Ashley Hinson

Republican Ashley Hinson is up on television with an ad in Iowa's U.S. Senate race knocking her Democratic opponent, state Rep. Josh Turek, for missing votes in the Iowa House.

Hinson's campaign announced the 30-second ad, called "Matters," on Aug. 15. Billy Fuerst, a spokesperson for Hinson's campaign, said the campaign is spending seven figures to air the ad on television and digital platforms.

Unlike Turek's first general election ad, which highlighted his gold medals in wheelchair basketball at the Paralympics, Hinson's ad goes after her opponent.

"Liberal Josh Turek doesn't bother showing up for work. Even worse, he thinks you don't care," the ad's narrator says.

The ad then cuts to footage of Turek from what an on-screen credit says is a Turek fundraiser on Aug. 11.

"I ended up missing about 50% in the Iowa Legislature this year," Turek says. "I don't know if that necessarily matters to Iowans."

"Josh Turek skips work half the time and thinks you don't care. Now he wants a promotion?" the narrator says.

The ad is paid for by Team Hinson, a joint fundraising committee between Hinson's campaign committee, Ashley for Iowa; the National Republican Senatorial Committee; and Fight On PAC, Hinson's leadership PAC.

Turek spokesperson Hannah Goss, in a statement, criticized Hinson's attacks on Turek, including in earlier digital ads, as "desperate negative ads."

"While Hinson talks about anything but her votes to hike costs on everyday Iowans to give tax cuts to billionaires, Josh Turek is talking directly to Iowans about his demonstrated commitment to putting country over party and working with anyone to get things done for Iowa — including voting more than 700 times with Republicans to lower costs, cut taxes and keep Iowans safe," Goss said in a statement.

Hinson and Turek are locked into a competitive battle for Iowa's U.S. Senate seat this year, which is open with the retirement of incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst.

Libertarian Thomas Laehn is also on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.

Both Republicans and Democrats are spending heavily on the contest this year.

The Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC dedicated to electing Republicans, is airing its own ad attacking Turek for missing votes. The group has pledged to spend $33 million to support Hinson this year. And its sister organization, One Nation, is spending $11 million on ads praising Hinson's record in Congress.

Senate Majority PAC, a Democratic super PAC, has pledged to spend $30 million in Iowa on ads attacking Hinson over her support for tariffs, the Iran war and cuts to Medicaid spending.

VoteVets, a progressive veterans group, is also on the air with ads attacking Hinson over the Iran war and Medicaid spending cuts. The group spent more than $10 million this spring boosting Turek in the Democratic primary.