Iowa Republican Senate candidate Ashley Hinson asked supporters this week to help fund her campaign buses with “gas money,” prompting Democratic opponent Josh Turek to seize on the rhetoric as Iowa motorists and farmers grapple with rising fuel costs.
Hinson made the request Wednesday at a campaign stop in Fort Dodge as part of her statewide bus tour.
“Take advantage of the outrage over these lies they tell us about us on TV, because if they’re willing to lie to me, they’re willing to lie to you,” Hinson told supporters. “So I hope you’ll turn this into action, get your friends out to vote, help give us some bus gas money, make sure we show up to the polls because there’s more to do.”
Turek responded on Friday, highlighting the irony of Hinson asking supporters for “gas money” after he repeatedly voted against measures aimed at ending U.S. involvement in the war with Iran.
“Now she’s begging for gas money while Iowans are struggling to fill their gas tanks and Iowa farmers are struggling to afford diesel to harvest their fields,” Turek wrote on X. “This is shameful.”
newsweek CNN reached out to both campaigns on Saturday for additional comment.
The exchange comes as fuel prices have become a prominent issue in the final weeks of Iowa’s Senate race.
On Saturday, AAA set the average price for regular gasoline in Iowa at $4.14 a gallon, up from $2.72 a gallon a year ago. Diesel prices averaged about $6.07 per gallon, compared with about $3.43 per gallon a year ago.
Nationally, gasoline prices remain unusually high for this time of year, while crude oil prices remain high, AAA said this week.
Fuel costs have figured prominently in the rivalry between Hinson and Turek, in part because of their differences over the ongoing war in Iran.
During the candidates’ final debate on Tuesday, Turek argued that the conflict had led to higher costs for gasoline, diesel and agricultural inputs in Iowa. He accused Hinson of voting seven times to continue the conflict, a characterization linked to her voting against resolutions aimed at limiting President Donald Trump’s ability to continue engaging in the war.
Hinson defended the votes while also calling for an end to the conflict.
During the debate, she said she wanted an end to the war but believed the United States needed to ensure Iran did not develop nuclear weapons. She said she believed the U.S. military could achieve that goal.
Both candidates also opposed Trump’s move to ease sanctions affecting Russian diesel imports.
“We need to lower the price of diesel, but I don’t think we need a deal with Russia to do that,” Hinson said during the debate.
She suggested temporarily lowering gasoline taxes, possibly creating a diesel rebate program for agricultural producers and expanding the use of U.S. biofuels as ways to lower fuel costs.
Turek also opposed reliance on Russian diesel, saying lower prices should not come at the expense of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Candidates clash over Iran, fuel costs
Hinson has sought to establish his position on rising fuel prices while distancing himself from some of the government’s energy policies.
During an appearance in Fort Dodge, she said “there’s more work to be done to lower the cost of gas and groceries.” She also supports suspending fuel taxes and says the war in Iran needs to end.
At the same time, Turek proposed temporarily suspending federal and state gasoline taxes, suspending diesel exports and tapping the strategic petroleum reserve. He believes that ending the war with Iran is ultimately necessary to lower fuel costs.
The issue has particular resonance in largely farm states heading into November elections.
Karen Kedrowski, professor of political science at Iowa State University, previously stated newsweek Hinson’s decision to break with Trump on Russian diesel during this week’s debate was notable in a largely agricultural state because the cost of diesel is important to farmers and other rural voters.
Steffen W. Schmidt, professor of political science at Iowa State University, previously stated newsweek Turek could benefit by targeting fuel prices as part of his attack on Hinson.
“In a race as tight and close as this, I wouldn’t be surprised if Turek catches up and overtakes Hinson, especially since he effectively ties her to wealthy Americans and the Trump-related rise in gasoline and diesel prices,” Schmidt said.
The gas money rhetoric provides Turek another opportunity to make a point as the candidates enter the final weeks of the campaign.
Iowa Senate race remains tight
Hinson and Turek are vying for the Senate vacancy vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Joni Ernst.
A Marist poll conducted Oct. 8-11 showed Turek had the support of 48% of likely Iowa voters, while Hinson had 45%. The margin of error for likely voters was plus or minus 6.6 percentage points, meaning the difference was within the poll’s margin of error.
A YouGov survey conducted from October 6 to 12 showed Turek’s approval rating at 47% and Hinson’s 46% among 2,245 likely voters, with a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points.
Other surveys show Hinson holding a narrow lead. An Emerson College poll of 650 likely voters conducted Oct. 5-6 found Hinson at 47 percent and Turek at 45 percent, with a margin of error of 3.8 percentage points.
RealClearPolling listed a YouGov survey of 2,245 likely voters conducted from Oct. 6 to Oct. 12 that showed Turek at 47 percent and Hinson at 46 percent, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
Trump won by more than 13 points in 2024, making the close race for Ernst’s seat one of the most closely watched Senate battles of the midterm elections.
newsweek’s Reporters and editors used our artificial intelligence assistant Martyn to produce this story. Learn more about Martin here.