Election 2026
Independent, source-first accountability
Issue record
In short
Hinson's campaign backs tax-free first-home savings, child care tax relief and barring big investors from buying homes. Turek's campaign backs middle-class tax cuts, a higher minimum wage and a food price-gouging ban. Laehn's campaign lists no cost-of-living position on the pages checked. Hinson and Turek each voted for tax-cut laws and each sponsored bills that are not law; Laehn, a county attorney, has no votes to compare.
Campaign positions
Her campaign says she supports letting first-time homebuyers save tax-free for a down payment, barring large institutional investors from buying single-family homes in Iowa neighborhoods, and expanding tax relief for working families to make child care more affordable.
His campaign says he supports middle-class tax cuts, a federal food price-gouging ban, a higher minimum wage, and limits on private-equity purchases of homes and farmland.
His reviewed campaign issues page addresses federal debt and a balanced-budget amendment but does not state a broader cost-of-living plan.
Evidence timeline
campaign position
He is a county attorney and has cast no votes on federal spending, so there is no record to compare yet.
His campaign says he would vote against funding measures that increase the national debt, except in extreme national emergency, and push a balanced-budget amendment. No like-for-like official action exists: his current public role is county attorney, not legislator. Limit: No like-for-like official action exists: his current public role is county attorney. The post's debt figures are his, attributed to the Treasury, and are not verified here.
official action
The House Journal lists him among the 75 ayes on the October 2, 2026 bill that lets one rural-county business get tax credits worth up to 10 percent of its qualifying investment; it is law.
In the October 7 Iowa PBS debate, Turek said he was proud to vote for the special-session incentive package for a proposed steel mill in southeast Iowa. On October 2, 2026, in a one-day special session, the Iowa House passed House File 2801 75-17, with Turek among the ayes. The bill lets the state give one business in a rural county a tax credit of up to 10 percent of its qualifying investment, paid over ten years. Legislative staff's fiscal note, citing the governor's office, says the change is for a Mesabi Metallics steel plant. The Senate passed it 28-19 and the governor signed it the same day. Limit: This checks his vote, not the plant or its job numbers. The credit is paid only once the project, or part of it, is in service and at least half the jobs it agreed to add are on the payroll.
official action
She voted yes when the House passed it 417-3 in September 2026; a Senate vote to take it up fell short, so it is not law.
In the October 7 debate, Hinson said she was proud to vote for the House's ratepayer protection bill, so electric customers are not on the hook for data centers' costs. She voted yes on September 16, 2026 when the House passed H.R. 9340, the Ratepayer Protection Act, 417-3. It would have each state consider a rule that utilities charge data centers using 100 megawatts or more the full cost of grid upgrades built to serve them. On September 30 a Senate vote to start debate on it fell short, 57-43; it is not law. Limit: Rep. Gabe Evans sponsored the bill. This checks her vote, not a part in writing it.
official action
She sponsored it, and the House passed it by voice vote on August 31, 2026; the Senate has not acted, so it is not law.
In the October 7 Iowa PBS debate, Hinson said she got a bill through the House that would give the Justice Department more resources to go after companies that cheat on trade rules. She is the sponsor of H.R. 1869, the Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act of 2026. The House passed it by voice vote on August 31, 2026, and the Senate received it on September 14; it is not law. It would set up a Justice Department unit, with new prosecutor jobs, to go after evasion of tariffs and duties. Her 2024 version, H.R. 9151, also passed the House by voice vote and then sat in a Senate committee. Limit: A voice vote records no names. The bill is not law, and the new unit would start only once Congress funds it.
official action
She sponsored the After Hours Child Care Act in February 2026; it was sent to committee with no hearing or vote.
Her campaign says it wants to make child care more affordable, including support for parents who work nontraditional hours. She is the sponsor of H.R. 7498, the After Hours Child Care Act, introduced February 11, 2026 and referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce. Limit: Introduced and referred; no hearing or vote is recorded. The bill's operative text was not read for this card; its official title as introduced on Congress.gov is "To establish and expand child care programs for parents who work nontraditional hours, and for other purposes."
official action
She voted for the 2025 tax law, which gives capped deductions for tips, overtime and people 65 and over that end after 2028; it does not end all tax on them.
