Iowa Republican Senate candidate and current Congresswoman Ashley Hinson rejected claims that her husband, Matt Arenholz, is a “shadow lobbyist” during a debate Wednesday.
In the debate’s most heated exchange, Democratic opponent Josh Turek, 47, accused Hinson of taking “$50,000 of taxpayer dollars” despite describing herself as a multimillionaire.
Turek alleged that Hinson used the money for a luxury apartment in Washington, DC, and claimed that her husband was working as a “shadow lobbyist.”
“This is the corruption that we have to address,” Turek said.
Hinson, 43, pushed back, saying: “My husband is not a lobbyist. He’s an insurance agent. He works in our basement. He’s still working at home tonight while he’s home with our kids, our teenage boys who are 15 and 13.”
The Washington Sun previously reported that Hinson and Arenholz are “deeply connected to the insurance industry.” The outlet also said Arenholz “held a position at a top industry lobbying group” while Hinson was serving in Washington.
A spokesperson for Hinson has insisted that Arenholz is “not a lobbyist nor has he ever lobbied Ashley on anything.”
“They maintain the highest ethical standards,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
The spokesperson also said the $50,000 came through a congressional per diem housing reimbursement program “that all members can take advantage of.”
Hinson said she had received reimbursements only for “days in session” during her six years in Congress. The annual cap for each member of Congress is $34,000.
Iowa Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson with her husband, Matt Arenholz, in a photo shared on her campaign Facebook page
Josh Turek, the Democrat running for Iowa’s open Senate seat, in Des Moines in June
Hinson responded by pointing to Turek’s own use of a state program, saying: “I think it’s important to note that my opponent, who did not show up to work, still took the full per diem here in Iowa, the same program that exists for lawmakers here.” She was referring to the $20,000 Turek received through the state program.
She also challenged Turek to “return the money.”
Later in the debate, Hinson added that her husband “built a successful business that he sold in 2021.”
Hinson is seeking a US Senate seat after serving three terms in the House of Representatives. She is running against Turek, a two-term member of the Iowa state legislature.
The contest between Hinson and Turek has tightened considerably and moved into the “toss-up” category, according to the Cook Political Report.
A CNN/SSRS poll conducted from September 29 through October 5 showed Hinson ahead of Turek, 45% to 43%. Hinson has also led in recent polls by The New York Times/Siena University and Quantus Insights. However, a Suffolk University poll found Turek ahead by four points, 48% to 44%.
Turek emerged from a bruising primary campaign after receiving support from prominent Democrats. One of his strongest backers has been former President Barack Obama, who appeared with Turek, a former Paralympic basketball player, in a basketball-themed campaign ad.
Both candidates appear to be making a strong push for Iowa’s independent voters, highlighting their records of working across party lines in Des Moines and Washington, DC.
Hinson and other Iowa elected officials joined President Trump in the Oval Office last month for the announcement of a Minnesota company’s plan to build a $15 billion steel mill in Iowa
Hinson with her husband and children at a campaign event
Hinson’s opponent, Josh Turek, touted that he has voted over 700 times with Republicans while a state lawmaker, and added that he was proud of it in Wednesday’s debate
Turek boasted that he was ‘the third most bipartisan member of the Iowa Legislature,’ and had ‘over 700 times voted with Republicans,’ before adding that he was ‘very proud of that.’
Hinson shared that she was proud of being ‘in the top 20 percent of bipartisan lawmakers in Congress,’ and plans to continue doing so, ‘no matter who is governing and who has the gavel.’
‘Hopefully it’s not Chuck Schumer. But if it’s Chuck Schumer, I’ll work with him. I got things across the line with Nancy Pelosi as speaker. So I think that shows that I can work with anyone,’ Hinson boasted.
Hinson also appears to be urging Democrats to cross party lines and support her in her US Senate race, and featured a Democrat backer in a recent campaign advertisement.
In a press release announcing the ad, Hinson’s campaign also touted her bipartisan work, including on two bills that were signed into law by former Democratic President Joe Biden.
Incumbent Senator Joni Ernst chose not to seek re-election for another term in the Hawkeye state. Iowa leans Republican, but Hinson could be negatively impacted by Democrat Rob Sand performing well in the gubernatorial race.