Iowa Rep. Ashley Hinson’s Voting Record Under Scrutiny Amid Senate Campaign
Republican U.S. Senate candidate and current Iowa Representative Ashley Hinson has come under scrutiny for her absenteeism in Congress, where she has missed nearly 200 votes. Among these was a significant vote aimed at addressing the issue of AI-generated child pornography.
Since her tenure in the U.S. House began in 2021, Hinson has missed 163 committee votes and 33 floor votes. While some of her absences are attributed to COVID-19 cases in January 2022 and April 2026, the majority remain unexplained.
A substantial number of these missed votes occurred within the House Appropriations Committee, which plays a critical role in determining federal funding allocations. In May 2025, Hinson was absent for a vote intended to increase funding for the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, a measure aimed at combating the rising issue of AI-generated child pornography. The committee manager highlighted the growing burden on law enforcement due to these activities.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reported over a million incidents involving sexually explicit AI images of minors in 2025, with real children’s likenesses often being utilized.
Hinson’s absenteeism extended to several votes focused on curbing violent crime. In September 2025, for instance, she missed three votes related to funding for the Violence Against Women Act, transitional housing grants for domestic abuse victims, and a community-based violence intervention initiative.
According to a report from Iowa Public Radio, domestic violence-related deaths in Iowa increased between 2021 and 2024, a period during which Hinson missed critical votes on related legislation.
The legislator was also absent for a vote that would fund the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.
In the realm of healthcare, Hinson’s record of absenteeism includes missing a 2023 vote addressing doctor shortages in the Veterans Affairs system. In 2025, she did not vote on measures to increase funding for senior nutrition programs and a rural physician training initiative.
This year, Hinson missed voting on an amendment regarding data center transparency, which would mandate public disclosure of construction plans by data centers and require the Energy Department to assess their impact on utility bills.
With 116 data centers in Iowa, some communities have imposed moratoriums on further construction. Hinson expressed to KGAN News that decisions concerning data center regulations should be made at the local level.
Recent reports indicate that Hinson did not participate in voting on 11 amendments to the 2027 Defense Appropriations bill, reportedly due to attending a fundraiser for her Senate campaign.
While House members generally miss 2% to 3% of roll-call votes yearly, Hinson’s record appears skewed due to committee votes often not being accounted for in attendance statistics.
Despite her absence in key decisions, a recent poll by Emerson College shows Hinson maintaining a slim lead over her Democratic opponent, state Rep. Josh Turek, by three points.
