Ashley Hinson

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Ashley Hinson
BornAshley Elizabeth Hinson
6/27/1983
BirthplaceDes Moines, Iowa, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationPolitician, former journalist
EducationUniversity of Southern California (BA)
Children2
Websitehinson.house.gov

Ashley Elizabeth Hinson (born June 27, 1983) is an American politician and former television journalist serving as the U.S. representative for Iowa's 2nd congressional district since 2021. She's a Republican who first represented Iowa's 1st congressional district before redistricting moved her to the 2nd. Her district covers much of northeastern Iowa, including Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Cedar Falls, and Dubuque.[1] Before entering Congress, she served in the Iowa House of Representatives from the 67th district between 2017 and 2021, becoming the first woman to represent that district.[2] In 2020, Hinson narrowly defeated incumbent Democratic Representative Abby Finkenauer, becoming one of the first Republican women to represent Iowa in the U.S. House of Representatives.[3] As of 2026, she's running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Republican Joni Ernst.[4]

Early Life

Born on June 27, 1983, in Des Moines, Iowa, Ashley Elizabeth Hinson grew up in the state before heading out for college.[1] The public record doesn't say much about her parents or early childhood beyond those Iowa roots. After finishing college, she moved back to Iowa and started her career in broadcast journalism, eventually settling in the Cedar Rapids area where she'd launch both her professional and political life.[5]

Education

Hinson attended the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.[1][6] While there, she got involved with Annenberg Television News, the student-run operation at the university's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.[6] That training gave her the foundation for her work in broadcast journalism.

Career

Journalism

After graduating from USC, Hinson moved into television journalism. She worked as a news anchor and reporter at KCRG-TV, the ABC affiliate in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.[7] At KCRG, she covered local and regional news stories, building real name recognition across eastern Iowa. That journalism work gave her serious visibility in the Cedar Rapids media market, something that'd help her later in political campaigns. Eventually she left to run for the Iowa House.

Iowa House of Representatives (2017–2021)

In 2016, Hinson ran for the Iowa House from the 67th district and won, becoming the first woman to hold that seat.[2][8] She succeeded Kraig Paulsen.[5]

She served two terms, from January 9, 2017, to January 3, 2021.[2] During that time, she participated in the 87th and 88th General Assemblies of the Iowa Legislature.[2] That state legislative experience would matter when she ran for Congress.

In 2018, Hinson faced Democratic challenger Eric Gjerde in a competitive race. Both candidates went hard at each other with television ads attacking each other's records.[9] Hinson won reelection and secured her second term.[10] When she left for Congress, Eric Gjerde took over her state house seat.[5]

2020 Congressional Campaign

May 2019 marked the start of her congressional bid. Hinson filed to run for Iowa's 1st district, taking on incumbent Democratic Representative Abby Finkenauer.[11] She'd been considering a congressional run before that filing, and local media picked up on it given her profile as a state legislator and former TV journalist.[7]

The campaign had serious financial backing. By January 2020, she'd raised $1.1 million, showing substantial fundraising strength for a challenger.[12] In February 2020, she turned in more than four times the required signatures for the primary ballot, a sign of strong grassroots support.[13]

On June 2, 2020, Hinson won the Republican primary for Iowa's 1st district, clinching the party's nomination to face Finkenauer in the general election.[14]

November's general election was close. Hinson won, defeating Finkenauer in a hard-fought contest. Her victory made her one of thirteen Republican women newly elected to the House that year, a story that got national attention.[3] She and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who won Iowa's 2nd district, became the first Republican women to represent Iowa in the U.S. House of Representatives.[3][15]

U.S. House of Representatives (2021–present)

Hinson took office on January 3, 2021, succeeding Finkenauer in Iowa's 1st congressional district.[16] Redistricting after the 2020 census changed everything. Iowa's congressional districts got redrawn, moving her constituency to the 2nd district starting in 2022. She won reelection and continues serving the 2nd district.[16]

Her membership in the Republican Study Committee reflects her place in House conservative leadership, as it's the largest such caucus.[17]

Legislative Priorities

Family policy and affordability have been her focus in Congress. In February 2026, Hinson wrote an opinion piece backing expansion of 529 plans to cover childcare expenses, arguing it'd help Iowa families afford care.[18]

Immigration has also drawn her attention. She questioned whether an Iowa City nonprofit should keep its tax-exempt status after the organization conducted training related to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, bringing the issue into public view in February 2026.[19] A coalition of Iowa clergy leaders called Escucha Mi Voz Iowa responded by seeking a meeting with her, though her office said previous meeting offers had been turned down.[20]

Hinson hosted family members of two Iowa National Guard soldiers killed in Syria in December 2025 as her State of the Union guests in February 2026, alongside fellow Iowa Representative Zach Nunn and Senator Joni Ernst.[21][22]

