Tom Cotton supports Ashley Hinson with a new advertisement for the 2026 Iowa Senate race

Senator Tom Cotton’s Efforts to Bolster GOP Majority

Senator Tom Cotton, a central figure in the Senate leadership, is ramping up efforts to solidify and enhance the GOP’s presence as the upcoming elections approach.

This initiative, launched alongside a nonprofit public advocacy group, features an advertisement that centers on Iowa Representative Ashley Hinson. Hinson is gearing up for the 2026 election to replace retiring Republican Senator Joni Ernst.

The ad marks Cotton’s latest campaign effort. He’s an Army veteran and a prominent Republican figure who has supported his party’s candidates during the mid-term elections, all while maintaining the party’s 53-47 majority.

“Iowa has a fighter jet in Washington. Her name is Ashley Hinson,” the ad’s narrator states, as shared with digital media outlets.

Hinson’s Senate Campaign

Formerly a local TV anchor, Hinson has gained the backing of President Donald Trump, Senator John Thune, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Their support aims to keep the open Senate seat in Iowa within Republican hands.

The narrator emphasizes Hinson’s strong stance on crime and her tough position on China, noting her efforts to prevent foreign purchases of American farmland and her vote in favor of President Trump’s tax cuts.

Campaign Strategy and Funding

Cotton’s political group plans to invest significantly in advertisements throughout Des Moines, targeting both broadcast and digital channels.

This is the second advertisement in this election cycle aimed at bolstering Republican candidates, following a previous ad that took aim at Democratic Senator John Ossoff of Georgia.

Earlier this month, Cotton’s Leadership PAC launched an ad that focused on former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina. A spokesperson mentioned that they intend to back candidates nationwide throughout this election cycle to broaden support in the Senate, promoting their accomplishments while exposing Democratic opponents’ records.

Cotton’s National Role and Future Speculations

Cotton, who faced no Democratic challengers during his re-election in 2020, has been actively campaigning for Republican candidates across the country. He is not expected to have a challenging reelection in red state Arkansas next year.

The support for Hinson could hint at Cotton’s ambitions for the future, especially considering his previous intentions to run for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. However, he ultimately backed off from that prospect shortly before the mid-term 2022 elections.