Dem Senate hopeful ripped as ‘absentee legislator’ after missing nearly 60% of votes

A Democrat Senate hopeful viewed as critical to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s bid to retake Senate control is drawing criticism over his attendance record.

Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, the Republican Senate nominee, blasted her Democratic opponent, state Rep. Josh Turek, D-Iowa, for missing 58% of House votes during the 2026 session while receiving tens of thousands of dollars in taxpayer benefits given to state legislators.

The absences, Hinson argues, are a black mark on Turek, a two-time Paralympic gold medalist, who is seeking to flip the Republican-held seat in November’s midterm elections.

“The truth is out. He’s an absentee legislator,” Hinson told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. “He accepted more than $20,000 in per diem benefits, but hardly showed up.”

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Hinson’s comments came after Fox News Digital previously reported that Turek missed 261 of the chamber’s votes between Jan. 12 and May 3, amounting to a nearly 60% absence rate.

Turek, who has served in the Iowa legislature since 2023, spent much of that period locked in a contentious Democratic primary against a progressive backed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.

Under Iowa state law, legislators receive a tax-free per diem of $201 for each day the legislature is in session. The per diem was paid for 100 legislative days this year, meaning Turek collected $20,100.

“He was skipping votes to attend ritzy fundraisers,” Hinson said, referring to a report in The Washington Free Beacon that found Turek missed a vote in May on an appropriations bill providing funding for veterans’ assistance while attending a fundraiser hosted by the nonprofit side of the Schumer-aligned group, VoteVets.

“He was skipping votes to support farmers through the Iowa Farm Bill,” she continued.

Hinson, who has cast the hotly contested race to succeed Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, as a contrast between her record and Turek’s, touted her own attendance numbers.

“I have a 98.8 percent voting record in Congress,” Hinson told Fox News Digital. “Iowans need a senator who’s going to show up and be their advocate.”

Asked for comment by Fox News Digital, the Turek campaign sharply criticized Hinson’s own record.

“Ashley Hinson is a multi-millionaire who skipped votes on the annual defense funding bill to fundraise and wasted $50,000 in taxpayer funds to pay for her luxury D.C. apartment,” a spokesperson for the Turek campaign said.

Hinson, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, was absent during a portion of the panel’s markup for this year’s National Defense Authorization Act. The bill is expected to hit the House floor this week.

Under House rules, lawmakers are eligible for taxpayer-funded reimbursements for certain housing expenses while in Washington under a program adopted in 2023.

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The spat comes as Hinson and Turek appear locked in a dead heat, according to recent polling.

Though the Republican-leaning state has not elected a Democratic senator in nearly two decades, some Democrats argue that a poor political environment for Republicans, primarily driven by voter discontent over the economy and the cost of living, has put the open seat in play.

A Fox News poll released earlier in July found that Hinson trailed Turek 46% to 50% within the survey’s margin of error. The survey also showed that Trump has a net favorability rating of minus 13 points in Iowa, with just 42% of Iowans viewing him favorably.

Asked about the survey showing a statistical tie, Hinson largely brushed aside the numbers, saying she “always run[s] like [she’s] 10 points behind” and vowed to “earn every single vote.”

“I understand we’re in a tough time for our country,” Hinson told Fox News Digital. “I’m a minivan-driving mom, and I understand it’s tough to keep those groceries stocked. It’s tough to fill up the minivan with gas, and times are tough.”

“My commitment is to continue to get out there and hear directly from Iowans and tell their stories in Washington so we can make sure we’re actually getting the government out of the way and lowering costs for Iowa working families,” she continued.

“Iowans just want someone who’s common sense, who can relate to what they’re going through,” Hinson said. “And I think I will bring that to this election and win in November.”

Hinson is endorsed by President Doanld Trump and has represented a northeastern Iowa seat including Cedar Rapids since 2021. Before serving in Congress, she served in the state legislature and was a broadcast journalist.

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The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the contest as “Lean Republican” after shifting the race toward Democrats following Turek’s primary win.