Ashley Hinson Fundraises With Pipeline Exec Fighting to Rip Away Land from Iowans as Prices Continue Spiking
In This Week’s Edition of the Ashley Accountability Alert, Hinson Fundraised with Pipeline Exec Who is “Leading the Charge to Take Away Private Property Rights of Iowa’s Farmers”
Meanwhile, Iowans are Paying More at the Pump, Grocery Stores, and Back-to-School Because of Hinson-Backed Tariffs and War
DES MOINES – This week, a new report from Iowa Starting Line revealed an Ashley Hinson campaign fundraiser hosted by “GOP megadonor” and “kingmaker” Bruce Rastetter, whose company is fighting to rip away land from Iowans to build a pipeline.
At the same time, reports showed Iowans are continuing to feel the squeeze from high prices because of Hinson’s support for chaotic tariffs and the war in Iran, with gas, grocery store bills, and back-to-school supplies reaching “astronomical” highs.
But that’s not all…
- First, new reports across Iowa showed just how bad the economy is for Iowans who are struggling to afford gas, groceries, and back-to-school supplies because of the Hinson-back war and tariffs.
- Iowa ranks 6th in the nation for fastest gas price increases last month, with costs up more than 10%. Meanwhile, rising grocery prices are leaving more Iowans hungry and forcing families to dig deeper into their pockets as beef prices “soar” to “astronomical” highs. If that weren’t enough, families getting ready to send their kids back to school are discovering that the cost of school supplies is up “nearly 8% from last year.”
- Ashley Hinson has repeatedly voted to drive up the cost of everyday essentials. She voted to drive up healthcare costs, continue the war in Iran, and support chaotic tariffs that are hurting Iowa farmers and making everything more expensive – all while increasing her wealth by up to ten times since she got to Washington.
- Then, Iowa Starting Line reported an Ashley Hinson fundraiser hosted by Bruce Rastetter, who Hinson’s former Republican Senate primary opponent called “the man who leads the charge to take away private property rights of Iowa’s farmers.”
- Rastetter and fellow Summit Agricultural Group exec Justin Kirchoff have given “nearly $60,000 to Hinson’s campaign committees since 2019.”
- To round out the week, Iowans came together outside the Linn County Lincoln Dinner to call out Ashley Hinson’s corruption and self-dealing at the expense of Iowans.
- Since Hinson has been in Congress, she has used her public office to enrich herself and her wealthy donors while voting to rip away healthcare and jack up prices.
See What Iowans Were Seeing and Reading This Week:
Iowa Starting Line: Pipeline exec accused of buying influence is now bankrolling Hinson
- Bruce Rastetter has spent years fighting to build a carbon capture pipeline across Iowa farmland, using the government’s power of eminent domain if landowners won’t sell. Documents obtained by Iowa Starting Line show he’s also throwing his weight behind US Rep. Ashley Hinson in her bid for Iowa’s competitive US Senate seat.
- Rastetter is the founder of Summit Agricultural Group and is a longtime GOP megadonor known in Iowa political circles as the “kingmaker.” He and Summit CEO Justin Kirchhoff are also listed as hosts of an Aug. 5 fundraiser for Hinson’s campaign.
- Rastetter and Kirchhoff have long been supporters of Hinson. Together, the pair has contributed nearly $60,000 to Hinson’s campaign committees since 2019.
- Rastetter’s money and influence have already drawn accusations of buying access.
- Hinson faced criticism over her Rastetter ties during her own primary this year, when opponent Jim Carlin argued one of her biggest donors was “the man who leads that charge to take away private property rights of Iowa’s farmers.”
KGAN: Back-to-school supply prices rise, local officials urge families to use resources
- As families across the country get ready to send their children back to school, many are facing higher prices for the supplies students need to start the year.
- A recent article published by The Century Foundation estimates families will spend an average of $175 per kid on school supplies this school year, up nearly 8% from last year. Prices for items such as notebooks, glue sticks and scissors have risen noticeably, as many families also deal with higher costs for gas, groceries and other necessities.
Business Insider: The 20 states where gas prices rose the most in July
- Since the Iran war began in late February, Americans have been feeling the effects at the gas pump…In these 20 states, price increases are outpacing the national average.
- 6. Iowa; Average gas price: $3.85; Average price one month ago: $3.48; Increase: 10.61%
Telegraph Herald: ‘Sticker shock’: Local producers, retailers navigate volatile beef market
- It’s no secret that consumers have been paying more for beef over the past few years.
- After prices remained relatively steady for decades, they have soared in recent years and reached record prices multiple times in 2025 and 2026.
- According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the national average price for one pound of ground beef in June was $6.83, up from $6.12 a year ago.
- James Starks, who was picking up groceries at the Locust Street Hy-Vee on Wednesday, said he has been affected by rising beef prices over the years and has made slight adjustments to his family’s spending habits.
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