formed nan hotly contested title to win Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, arsenic a opposition betwixt her grounds and Turek's, touted her ain attendance numbers.
"I person a 98.8 percent voting grounds successful Congress," Hinson told Fox News Digital. "Iowans request a legislator who's going to show up and beryllium their advocate."
Asked for remark by Fox News Digital, nan Turek run sharply criticized Hinson's ain record.
"Ashley Hinson is simply a multi-millionaire who skipped votes connected nan yearly defense backing measure to fundraise and wasted $50,000 successful payer costs to salary for her luxury D.C. apartment," a spokesperson for nan Turek run said.
Hinson, a personnel of nan House Armed Services Committee, was absent during a information of nan panel's markup for this year's National Defense Authorization Act. The measure is expected to deed nan House level this week.
Under House rules, lawmakers are eligible for taxpayer-funded reimbursements for definite lodging expenses while successful Washington nether a programme adopted successful 2023.
Iowa Democratic U.S. Senate campaigner Josh Turek speaks during a superior nighttime rally astatine The Loft successful Des Moines, Iowa, connected June 2, 2026. State Democratic and Republican parties held superior elections that day. (Charlie Neibergall/Getty Images)
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The spat comes arsenic Hinson and Turek look locked successful a dormant heat, according to caller polling.
Though nan Republican-leaning authorities has not elected a Democratic legislator successful astir 2 decades, immoderate Democrats reason that a mediocre governmental situation for Republicans, chiefly driven by elector discontent complete nan system and nan costs of living, has put nan unfastened spot successful play.
A Fox News poll released earlier successful July recovered that Hinson trailed Turek 46% to 50% wrong nan survey’s separator of error. The study besides showed that Trump has a nett favorability standing of minus 13 points successful Iowa, pinch conscionable 42% of Iowans viewing him favorably.
Asked astir nan study showing a statistical tie, Hinson mostly brushed speech nan numbers, saying she "always run[s] for illustration [she's] 10 points behind" and vowed to "earn each azygous vote."
"I understand we're successful a reliable clip for our country," Hinson told Fox News Digital. "I'm a minivan-driving mom, and I understand it's reliable to support those groceries stocked. It's reliable to capable up nan minivan pinch gas, and times are tough."
"My committedness is to proceed to get retired location and perceive straight from Iowans and show their stories successful Washington truthful we tin make judge we're really getting nan authorities retired of nan measurement and lowering costs for Iowa moving families," she continued.
"Iowans conscionable want personification who's communal sense, who tin subordinate to what they're going through," Hinson said. "And I deliberation I will bring that to this predetermination and triumph successful November."
Hinson is endorsed by President Doanld Trump and has represented a northeastern Iowa spot including Cedar Rapids since 2021. Before serving successful Congress, she served successful nan authorities legislature and was a broadcast journalist.
A elector casts a ballot astatine a polling location wrong nan Coralville Public Library during a superior predetermination successful Coralville, Iowa, connected Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Miriam Alarcón Avila/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates nan title arsenic "Lean Republican" aft shifting nan title toward Democrats pursuing Turek's superior win.
