Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds endorses Ashley Hinson for U.S. Senate

SIOUX CITY — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has endorsed U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson in her bid for the U.S. Senate.

Reynolds made the endorsement during Hinson's event at the Sioux City Orpheum Theatre on Thursday. Hinson, a Republican from Marion, is currently serving her third term representing Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House.

"We believe in hard work, we believe in responsibility, we believe parents — not bureaucrats — know their kids best, and we believe that the money you earn belongs to you and not the government," Reynolds said. "Those values guide me as your governor, and they are the same values that guide Ashley Hinson every single day."

Reynolds is the latest high-profile backer of Hinson's campaign to succeed Joni Ernst in the U.S. Senate. Ernst, a two-term incumbent Republican, announced on Sept. 2 she would not seek re-election.

On Sept. 5, President Donald Trump endorsed Hinson's bid, as did Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota. U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., and U.S. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., are also supporting Hinson, as is Iowa House Majority Leader Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton.

Jim Carlin, a former Republican state lawmaker from Sioux City, is the only other candidate running in the Republican primary and has drawn support from state Sens. Kevin Alons, R-Salix, and Sandy Salmon, R-Janesville.

Recommended Reading

Who’s running for U.S. Senate in Iowa?

State Rep. Josh Turek, state Sen. Zach Wahls, former Chamber of Commerce director Nathan Sage and former state Rep. Bob Krause are running in the Democratic primary.

Hinson said her endorsements show the importance of the race.

"Our governor knows how hard it is to turn a state around, to make sure that you have a good, strong leadership and make those tough decisions," Hinson said. "She and I have worked together for a number of years, making a lot of those tough decisions in tandem … I think for me, when I look at that endorsement, it means the world because she understands what it takes to be a U.S. Senator."

The stop on Thursday was part of Hinson's 99-county tour, which she started in September after announcing her bid for U.S. Senate. The tour is modeled after U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley's yearly 99-county tour. Hinson was in Clive on Tuesday to speak before President Donald Trump at the Horizon Events Center.

  Buy Photo

Hinson said it's important to maintain Republican control of the Senate in order to continue President Trump's agenda.

"We can't see that come to a screeching halt. We have to move our country forward, just like we've kept Iowa moving," Hinson said. "We have to keep our country moving, so President Trump needs a strong ally in the United States Senate, and I'm your girl."

Hinson said she thinks about the future for her children, and that drives her in her current position, and her bid for senate.

"I think about what I want for our communities, and I want safe streets, I want prosperous business opportunities which creates jobs for hard working Iowans. We want a strong, robust agriculture economy because we feed and fuel the world," Hinson said. "Those are all things we share as priorities, and we've seen how close that can come to going away. Overregulation, overspending, overtaxing, all those things put more and more burdens on everyone in this room."

During the event Thursday, protesters gathered across the street from the Orpheum Theatre, holding signs reading "no ICE," "Reynolds is a traitor," "abolish ICE," "impeach," and "vote blue." The echoes of chants and whistles could be heard throughout the event.

Local activist Garie Lewis said every protester had a different reason for being there, but the common theme was they are fed up with what is happening in Iowa.

"We think Gov. Reynolds has done a terrible job," Lewis said. "We don't want Ashley Hinson to be in Washington."

Lewis said it is important to be visible because it seems the politicians do not listen when they call or email.

"Visually we want them to see that we're here in opposition to just about everything they do," he said.

On Wednesday, Hinson said she opposes adding new restrictions on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents even as Senate Democrats threatened to block government funding without reforms, following the killing of Alex Pretti in Minnesota. The House-approved DHS funding package includes bipartisan guardrails negotiated earlier this year, including $20 million to purchase body cameras for ICE and Border Patrol agents and $2 million for de-escalation training for officers who regularly interact with the public.

Reporting from the Lee-Gazette Des Moines Bureau contributed to this story.