Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ashley Hinson is preparing to bring her annual BBQ Bash to central Iowa after a recent Sioux Center campaign stop where she discussed data-center development, flood recovery and agriculture.
Hinson said she met with about 40 to 50 people during last week’s Sioux Center visit. She also stopped at Casey’s Bakery, taking home a strawberry-and-cream croissant, almond cookies and stroopwafels that she said quickly disappeared after reaching her family.
BBQ Bash Moves to Clive
Hinson’s sixth annual BBQ Bash will be held Saturday, August 29, in Clive. The event had traditionally been held in Linn County within her congressional district, but Hinson is moving it to the Des Moines area as she campaigns statewide.
“This is our sixth annual barbecue bash, and we are bringing it to Clive. I’ve always typically done it in Linn County for my congressional district, but now we’re coming to the Des Moines area,” Hinson said.
Country singer Lee Greenwood and U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas are scheduled to attend, along with Governor Kim Reynolds, Republican gubernatorial nominee Zach Lahn and additional guests.
Jethro’s BBQ will provide the food, and Hinson said Greenwood is expected to perform several songs. Doors open at noon. Tickets are available through an Eventbrite link at AshleyHinson.com, while children, active-duty military personnel and law-enforcement officers can attend for free.
Data-Center Safeguards
During an interview with Sioux County Radio, Hinson was also asked about Sioux County’s one-year moratorium on new data centers in unincorporated areas. County officials are using the moratorium to study the issue and develop potential regulations.
Hinson has supported keeping individual project decisions at the local level. However, she said communities should consider the potential effects on utility customers before approving development.
“Nobody wants their utility rates to go up because of a data center. So we need to make sure we have some safeguards there,” Hinson said.
Hinson identified water use and safety as additional concerns. She said any federal role would most likely involve increasing energy supplies and transmission capacity so large developments do not raise costs for other customers.
She pointed to a Cedar Rapids data center she toured as a potential model. According to Hinson, the facility uses a closed-loop water system and worked with Alliant Energy on an agreement intended to protect local utility rates for five years.
Flood Recovery and Agriculture
Northwest Iowa communities have continued working through the FEMA reimbursement process following the destructive flooding of 2024. Hinson said her office has previously helped communities navigate FEMA after the 2020 derecho, including the city of Marion and the Meskwaki Nation.
Hinson said her position on the House Appropriations Committee allows her to raise delayed cases directly with federal officials.
“So I do think there’s more work to do there in making that process, number one, move more smoothly. But number two, move faster,” Hinson said.
She said technology improvements and placing the right personnel within FEMA could help reduce delays.
Hinson also discussed challenges facing Iowa cattle and pork producers, including cattle supplies, beef prices and California’s Proposition 12 regulations.
“We absolutely need to be protecting our producers and growing our herd here in Iowa and around the country. That should be priority number one,” Hinson said.
Hinson continues to advocate for the Save Our Bacon Act, which would push back against California regulations affecting pork sold in that state. She said she hopes the legislation can become part of a new farm bill.
She also promoted legislation requiring health insurance companies to release additional information about claim denials and prior-authorization delays.
Hinson used smaller portions of the interview to contrast her positions with opponent Josh Turek on taxes, agriculture and government spending. Hinson currently represents Iowa’s Second Congressional District and is seeking election to the U.S. Senate.
