MARION, Iowa – Ashley Hinson, Republican candidate in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District race, turned in more than 7,300 signatures to the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office, more than four times the minimum requirement of 1,614 signatures needed to have her name appear on the ballot. Hinson turned in close to 2,200 signatures from Linn County alone.
“Today our campaign took the first step towards winning back Iowa’s first congressional district,” said Hinson. “I am so thankful to all of our dedicated volunteers who helped us with this effort. It’s proof that we’re building a strong grassroots operation that will have what it takes to win on Election Day. I am humbled at the opportunity to serve Iowans in Congress and I look forward to taking my message to every corner of all twenty counties in the 1st district.”
Since launching her campaign, Hinson has been recognized as one of the strongest House candidates in the country. She was recently announced as a ‘contender’ by the National Republican Congressional Committee. She has been endorsed by top Republicans in Washington D.C. and Iowa including Governor Kim Reynolds and Lt. Governor Adam Gregg. Some of her key financial supporters include Ernst Victory Iowa PAC (Sen. Joni Ernst), Majority Committee PAC (Leader Kevin McCarthy), Eye of the Tiger PAC (Rep. Steve Scalise), Cowboy PAC (Rep. Liz Cheney) and E-PAC (Rep. Elise Stefanik).
National political forecasters believe the Iowa’s 1st Congressional District race will be one of the most competitive races in 2020. The Cook Political Report has rated the race as a “toss up.”
A former news anchor and current representative for Iowa House District 67, Hinson has a record of winning tough elections. She won in 2018 in a swing district to help hold the Iowa House majority and outperformed the Republican ticket by 5-8 points across House District 67, the heart of the Iowa 1st Congressional District. She won 9 of 13 precincts in House District 67 in spite of Democratic outside groups outspending Republican outside groups.