Coal PAC, San Fran “Socialite,” Leadership Among Hinson’s Q3 Donors

State Rep. Ashley Hinson’s fundraising has largely held steady over the last six months, though she still trails the Democratic incumbent in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District.

Hinson, of Marion, is running to unseat Rep. Abby Finkenauer in the eastern Iowa swing district.

In the third fundraising quarter [July 1 to Sept. 30], Hinson brought in $318,512 compared to Finkenauer’s $463,631. Her Q3 total was less than the $337,553 she reported in the second quarter. She also fell short in cash-on-hand, ending Q3 with $497,500 compared to Finkenauer’s $963,099.

“The momentum for our campaign to bring Iowa common sense to Washington continues to grow,” said Hinson, in a statement. “It’s clear that voters across the first district are ready to put people before politics and end the bickering and dysfunction in Washington.”

According to the campaign, 83% of her Q3 donors came from Iowa.

In the press release, Hinson notes a few of the the Political Action Committees supporting her campaign, including: Majority Committee PAC [California Rep. Kevin McCarthy], $10,000; E-PAC [New York Rep. Elise Stefanik], $5,000; and Cut the Bull PAC [West Virginia Rep. Carol Miller], $2,500.

Challenger candidates like her favored by national party leaders often come in to help with donations from leadership PACs.

She also received $2,500 from Texas Rep. Will Hurd’s Having Unwavering Resolve and Determination PAC.

Hinson got $2,500 from the Alliance Coal LLC PAC, which was one of the biggest funders from the coal industry in 2018. That coal group has given to relatively few candidates so far this year, but Hinson made the list.

One of Hinson’s largest individual donors is David Barker of Iowa City, a state Republican Party official and former economist for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. He also serves on the University of Iowa Board of Regents. Barker has contributed the max amount of $2,800 to Hinson’s primary and general election campaign funds.

Joe Sinclair, president and CEO of Quality Ag Service in Albia, donated $2,800, as did Dean and Laurie Bierschenk of Waverly, owners of the Cedar Falls manufacturer Universal Industries.

Terry Branstad, Iowa’s former governor and the current U.S. Ambassador to China, contributed $1,000. His son, Eric Branstad, who managed Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign in Iowa, donated $500.

Among her out-of-state donors, Hinson picked up $5,600 from Diane “Dede” Wilsey, a “San Francisco socialite” and Republican donor.

The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers PAC contributed $5,000, as did Wellmark Inc. PAC and Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America Inc. PAC. Wellmark came under considerable criticism in Iowa when they decided to stop selling individual plans in 2017. Hinson later voted for legislation that allowed Wellmark to work with Iowa Farm Bureau to provide health care plans that circumvented the Affordable Care Act’s preexisting conditions coverage requirement.

By Elizabeth Meyer
Posted 10/27/19