Hinson Critiques Turek’s Absenteeism in Iowa Senate Debate
During a debate in Des Moines, Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) criticized her Democratic rival, Josh Turek, for his voting record—or, more specifically, for his absences, suggesting that Turek has neglected his legislative responsibilities.
“It’s crucial to point out that my opponent chose not to attend work 58% of the time this year, especially on issues that could have benefitted Iowans and farmers, like the Iowa Farm Bill. He opted not to vote on that bill,” Hinson, who is 43, asserted in the debate.
She continued, emphasizing Turek’s absenteeism, stating, “He has been one of the most absent legislators, and when he did participate, he voted very liberally.”
Hinson went a step further, arguing that if someone in the private sector operated under similar absenteeism, “you’re not getting a promotion; you’re getting fired.”
Turek, 47, responded by highlighting Hinson’s own record of missed votes in Washington, D.C. “She’s missed 193 votes herself. When she’s been in Congress, she has supported cuts to healthcare in a state grappling with a healthcare crisis and a significant cancer crisis,” he countered.
He also took aim at Hinson’s use of a lesser-known benefit—a $178-per-day federal per diem available to House members—claiming she has taken “$50,000 of taxpayer dollars” in addition to her congressional salary, despite being financially well-off.
Hinson was ready to defend herself, pointing out that Turek has also utilized a similar taxpayer-funded initiative in Iowa. “I appreciate you mentioning the per diem, Josh… my opponent, who hasn’t been available for work, still accepted the full per diem in Iowa, just like lawmakers do here,” she replied.
“So you took the per diem. You effectively took from taxpayers. You should pay that money back,” she stated, asserting that Turek received around $20,000 through the program.
The Iowa Senate race is expected to be one of the most competitive on Election Day, with its outcome likely impacting which party will hold the chamber starting January 2027.
Currently, Turek holds a slight advantage over Hinson, leading her by just one percentage point, as indicated by the latest RealClearPolitics average of polls.
