Iowa Representative Misses Significant Votes Amid Senate Campaign
Rep. Ashley Hinson of Iowa, currently a Republican Senate candidate, has been absent for nearly 200 congressional votes, including pivotal ones addressing AI-generated child pornography.
Hinson, who faces Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek in a competitive race, has missed 163 committee votes and 33 floor votes since her tenure in the House began in 2021, according to congressional records. While some absences coincided with her COVID-19 diagnoses in January 2022 and April 2026, most remain unexplained.
Many missed votes were in the House Appropriations Committee, tasked with federal budget allocations. Notably, Hinson was absent in May 2025 during a vote to increase funding for the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, aimed at combating AI-generated child pornography. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reported over a million such incidents in 2025, highlighting the urgency of the issue.
Hinson also did not participate in several votes on measures to curb violent crime. In September 2025 alone, she missed votes on funding for the Violence Against Women Act, transitional housing for domestic abuse victims, and a community-based violence intervention initiative. According to Iowa Public Radio, domestic violence deaths in Iowa rose from 2021 to 2024.
Other key missed votes include those related to healthcare, such as addressing physician shortages in the Veterans Affairs system in 2023, enhancing senior nutrition programs in 2025, and funding rural physician training the same year.
In 2027, Hinson was absent for 11 votes on amendments to the Defense Appropriations bill, choosing instead to attend a fundraiser for her Senate campaign.
Hinson also missed a significant vote concerning data center transparency, which would have mandated public disclosure of construction plans and required the Energy Department to examine impacts on utility bills. With 116 data centers in Iowa, local communities have enacted moratoriums on new centers. Hinson remarked to KGAN News that such regulations should be decided locally.
Typically, House members miss around 2% to 3% of roll-call votes annually, but committee votes, often not included in official records, suggest Hinson’s attendance might be lower than average. As the election approaches, a recent poll by Emerson College shows Hinson holding a narrow three-point lead over Turek.
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