Ashley Hinson

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MARION — Republican Iowa U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson met with Iowa sheriffs Friday in Marion to discuss federal funding, technology and privacy concerns facing law enforcement agencies while using the event to draw a contrast with Democratic U.S. Senate opponent Josh Turek.

The roundtable coincided with Hinson’s campaign announcing “Sheriffs for Hinson,” a coalition of more than 40 current Iowa sheriffs and several former sheriffs backing the Marion Republican in the race for Iowa’s open U.S. Senate seat.

Hinson was joined by sheriffs from several rural counties and state Sen. Charlie McClintock, R-Alburnett, a retired Cedar Rapids police officer.

Much of the discussion focused on the difficulty smaller departments face securing and maintaining increasingly expensive technology.

Tama County Sheriff Casey Schmidt said his department does not have personnel who can devote hours to navigating complicated federal grant applications.

“There’s got to be some sort of a way that the federal level can make it easier for smaller rural agencies,” Schmidt said.

Hinson said federal agencies should simplify applications and explore ways to automatically populate information for departments that previously completed federal requirements.

Hinson, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, secured about $3.05 million in fiscal 2026 funding for Hardin County radio infrastructure and nearly $1.37 million for Howard County sheriff’s communications equipment. She also requested $740,000 in fiscal 2027 community project funding for two bomb suits and a robot for the Cedar Rapids Metro Bomb Squad.

The sheriffs said rural departments continue to encounter problems communicating across different radio systems, despite years of efforts to improve interoperability.

A Turek campaign spokesperson accused Hinson of misrepresenting Turek’s record

The four-time Paralympian and two-time gold medalist has sided with Republicans on other criminal justice and immigration legislation. He voted in March for House File 2542, legislation increasing penalties for repeat felony offenders, joining Republicans and a handful of other Democrats. He also voted in 2024 for Senate File 2340, which created a state crime for illegal reentry and authorized Iowa law enforcement to make arrests under the law.

“Josh Turek has repeatedly broken with his party and voted with Republicans to keep Iowans safe,” a Turek campaign spokesperson said in response to Hinson’s criticism. “He was one of only three Democrats to vote to allow Iowa law enforcement to arrest and deport criminals and broke with his party to help pass the Republican ‘tough on crime’ bill that was called ‘one of the toughest repeat-offender laws in the country.’”

The endorsement rollout comes as Turek highlighted his own support from across party lines.

Turek’s campaign recently launched “Republicans for Turek,” a coalition it says includes more than 60 current and former registered Republicans from across Iowa. The group is co-chaired by Scott Kaas of Allamakee County, who previously voted for Hinson, and former Council Bluffs Mayor Matt Walsh, a Republican who also endorsed Turek during his first campaign for the Iowa House.

Turek has made bipartisanship a central part of his Senate campaign, pointing to votes he has cast alongside at least some Republicans during his four years in the Iowa House.

“I saw firsthand how Josh is willing to work across the aisle to get things done,” Kaas said in announcing the coalition, adding that he believes Turek would take the same approach in the U.S. Senate.

Hinson said Friday that she intends to continue making law enforcement a contrast in the campaign, telling the sheriffs she would seek to maintain a close relationship with local agencies if elected to the Senate.

“I’m proud to support Ashley Hinson because she will keep our border secure, fund the police and work with Iowa law enforcement to keep drugs out of our communities,” Webster County Sheriff Luke Fleener said in a statement released by Hinson’s campaign.

Jones County Sheriff Greg Graver, who participated in Friday’s roundtable, pointed to Hinson’s work seeking federal resources for rural law enforcement agencies.

“From investing in rural police departments to prioritizing public safety, she has delivered results for Iowa,” Graver said in the campaign statement. “Ashley Hinson has always had the backs of Iowa law enforcement, and I know that she will continue to fight for safer communities as our next United States Senator.”

Tom Barton covers state government and politics. Reach him at 319-398-8499 or [email protected].

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