In the October 7 debate, Hinson said she voted for the Working Families Tax Cut, which she said brought no tax on tips or overtime, lower taxes on Social Security for seniors, and certainty for small businesses. She voted yes when the House passed H.R. 1, the 2025 budget law, on May 22, 2025, and on its final version on July 3, 2025; it became Public Law 119-21. Workers can deduct up to $25,000 a year in tips and up to $12,500 in overtime pay ($25,000 on a joint return), counting only the extra part of overtime pay. Both deductions shrink above $150,000 of income ($300,000 joint) and end after 2028. People 65 and over get an extra $6,000 deduction through 2028, reduced above $75,000 of income ($150,000 joint). The law also extends the small-business income deduction (section 70105). Limit: The tip and overtime breaks are capped deductions that end after 2028, so "no tax" overstates them, though the law's section titles use those words. The senior deduction goes to people 65 and over whether or not they get Social Security.
official action
He was sole sponsor of Iowa minimum wage bills in 2023 and 2025; neither made it out of committee.
His campaign says he has sponsored bills to raise the minimum wage and would raise it federally and tie it to inflation. He is the sole sponsor of H.F. 349 (introduced February 12, 2025, referred to Labor and Workforce) and H.F. 404 (introduced February 22, 2023, referred to Labor and Workforce), both relating to the state minimum hourly wage. Neither advanced out of committee. Limit: Sponsorship is not enactment; the bill history shows introduction and referral only. The bills' proposed wage levels were not read for this card.
official action
He voted for the 2024 law cutting Iowa's income tax to a flat 3.8 percent and the 2023 law limiting local property tax rates; he sponsored neither.
In the October 7 debate, Turek said that in the Iowa Legislature he voted with Republicans to cut people's taxes, including property taxes. On April 19, 2024 he voted for Senate File 2442, which passed the House 68-24; legislative staff say it lowers state income tax rates to a flat 3.8 percent starting in 2025. On May 2, 2023 he voted for House File 718, which passed 94-1; it put new limits on county and city property tax rates and created a property tax exemption for homeowners 65 and over. Both were signed into law. Limit: He named no bills; these are two tax bills he voted for. Both were committee bills he did not sponsor.
See something wrong or incomplete? Report it for review.
Ashley Hinson for Iowa · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026
Campaign-controlled source. Positions are attributed, not independently verified facts.
candidate statement
For: Ashley Hinson: campaign position; Ashley Hinson: Matches stated direction
Josh Turek for Iowa · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026
Campaign-controlled source. Positions are attributed, not independently verified facts.
candidate statement
For: Josh Turek: campaign position; Josh Turek: Matches stated record claim
Thomas Laehn for U.S. Senate · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026
Campaign-controlled source. Positions are attributed, not independently verified facts.
candidate statement
For: Thomas Laehn: campaign position; Thomas Laehn: Not comparable yet
Greene County, Iowa · Reviewed Sep 7, 2026
Used for Laehn's current county-office role and, on cards where a county attorney has no comparable legislative action, as the record side.
official office record
For: Thomas Laehn: Not comparable yet
Iowa PBS · Published Oct 7, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026
10:02. The quoted words read the same in YouTube's captions and in Iowa PBS's own transcript.
candidate statement
For: Josh Turek: Matches stated record claim
Iowa PBS · Published Oct 7, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026
The host's own transcript of the October 7 debate, the second copy for quoted words.
candidate statement
For: Josh Turek: Matches stated record claim; Ashley Hinson: Matches stated record claim; Ashley Hinson: Matches stated direction
Iowa Legislature · Published Oct 2, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026
Roll call on House File 2801: ayes 75, nays 17, 8 absent or not voting; Turek among the ayes. The session met and adjourned the same day. The daily journal is marked as a proof copy.
official legislative record
For: Josh Turek: Matches stated record claim
Iowa Legislature · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026
Ways and Means bill changing the Major Economic Growth Attraction (MEGA) program. Passed the House 75-17 and the Senate 28-19 on October 2, 2026; signed by the governor the same day.
official legislative record
For: Josh Turek: Matches stated record claim
Iowa Legislature · Published Oct 2, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026
Section 4: one business in a rural county may get a tax credit of up to 10 percent of its qualifying investment, paid over ten years, once the project or a set part of it is in service and at least half the jobs tied to it are on the payroll.
official legislative record
For: Josh Turek: Matches stated record claim
Iowa Legislative Services Agency · Published Oct 2, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026
Citing a press release from the governor's office, the note says the bill's changes are meant to allow an award for a Mesabi Metallics steel plant.
official legislative record
For: Josh Turek: Matches stated record claim
Iowa PBS · Published Oct 7, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026
42:06 to 42:12, and again at 44:32. The quoted words read the same in YouTube's captions and in Iowa PBS's own transcript.
candidate statement
For: Ashley Hinson: Matches stated record claim
Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · Published Sep 16, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026
Ratepayer Protection Act, motion to suspend the rules and pass; Hinson recorded Yea; passed 417 to 3.
official legislative record
For: Ashley Hinson: Matches stated record claim
U.S. Government Publishing Office · Published Sep 16, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026
A federal standard, for states to consider, that utilities charge large data-center customers (100 megawatts or more) the full cost of upgrades built to serve them.
