ICYMI: Josh Turek Leads on Solution to Fuel Crisis Hinson Created, Hinson Tries to Play Catch Up and Erase Her Record of Voting 7x to Continue Iran War

ICYMI: Josh Turek Leads on Solution to Fuel Crisis Hinson Created, Hinson Tries to Play Catch Up and Erase Her Record of Voting 7x to Continue Iran War

Days after Josh released his plan to lower fuel prices, Hinson tried (and failed) to distract from her votes to hike gas and diesel prices in Iowa 

Des Moines, IA – Last week, after voting to continue the Iran War for the seventh time, Ashley Hinson left Washington to take yet another extended vacation instead of working to lower prices for Iowans. Yesterday, days after Josh released his multi-pronged plan to lower fuel prices for Iowans, Hinson tried to distract from her longtime support for the war that has taken the lives of three Iowans and made life unaffordable for families and farmers across the state. 

The attempt at a pivot comes after three polls showed Josh leading Hinson by 4+ points and National Republicans sounded the alarm that a flailing Hinson could lose, with SLF begging donors for millions of dollars to bail her out and allies sharing “growing fears that the race is too close for such a red state.”

Hinson can try to rewrite history, but Iowans across the state are hearing all about how Josh is the leader that Iowans need to lower fuel prices and end the forever wars. 

Missed it? See below for some highlights.

On Hinson following Josh’s lead, finally calling for action to lower fuel prices she voted to raise: 

Iowa Capital Dispatch: Turek says he’s ‘happy’ Iowa Republicans joined his push for diesel export pause. “Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Josh Turek said Monday he was happy to see Iowa Republicans, including his opponent, Republican Ashley Hinson, join his call to take steps to lower diesel costs.”

• MORE: Turek, a state representative from Council Bluffs, released a plan Sept. 16 calling for the U.S. to pause diesel exports, temporarily suspend the federal gas tax and open the strategic oil reserves to lower fuel costs. On Monday, he told reporters he believed these steps were needed to “some temporary relief” on fuel costs — an especially important topic in Iowa, Turek said, because Iowa farmers are preparing for harvest season.
• EVEN MORE: Turek said “even Senator Grassley agreed with me” on calling for the U.S. to stop exporting domestically produced diesel, a stance Grassley posted about on social media Saturday, when he wrote “why doesn’t Pres Trump put an embargo on diesel exports like presidents in the 70s put embargoes on ag products bc food prices were inflated.”
• AND MORE: When asked about Hinson’s proposal, Turek said, “I’m happy that she saw my proposal and decided that it was a good idea.” Turek also criticized Hinson for voting against a war powers resolution to curb President Donald Trump’s military powers in Iran. Two Iowa Republicans, U.S. Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn, voted in favor of the measure last week…

The Gazette: Hinson, Miller-Meeks join Turek in calling for diesel export pause. “Hinson’s proposal overlaps with a fuel-relief plan her Democratic opponent in Iowa’s open U.S. Senate race released days earlier. Both called for temporarily suspending the federal gasoline tax and pausing U.S. diesel exports, while state Rep. Josh Turek, of Council Bluffs, also proposed drawing additional oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.”

• MORE: Turek seized on Hinson’s announcement, arguing she had adopted portions of his plan after initially responding by emphasizing biofuels and criticizing his tax record…Hinson last week voted against a House war-powers resolution directing Trump to remove U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran. 

Radio Iowa: Turek, Grassley, Hinson call for suspending US diesel exports. “Democrat Josh Turek rolled out a series of proposals last Wednesday. He said the federal gas tax should be temporarily suspended and exports of U.S. produced diesel should be halted. ‘That was something that even Senator Grassley agreed with me on,’ Turek said.”

• MORE: “Everywhere I’m going, particularly in rural communities as we’re in harvest season…it’s just an all-time bad moment for them — high interest rates, commodity prices being low, diesel prices being at an all-time high,” Turek said this morning. “I think the tariffs and the war have hurt Iowans and Iowa rural communities and farmers more than any other state.”

WOWT: “Turek released his plan last week. His Republican opponent, Representative Ashley Hinson, released her plan today.” “Turek says he wants to pause the federal gas tax and temporarily end exports of U.S. produced diesel. Turek released his plan last week.”

• MORE: His Republican opponent, Representative Ashley Hinson, released her plan today. It consists of many of Turek’s points plus a new federal program that provides a diesel relief fund for farmers. 

Des Moines Register: Iowa candidates rush out plans to lower sky-high gas, diesel prices.  “Ashley Hinson is failing Iowans. She should be in Washington doing whatever she can to lower the sky-high fuel prices she caused by voting seven times to continue this war,” Turek said. “Instead, she’s taking yet another extended vacation, leaving Iowans struggling to fill up their gas tanks and harvest their fields while her big oil donors continue to rake in record profits.”