2026 U.S. Senate Campaign

She's running for Senate. Specifically, she's a candidate in the 2026 U.S. Senate election in Iowa, seeking the seat Joni Ernst is leaving.[4] Her campaign emphasizes affordability and government oversight.[4]

The race has gotten crowded. Democratic candidate Zach Wahls, a state senator from Coralville, has hit her on tariffs. He argues that Hinson's support for President Donald Trump's tariff policies harms Iowa's agricultural economy.[23][24] Iowa news outlets have covered the race closely, tracking both her positions and the broader contest dynamics.[4]

Personal Life

Her married name is Arenholz.[5] She has two children.[5] She lives in the Cedar Rapids area, within the district she represents.[5]

Recognition

Her 2020 win was part of something bigger. Hinson was among thirteen Republican women newly elected to the House that year, something national media covered extensively.[3] Like Mariannette Miller-Meeks, she holds distinction as one of the first Republican women elected to Iowa's U.S. House delegation.[3]

Before Congress, her 2016 election to the Iowa House was notable too. She was the first woman to represent the 67th district.[2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "HINSON, Ashley Elizabeth". 'Biographical Directory of the United States Congress}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Legislator Information — Ashley Hinson". 'Iowa Legislature}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "13 GOP women joining the House to dominate congressional elections".Fox News.https://www.foxnews.com/politics/13-gop-women-joining-the-house-to-dominate-congressional-elections.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Inside Iowa's Senate race and the fight over DHS funding: News 8 This Week, Feb. 22, 2026". 'WQAD}'. February 22, 2026. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 "Ashley Hinson". 'Ballotpedia}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Ashley Hinson — ATVN Alumni". 'Annenberg Television News (ATVN)}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Rep. Hinson considering run for Congress".KCRG.https://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Rep-Hinson-considering-run-for-Congress-504553552.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ "2016 General Election Canvass Summary". 'Iowa Secretary of State}'. 2016. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ "Gjerde and Hinson attack one another's record in TV ads".KCRG.https://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Gjerde-and-Hinson-attack-one-anothers-record-in-TV-ads-499458821.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ "Iowa 2018 General Election Results". 'Clarity Elections}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ "Ashley Hinson Files For 1st District Run Against Abby Finkenauer".Iowa Starting Line.May 13, 2019.https://iowastartingline.com/2019/05/13/ashley-hinson-files-for-1st-district-run-against-abby-finkenauer/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ "Ashley Hinson has raised $1.1 million in Iowa 1st District race".The Gazette.January 8, 2020.https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/government/ashley-hinson-has-raised-11-million-in-iowa-1st-district-race-20200108.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ "Hinson Turns In More Than Four Times the Required Signatures to be on the Ballot". 'Caffeinated Thoughts}'. February 2020. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ "Hinson wins 1st District Republican nomination, will face Finkenauer".KCRG.June 3, 2020.https://www.kcrg.com/2020/06/03/hinson-wins-1st-district-republican-nomination-will-face-finkenauer/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ "Candidate: Ashley Hinson". 'Federal Election Commission}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Representative Ashley Hinson". 'Congress.gov}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ "RSC Membership". 'Republican Study Committee}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  18. ↑ "Hinson: Extending 529 plans to child care would help Iowa families".Telegraph Herald.February 18, 2026.https://www.telegraphherald.com/news/opinion/article_c8ad5764-ee7e-400d-8d9a-524a882cb601.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ "Rep. Ashley Hinson questions nonprofit's tax status after ICE training".KCRG.February 4, 2026.https://www.kcrg.com/2026/02/04/rep-ashley-hinson-questions-nonprofits-tax-status-after-ice-training/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ "Escucha Mi Voz Iowa clergy seeks meeting with Hinson; office says offers were declined".KGAN.February 2026.https://cbs2iowa.com/news/local/escucha-mi-voz-iowa-clergy-seeks-meeting-with-hinson-office-says-offers-were-declined.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  21. ↑ "Families of Iowa soldiers killed in Syria to be guests at State of the Union address".Radio Iowa.February 24, 2026.https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/02/24/families-of-iowa-soldiers-killed-in-syria-to-be-guests-at-state-of-the-union-address/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  22. ↑ "Iowa National Guard members killed in Syria to be honored at State of the Union". 'WQAD}'. February 24, 2026. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  23. ↑ "Wahls Blasts Hinson For Backing Trump's Tariffs".KIWA Radio.February 2026.https://kiwaradio.com/news/wahls-blasts-hinson-for-backing-trumps-tariffs/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  24. ↑ "Wahls, running for Iowa's U.S. Senate seat, blasts Hinson over Trump's tariffs".Radio Iowa.February 23, 2026.https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/02/23/wahls-running-for-iowas-u-s-senate-seat-blasts-hinson-over-trumps-tariffs/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
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