As the race for the U.S. Senate heats up, Iowa Rep. Ashley Hinson, a Republican contender, faces scrutiny over her congressional voting record. Her absence from nearly 200 votes, including one crucial decision on AI-generated child pornography, has become a focal point of the campaign against Democratic opponent, Josh Turek.
Records reveal that since taking office in 2021, Hinson has missed 163 committee votes and 33 floor votes. While some absences occurred during periods she contracted COVID-19, in January 2022 and April 2026, the majority remain unexplained.
Many of these missed votes took place in the House Appropriations Committee, a key body responsible for allocating federal funds to government programs. A notable absence occurred in May 2025, when Hinson missed a vote on increasing funding for the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. This increase was intended to combat the surge in AI-generated child pornography, a challenge highlighted by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, which reported over a million such incidents in 2025.
Hinson’s absenteeism extended to votes concerning violent crime reduction. In September 2025, she missed three committee votes aimed at bolstering the Violence Against Women Act, supporting transitional housing for domestic abuse victims, and funding a community-based violence intervention initiative. Meanwhile, Iowa Public Radio reported a rise in domestic violence homicides in the state from 2021 to 2024.
Further, Hinson was absent for a funding vote on the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. Her missed votes also included several healthcare-related decisions, such as addressing doctor shortages in the Veterans Affairs system in 2023 and increasing funding for senior nutrition programs and rural physician training in 2025.
In another significant instance this year, Hinson skipped a vote on an amendment related to data center transparency. This amendment aimed to require data centers to disclose construction plans and mandated the Energy Department to assess their impact on utility bills. Iowa currently hosts 116 data centers, with local communities imposing moratoriums on new developments. Hinson told KGAN News that such decisions should be made locally.
Last month, Hinson missed 11 votes on the 2027 Defense Appropriations bill amendments due to attending a fundraiser for her Senate campaign. Typically, House members miss around 2% to 3% of roll-call votes annually, though committee votes, often omitted from attendance records, suggest Hinson’s participation might be below average.
Despite these controversies, a recent Emerson College poll indicates Hinson holds a narrow three-point lead over Turek.
