Cruz backs Iowa Senate bid

Texas Senator Ted Cruz appeared in Council Bluffs on Thursday to campaign for Ashley Hinson, the Republican candidate in the Iowa Senate race. The visit occurred as the election enters its final days, with polls opening at 7 a.m. and closing at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3.

Cruz spoke to a crowd at a local bowling alley where attendees chanted “Fight for Iowa.” He is one of several national figures traveling the state to support Hinson in her challenge to Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek.

The senator has spent the last two weeks on the campaign trail, visiting Alaska, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Michigan. When asked why Iowa warrants his attention, Cruz described the contest as critical.

“And I believe this is the most consequential midterm of our lifetimes. And this seat here in Iowa, it is right in the balance,” Cruz said.

Hinson stated that the campaign remains focused on earning votes despite recent scheduling changes. On Thursday evening, the Republican National Committee announced that President Donald Trump canceled a planned rally in Dubuque. Hinson said the decision will not alter her strategy for the closing stretch.

“I’m gonna still go out and earn every single vote over the next four or five days to make sure we hold this U.S. Senate seat,” Hinson said.

The candidate cited her family as a primary motivation for running. She is a mother to two teenage boys, ages fifteen and thirteen. “So the reason why I’m stepping into this arena, getting into this fight, is because of my children,” Hinson said.

Cruz, who won the Iowa caucus in 2016, was also asked about his own 2028 presidential prospects. He indicated he is focused on the current cycle. “Listen, there will be plenty of time to talk about 2028 after the midterms. I am all in on the midterms,” Cruz said.

The senator praised Hinson’s performance during the campaign. “But I will say of all of those candidates, Ashley Hinson is truly a rock star. She is an incredibly strong candidate,” Cruz said.