Iowa Democrats Launch State Fair Billboard Ad Criticizing Hinson's Wealth

From the big stories to the little moments, your support helps us cover it all. The Iowa Democratic Party launched an ad campaign Thursday targeting U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson's finances, aiming to reach voters at and around the Iowa State Fair. The campaign is part of IDP's "Iowa Can't Afford Ashley" tour, which has included events and ads criticizing Hinson for becoming more wealthy since she began serving in the U.S. House. Democrats, including Hinson's opponent in the U.S. Senate race, state Rep. Josh Turek, have said Hinson has misrepresented herself in statements and interviews saying she is a "working mom" who understands the pressure Iowa families are facing because of rising costs. Hinson has said she relates to struggles with affordability, but her opponents argue she has become significantly wealthier since first taking office in 2021, partially related to her husband not divesting from stock in his former company. The new ad campaign focuses on sharing this information with visitors to the Iowa State Fair, an IDP spokesperson said. Blocks away from the Iowa State Fairgrounds, a billboard advertisement stating "Ashley Hinson got up to 10x richer in Congress" and saying the Republican made "up to $7.5 million while in Congress" will appear and be seen by "thousands of Iowans leaving the fair" for the 10-day state fair, according to a news release. The numbers used in the ad refer to analysis of federal financial disclosures of Hinson's finances between 2021 and 2026 published by the progressive news organization Heartland Signal. A billboard near the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines on East University Avenue will feature an ad, paid for by the Iowa Democratic Party, criticizing U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson's personal finances as she runs for the U.S. Senate seat in 2026. (Photo courtesy of the Iowa Democratic Party) The ad, paid for by the Iowa Democratic Party and authorized by Turek's campaign, will be on East University Avenue between East 27th and East 28th streets, according to the party. IDP spokesperson Drew Myers said the ad campaign is a way to ensure Iowans heading to the State Fair know how the Republican candidate's personal finances differ from an average Iowa family, and how her policies would raise costs. "Iowans traveling to the Iowa State Fair this year are paying more for gas and food because of Ashley Hinson," Myers said in a statement. "As they leave the fair, our billboard will make clear that as Hinson voted to raise their costs, she's been using her office to enrich herself and grow her net worth by up to ten times. Come November, Iowans are going to reject Hinson's corrupt, self-dealing because Iowa cannot afford Ashley." Democrats have criticized Hinson's vote to pass the "One, Big Beautiful Bill" Act, for not supporting extending premium subsidies under the Affordable Care Act as well as her decisions not to oppose President Donald Trump's tariff policies or the war in Iran as positions that have driven up costs for Iowans, especially for healthcare and gas. Hinson and her campaign have defended her position on measures like the 2025 tax and spending law, saying that the measure helped working families by repealing taxes on tips and overtime. Billy Fuerst, a campaign spokesperson for Hinson's campaign, said in a statement Thursday, "Josh Turek would raise taxes on working Iowans and side with Schumer, Mamdani, and Abdul Al-Sayed to make life less affordable for Iowa families… that's if he even shows up at all." His comments reference GOP criticism that Turek missed votes in the Iowa Legislature — though Turek's campaign has pointed out that Hinson and other lawmakers running for office miss votes. "He has said he wants to repeal the working families tax cuts and would end the Child Tax Credit, No Tax on Tips, and no tax on overtime," Fuerst said in a statement. "Ashley is fighting to put more money back into Iowans' pockets and lower the cost of living." The IDP will also be distributing fans and placards from the party booth at Iowa State Fair saying "Iowa Can't Afford Ashley" as part of the campaign. From breaking news to community stories, get the latest in your inbox.