Iowa Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ashley Hinson said Monday she is uneasy about the Trump administration's plan to purchase diesel from Russia, even as she made fuel prices the centerpiece of her campaign pitch at an ethanol plant in Dyersville.
“It makes me a little bit nervous anytime we're talking about relieving a sanction on Russia,” Hinson told reporters after touring the plant, adding that the United States should stay “strong” on Moscow. She pointed to her support for a sanctions package the House passed last month.
Why diesel prices matter in the Iowa Senate race
Fuel costs have become a flashpoint in Hinson's competitive race against Democrat Josh Turek, with diesel prices reaching $6 a gallon in Iowa. The congresswoman from Cedar Rapids told reporters that lowering fuel prices is a priority for her campaign, and she framed American energy production, not Russian imports, as the long-term answer.
President Donald Trump said last week he struck a deal to obtain diesel from Russia, reversing years of U.S. pressure on Moscow over its war with Ukraine. The move drew immediate criticism from a bipartisan group of senators, who urged the administration to “immediately reverse course” on a purchase they argue conflicts with a U.S. sanctions law.
The Kremlin, for its part, welcomed the arrangement. Russian officials described the diesel exports and fresh U.S. criticism of Ukraine's leadership as political victories for Moscow, even though the export volumes are relatively small and unlikely to move prices much on their own.
Hinson balances loyalty and skepticism
Hinson's comments put her in a delicate spot. She has campaigned as a Trump ally in a state the president carried easily three times, yet she broke with the administration on the Russia deal. Her argument to Iowa voters is that the sanctions package she supported keeps pressure on Moscow while domestic ethanol and fuel production keeps prices down at home.
Her stop in Dyersville, in the heart of eastern Iowa farm country, was aimed squarely at rural voters feeling the pinch at the pump and in their equipment costs. Diesel prices ripple through every corner of Iowa agriculture, from planting and harvest to trucking grain to market.
The broader midterm picture
The Russia diesel deal landed during a busy stretch of midterm campaigning. Trump held a rally in Youngstown, Ohio, on Monday night to boost Sen. Jon Husted, who faces a stiff challenge from former Sen. Sherrod Brown. The president also teased a Kansas rally for Sen. Roger Marshall, whose race is considered a tossup despite Democrats not winning a Senate seat there since 1932.
In Iowa, Hinson's race against Turek is one of several competitive contests that will determine control of the Senate. Her message on energy independence and sanctions policy offers a preview of how Republicans in farm states plan to navigate the Russia issue through Election Day.
What happens next on the Russia diesel deal?
A bipartisan group of senators is pressing the administration to cancel the purchase, citing the sanctions law. The White House has not announced whether it will reverse course. Hinson, for her part, said she will keep pressing for strong sanctions and for energy policies that put Iowa and American production first.
FAQ
Who is Ashley Hinson running against in Iowa?
Hinson, a Republican congresswoman from Cedar Rapids, is running against Democrat Josh Turek for a competitive U.S. Senate seat in Iowa.
Why is the Russia diesel deal controversial?
The purchase reverses years of U.S. sanctions pressure on Moscow over its war in Ukraine, and a bipartisan group of senators says it conflicts with a U.S. sanctions law.
What did Hinson say about fuel prices?
After touring an ethanol plant in Dyersville, Hinson said fuel prices are a priority for her campaign, with diesel hitting $6 a gallon in Iowa, while also urging the U.S. to stay strong on Russia sanctions.