Ashley Hinson

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ashley Hinson touted the tax cuts in the federal "One Big, Beautiful Bill" as she works to demonstrate a focus on affordability ahead of Iowa's June 2 primary.

Hinson, who represents northeast Iowa's 2nd District in Congress, was joined by Senate Majority Leader John Thune for a roundtable in Ankeny on Friday, May 8, that included a businessowner, retired Iowan, delivery driver and state lawmaker.

"We know affordability is such an issue and people are working hard every single day to get ahead and just hadn’t felt like they could get there," Hinson said in remarks kicking off the event. "And so the policy we were able to introduce last year and get across the finish line — no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, no tax on Social Security — that’s real money in your pockets. And it’s tangible."

Thune, who has endorsed Hinson, said he is "very much looking forward" to Hinson joining him in the U.S. Senate this fall.

Iowa has an open Senate race this year for the first time since 2014 with incumbent U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst opting not to seek reelection.

Hinson faces former state Sen. Jim Carlin in the Republican primary. The winner will face either state Rep. Josh Turek, D-Council Bluffs, or state Sen. Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, who are competing for the Democratic nomination.

"Iowa, as is usually the case in the political season, kind of gets to be ground zero," Thune said. "So a lot of attention will be paid to your state."

Thune praised the "One Big, Beautiful Bill" which he and Hinson call the "working families tax cut" for its tax cuts on tips and overtime pay, as well as on Social Security benefits.

"What we did last summer was, in my time in public life … it’s the most consequential piece of legislation that we’ve passed by far," Thune said. "I haven’t even seen anything like it."

Democrats have criticized the law for cutting federal Medicaid spending by an estimated $911 billion over 10 years and cutting federal spending on food assistance programs.

Iowans at the roundtable said they've benefitted from the bill's tax cuts.

Ginny Mitchell said she lost her job at Iowa State University last June and has been working as an Uber driver since then. She said the flexibility of the schedule allows her to homeschool her youngest son now.

Because of her change in jobs, she said she was nervous to file her taxes this year. But because of the law's tax cuts on tips, she said she got a refund.

"I was afraid that I was going to have to pay in this year with the change in employment and different jobs," she said. "We got $3,600 back for federal taxes and that was a huge surprise and also a big relief."

Jeremiah Terhark, who owns Webspec Design, said the federal legislation's provision making some business tax deductions permanent gave him more money to reinvest into his business.

"Like a lot of other small business owners, you’re putting everything you have into that business," he said. "So just having a little bit of available of available funds to create new job opportunities, we were able to bring on some interns this year."

Wahls criticized Thune's visit in a statement, noting that the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC that elects Republicans to the U.S. Senate, is planning to spend $29 million in Iowa this summer and fall on behalf of Hinson.

"John Thune didn't fly to Iowa today because he's worried about the price of groceries or our struggling rural hospitals,” said Zach Wahls. “He's here because Ashley Hinson will be another rubber stamp for his out-of-touch agenda. I don't work for Donald Trump, or for Chuck Schumer, or for the insiders in D.C. I work for Iowans — and that's exactly why the establishment, from both parties, is working so hard to stop me."