Iowans Slam Hinson at her Campaign Event for Rising Costs, Opposing A Stock Trading Ban
Ashley Hinson Constituent: “I Think We Need a Representative That Has Our Back”
Ashley Hinson Constituent: “When [Hinson] Was Talking About Holding Private Stock and How She Was Against That, That’s When I Got Angry.”
DES MOINES – Yesterday ahead of Ashley Hinson’s GOTV event in Cedar Rapids, Iowa leaders, small business owners, and farmers were joined by dozens of Hinson’s constituents to call her out for making their lives more unaffordable.
Together, they shared stories about how Hinson’s failing record in Washington prioritizes politics over Iowans. In particular, Hinson was called out for failing to sign a discharge petition to ban individual stock trading–despite currently running on the issue.
See What Iowans Are Reading:
The Gazette: Hecklers disrupt Hinson rally as Iowa U.S. Senate candidate touts stock trading ban
- Outside the Veterans Memorial Building, several dozen demonstrators gathered Wednesday afternoon at Plaza Park and lined First Avenue ahead of the rally. The group criticized Hinson’s support for Republican-backed policies they said have increased costs for Iowa families. Protesters carried signs reading “Hinson Hurts Iowans” and “Country Over Party,” while passing motorists frequently honked in support.
- At a news conference before the rally, state Sen. Molly Donahue, a Democrat from Marion, said Iowa families are “facing a huge cost of living crisis.”
- She accused Hinson of backing policies that have driven up healthcare, grocery and energy costs for Iowans. She criticized Hinson’s votes against extending Affordable Care Act tax credits and against the Inflation Reduction Act, arguing those decisions increased costs for families and senior citizens.
- Berleen Wobeter, a rural Tama County farmer who said she and her husband operate a small cow-calf herd, said many farm families are struggling to navigate rising costs and industry consolidation.
- “People who have been farming for 50 years can’t find their way through this chaos,” Wobeter said.
- Shawn Gallagher, owner and president of Cedar Rapids-based Adcraft Printing, argued the Republican-backed “One Big Beautiful Bill” disproportionately benefits wealthy Americans and corporations while weakening protections for workers and small businesses.
- Gallagher also criticized Hinson’s opposition to the PRO Act, saying workers deserve “a higher standard of living” and the ability to “provide a roof over their head and food for their families, while working a 40-hour-week job.”
- “I think we need a representative that has our back,” he said.
KGAN:
- Before the event the Iowa Democratic Party held a news conference across the street from where Hinson’s event happened. One of the speakers was state Sen. Molly Donahue (D-Marion).
- “People are very vocal about how angry they are and how they are really having a hard time deciding whether they’re going to pay their bills or buy their medicine,” Donahue told Iowa’s News Now. “And that is not how Iowans should have to live.”
- Nell Mari Barrios, one of those who were removed from the rally, said she got irritated after Hinson “told multiple lies.”
- “When she was talking about electeds holding private stock and how she was against that, that’s when I got angry,” Barrios told Iowa’s News Now.
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