Ashley Hinson

The neutral encyclopedia of notable people


Ashley Hinson
BornAshley Elizabeth Hinson
27 6, 1983
BirthplaceDes Moines, Iowa, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationPolitician, former journalist
EducationUniversity of Southern California (BA)
Children2
Website[[hinson.house.gov hinson.house.gov] Official site]

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. A member of the Republican Party, Hinson first represented Iowa's 1st congressional district before redistricting shifted her constituency to the 2nd district. Her district covers much of northeastern Iowa, including the cities of Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Cedar Falls, and Dubuque.[1] Before entering Congress, Hinson served as a member of the Iowa House of Representatives from the 67th district from 2017 to 2021, becoming the first woman to represent that district.[2] In the 2020 election, 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, Hinson is a candidate in the 2026 United States Senate election in Iowa, seeking the seat being vacated by retiring Republican incumbent Joni Ernst.[4]

Early Life

Ashley Elizabeth Hinson was born on June 27, 1983, in Des Moines, Iowa.[1] She grew up in Iowa before pursuing higher education out of state. Details about her parents and upbringing beyond her Iowa roots are limited in publicly available records. Hinson would later return to Iowa following her college education to begin her career in broadcast journalism, eventually settling in the Cedar Rapids area where she would build both her professional and political career.[5]

Education

Hinson attended the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, California, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.[1][6] While at USC, Hinson was involved with the Annenberg Television News (ATVN), the student-run television news operation at the university's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.[6] Her training at the Annenberg School provided the foundation for her subsequent career in broadcast journalism.

Career

Journalism

After graduating from USC, Hinson pursued a career in television journalism. She worked as a news anchor and reporter at KCRG-TV, the ABC affiliate station in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.[7] During her time at KCRG, Hinson covered a range of local and regional news stories, building name recognition across eastern Iowa. Her journalism career gave her significant visibility in the Cedar Rapids media market, which would later prove advantageous in her political campaigns. Hinson departed KCRG to pursue a career in politics, first running for a seat in the Iowa House of Representatives.

Iowa House of Representatives (2017–2021)

Hinson ran for the Iowa House of Representatives in the 67th district in the 2016 general election. She won the race, becoming the first woman to represent the 67th district in the Iowa House.[2][8] She succeeded Kraig Paulsen, who had previously held the seat.[5]

Hinson served in the Iowa House for two terms, from January 9, 2017, to January 3, 2021.[2] During her tenure in the state legislature, she served during the 87th and 88th General Assemblies of the Iowa Legislature.[2] Her time in the state house provided her with legislative experience that she would later carry into her congressional campaigns and service.

In the 2018 election cycle, Hinson faced Democratic challenger Eric Gjerde. The race included a competitive advertising campaign, with both candidates attacking one another's records in television advertisements.[9] Hinson won reelection, securing her second term in the Iowa House.[10] After Hinson departed the Iowa House to serve in Congress, Eric Gjerde succeeded her as the representative for the 67th district.[5]

2020 Congressional Campaign

In May 2019, Hinson filed to run for Iowa's 1st congressional district, challenging incumbent Democratic Representative Abby Finkenauer.[11] Hinson had been publicly considering a congressional bid prior to her filing, drawing attention from local media outlets given her profile as a state legislator and former television journalist.[7]

The campaign drew significant financial support. By January 2020, Hinson had raised $1.1 million for the race, demonstrating substantial fundraising capacity for a challenger campaign.[12] In February 2020, Hinson turned in more than four times the required number of signatures to secure a spot on the primary ballot, signaling strong grassroots organizational support.[13]

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

In the November 2020 general election, Hinson defeated Finkenauer in a closely contested race. The victory made Hinson one of thirteen Republican women newly elected to the House that cycle, a development that received national media attention.[3] Hinson 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 Abby Finkenauer as the representative for Iowa's 1st congressional district.[16] Following redistricting after the 2020 census, the boundaries of Iowa's congressional districts were redrawn, and Hinson's constituency was renumbered as the 2nd congressional district beginning with the 2022 election cycle. She won reelection and has continued to serve as the representative for the 2nd district.[16]

In Congress, Hinson has been a member of the Republican Study Committee, the largest caucus of House conservatives.[17]

Legislative Priorities

During her time in Congress, Hinson has focused on issues related to family policy and affordability. In February 2026, she authored an opinion piece advocating for the extension of 529 plans to cover child care expenses, arguing that such a policy change would benefit Iowa families by making child care more affordable.[18]

Hinson has also been active on immigration-related matters. In February 2026, she questioned whether an Iowa City nonprofit should maintain its tax-exempt status after the organization conducted training related to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, drawing public attention to the issue.[19] This action drew a response from a coalition of Iowa clergy leaders under the banner of Escucha Mi Voz Iowa, who sought a meeting with Hinson; her office stated that previous meeting offers had been declined.[20]

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

2026 U.S. Senate Campaign

Hinson is a candidate in the 2026 United States Senate election in Iowa, running to succeed retiring Republican Senator Joni Ernst.[4] In her campaign, Hinson has emphasized themes of affordability and government oversight.[4]

The race has drawn a contested field. Democratic candidate Zach Wahls, a state senator from Coralville, Iowa, has criticized Hinson for her support of President Donald Trump's tariff policies, arguing that the tariffs are harmful to Iowa's agricultural economy.[23][24] The Senate race has been a focus of Iowa political coverage, with media outlets covering both Hinson's policy positions and the broader dynamics of the contest.[4]

Personal Life

Hinson's married name is Arenholz.[5] She has two children.[5] Hinson resides in the Cedar Rapids area of Iowa, which falls within the congressional district she represents.[5]

Recognition

Hinson's 2020 election victory was noted nationally as part of a broader trend of Republican women winning seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. She was among thirteen Republican women newly elected to the House in that cycle, a development covered extensively by national media outlets.[3] Along with Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Hinson holds the distinction of being one of the first Republican women elected to represent Iowa in the U.S. House.[3]

Prior to her congressional service, Hinson's election to the Iowa House of Representatives in 2016 was notable as she became 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.http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=H001091.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Legislator Information — Ashley Hinson".Iowa Legislature.https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/legislator?ga=88&personID=18049.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.https://www.wqad.com/video/news/local/this-week/inside-iowas-senate-race-and-the-fight-over-dhs-funding-news-8-this-week-feb-22-2026/526-ad9ed574-30ef-4b75-a26c-2adf4cd23a31.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 "Ashley Hinson".Ballotpedia.https://ballotpedia.org/Ashley_Hinson.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Ashley Hinson — ATVN Alumni".Annenberg Television News (ATVN).http://www.atvn.org/alumni/AshleyHinson.html.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.https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/2016/general/canvsummary.pdf.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.https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/IA/91323/Web02-state.222648/#/c/C_2/s/C_2_3.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.https://caffeinatedthoughts.com/2020/02/hinson-turns-in-more-than-four-times-the-required-signatures-to-be-on-the-ballot/.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.https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/H0IA01174/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Representative Ashley Hinson".Congress.gov.https://www.congress.gov/member/ashley-hinson/H001091.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ "RSC Membership".Republican Study Committee.https://rsc-banks.house.gov/about/membership.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.https://www.wqad.com/video/news/politics/iowa-politics/iowa-national-guard-members-killed-in-syria-to-be-honored-at-state-of-the-union/526-e9db8882-f582-4995-86f2-1f0304f73ae0.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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