official legislative record
For: Ashley Hinson: Matches stated record claim
Congress.gov · Published Sep 30, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026
Sponsored by Rep. Gabe Evans. Senate cloture on the motion to proceed failed 57-43 on September 30, 2026, and the motion was withdrawn.
official legislative record
For: Ashley Hinson: Matches stated record claim
Iowa PBS · Published Oct 7, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026
9:20. The quoted words read the same in YouTube's captions and in Iowa PBS's own transcript.
candidate statement
For: Ashley Hinson: Matches stated record claim
Congress.gov · Published Aug 31, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026
Sponsored by Hinson; passed the House by voice vote August 31, 2026; received in the Senate September 14, 2026.
official legislative record
For: Ashley Hinson: Matches stated record claim
U.S. Government Publishing Office · Published Aug 31, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026
Sets up a Justice Department Criminal Division unit, with new prosecutor positions, for tariff and duty evasion, once Congress funds it.
official legislative record
For: Ashley Hinson: Matches stated record claim
Congress.gov · Published Dec 3, 2024 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026
Sponsored by Hinson; passed the House by voice vote December 3, 2024; referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee December 4, 2024.
official legislative record
For: Ashley Hinson: Matches stated record claim
Congress.gov · Published Feb 11, 2026 · Reviewed Sep 8, 2026
Sponsored by Hinson; referred to Education and Workforce.
official legislative record
For: Ashley Hinson: Matches stated direction
Iowa PBS · Published Oct 7, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026
15:26, and her vote at 12:35. The quoted words read the same in YouTube's captions and in Iowa PBS's own transcript.
candidate statement
For: Ashley Hinson: Matches stated direction
Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · Published May 22, 2025 · Reviewed Sep 8, 2026
One Big Beautiful Act, on passage; Hinson recorded Yea; passed 215 to 214 (Clerk XML roll145.xml read 2026-09-08).
official legislative record
For: Ashley Hinson: Matches stated direction
Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · Published Jul 3, 2025 · Reviewed Sep 8, 2026
One Big Beautiful Bill Act, motion to concur in the Senate amendment; Hinson recorded Aye; passed 218 to 214 (Clerk XML roll190.xml read 2026-09-08).
official legislative record
For: Ashley Hinson: Matches stated direction
U.S. Government Publishing Office · Published Jul 4, 2025 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026
Sections 70201 (tips), 70202 (overtime), 70103 (seniors' deduction) and 70105 (small-business income deduction).
official legislative record
For: Ashley Hinson: Matches stated direction
Iowa Legislature · Published Feb 12, 2025 · Reviewed Sep 8, 2026
State minimum hourly wage; by Turek; introduced and referred to Labor and Workforce.
official legislative record
For: Josh Turek: Matches stated record claim
Iowa Legislature · Reviewed Sep 8, 2026
State minimum hourly wage; by Turek.
official legislative record
For: Josh Turek: Matches stated record claim
Iowa PBS · Published Oct 7, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026
14:59 to 15:07. The quoted words read the same in YouTube's captions and in Iowa PBS's own transcript.
candidate statement
For: Josh Turek: Matches stated record claim
Iowa Legislature · Published Apr 19, 2024 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026
Roll call on Senate File 2442: ayes 68, nays 24; Turek among the ayes.
official legislative record
For: Josh Turek: Matches stated record claim
Iowa Legislature · Published May 1, 2024 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026
Ways and Means bill on income tax rates and property taxes; passed the House 68-24 on April 19, 2024; signed by the governor May 1, 2024.
official legislative record
For: Josh Turek: Matches stated record claim
Iowa Legislative Services Agency · Published May 10, 2024 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026
Division I decreases individual income tax rates to a flat 3.8 percent beginning in tax year 2025.
official legislative record
For: Josh Turek: Matches stated record claim
Iowa Legislature · Published May 2, 2023 · Reviewed Sep 8, 2026
Roll call on House File 718 as amended by the Senate: ayes 94, nays 1; Turek among the ayes.
official legislative record
For: Josh Turek: Matches stated record claim
Iowa Legislature · Published May 4, 2023 · Reviewed Sep 8, 2026
Passed House April 19, 2023; House concurred in the Senate amendment and passed the bill May 2, 2023 (H.J. 957); signed by the Governor May 4, 2023; 2023 Acts, chapter 71.
official legislative record
For: Josh Turek: Matches stated record claim
Iowa Legislative Services Agency · Published May 4, 2023 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026
New limits on county and city property tax rates and a new homestead exemption for homeowners 65 and over.
official legislative record
For: Josh Turek: Matches stated record claim