• MORE: Turek also criticized Hinson on social media Sept. 21 over her votes against congressional resolutions to end the Iran war, including on Sept. 15. Unlike Hinson, Iowa Republican U.S. Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn, who are seeking reelection in swing districts, broke with their party to support the measure. “It’s easy to send a tweet, but when you had the chance to vote to end this war, you chose not to,” he said. “You voted seven times to continue it, including just last week. It’s time to actually end the forever wars and put Iowa and Iowans first.”

KTIV: Rising fuel prices became flashpoint in fuel debate. “State Rep. Josh Turek … held a campaign event at a Des Moines business … He spoke with one of the owners about how higher tariffs and fuel prices affect small businesses and their customers.

• MORE: Turek last week proposed temporarily pausing the federal gas tax, tapping into the strategic reserves to boost fuel supply, and temporarily stopping diesel exports to build up supply in the United States. U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson (R - 2nd District, Marion) Monday also called for pausing the federal gas tax.

KGAN: How Iowa’s Senate candidates propose lowering fuel costs. “Democrat Josh Turek outlined a three-step approach Wednesday aimed at providing immediate relief to Iowa families and farmers. His proposal includes tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, pausing diesel exports and temporarily suspending the federal gas tax.”

• MORE: Republican Ashley Hinson announced her plan on social media Monday. Like Turek, Hinson called for temporarily suspending the federal gas tax and pausing diesel exports… Last week, Hinson did vote against a resolution that would have limited President Trump’s war powers.’’

On Hinson’s desperate attempt to walk back her support for the war she has voted seven times to continue, making clear she is concerned about her standing in this race:

NBC News: Iowa GOP Senate candidate Ashley Hinson calls for Iran war to end despite voting to let Trump continue it. “Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, has voted against House resolutions directing President Donald Trump to halt the war with Iran six times, including as recently as last week.” 

• MORE: It drew a quick response from her Democratic opponent, Josh Turek, who also pointed to a seventh vote by Hinson against ending U.S. hostilities in Lebanon as part of the conflict in the Middle East. In a reply to Hinson, Turek wrote on X, “it’s easy to send a tweet but when you had the chance to vote to end this war, you chose not to.” “You voted seven times to continue it, including just last week. It’s time to actually end the forever wars and put Iowa and Iowans first,” Turek continued. “Glad you’re finally following my lead after waffling on the proposals I put forward last week to address the rising costs of the war in Iran.”

POLITICO: “Not everyone is buying it. Her Democratic opponent, Rep. Josh Turek, pointed out on Monday that Hinson has voted against multiple House resolutions directing Trump to end the war with Iran — including as recently as last week. Turek added that Hinson’s proposals for addressing high costs echoed those of his campaign. ‘Glad you’re finally following my lead after waffling on the proposals I put forward last week to address the rising costs of the war in Iran,’ Turek said in a social media post responding to Hinson’s.”

The Hill: “Hinson’s Democratic opponent, state Rep. Josh Turek, blamed Hinson for being part of the problem of higher prices because she voted against war powers resolutions directing Trump to withdraw troops from the Iran conflict.”

The New Republic: Republican Senate Nominee Who Backed Trump’s War Now Eating Her Words. “Hinson also didn’t mention her own voting record: She has voted six times against House resolutions calling for Trump to end the war…Hinson is polling neck and neck with her Democratic opponent, state Representative Josh Turek, and is clearly worried that failing to acknowledge the war’s impact could hurt her in November.”

Puck News: “Iowa has long been a Republican stronghold, but the Iran war and Trump’s tariffs have imposed huge costs on the state’s agribusinesses. Several G.O.P. campaign strategists texted me that the situation is getting dire…Hinson opposed every House war powers resolution aimed at ending the Iran war.”

Sahil Kapur, NBC News: “Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, who’s running for Senate, says the Iran war “needs to be brought to a successful and immediate end.” A messaging pivot: Hinson voted NO six times on House resolutions directing Trump to end the Iran war — including as recently as last week.”

Patrick Svitek, CNN: “Hinson voted against the latest Iran war powers resolution last week, even as two House Republicans from Iowa, Zach Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, supported it for the first time.”

Bayliss Wagner, New York Times: “This is perhaps Hinson’s clearest statement yet linking the Iran War to high gas prices. She voted against a resolution to reign in Trump’s war powers last week.”

Jonathan Martin, POLITICO: “A month ago today, I asked Hinson at the Iowa State Fair if it was time to end the Iran war. She ignored the question. Now the answer: ‘the war needs to be brought to a successful and immediate end.’”

Adam Wren, POLITICO: “A confidential GOP @Senate_Fund memo warns donors Josh Turek’s ‘image is net positive and a third of Iowa voters are still undecided,’ and say they need an additional $7m to boost Rep. Ashely Hinson. Iowa becoming a real problem for GOP.”