Cruz backs Hinson in Council Bluffs ahead of Nov. 3 vote

The Iowa Senate race has entered its final stretch, with both parties focused on securing the remaining undecided voters before the Nov. 3 election.

On Friday, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz stood on a stage inside a Council Bluffs bowling alley, joining Republican candidate Ashley Hinson for a campaign stop. A crowd gathered in the venue, chanting “Fight for Iowa” as Cruz addressed the room. This appearance is part of a two-week nationwide tour that has taken Cruz through Alaska, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Michigan.

Cruz described the upcoming vote as the most consequential midterm of their lifetimes, noting that the Iowa seat is right in the balance. He emphasized that he is fully committed to the midterms, stating that there will be plenty of time to discuss 2028 after the elections are over. When asked about his support for Hinson, Cruz called her a rock star and an incredibly strong candidate among the many he has campaigned for this year.

Hinson, who is running against Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek, said the race hits close to home for her. She is a mother to two teenage boys, aged 15 and 13, and said their presence is a primary reason for her stepping into the arena to fight for the seat. She pledged to earn every single vote over the next four or five days to ensure the Republican hold on the U.S. Senate seat is maintained.

On Thursday evening, the Republican National Committee announced that President Donald Trump canceled a planned rally in Dubuque. Hinson said the cancellation will not change her strategy for the closing stretch of the campaign. She intends to continue her door-to-door and event schedule as planned.

Voters in Iowa can cast their ballots on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. on that day.