How this headline may connect to industries in Iowa. Technical scores are below — click any ? for what a metric means.
Two Republicans seek to take Ashley Hinson’s seat in Congress, two different stances on Trump.Two Republicans seek to take Ashley Hinson’s seat in Congress, two different stances on Trump DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) - As Iowa’s Primary Election approaches two longtime state politicians are fighting to take the Iowa’s Second Congressional District seat.That spot is currently held by Ashley Hinson, who’s been in the House of Representatives for five years.She’s leaving her spot to pursue Joni Ernst’s seat in the Senate as she steps down.Former State Representative Joe Mitchell and State Senator Charlie McClintock are both Republicans hoping to represent northeast Iowa in Congress -- but they are running very different campaigns to win over their party.Experience McClintock is a National Guard veteran and served for decades in the Cedar Rapids Police Department; he’s joined the Iowa Senate 2020.“About 36 years total in public safety and the vast majority of that time was in law enforcement,” McClintock said.Joe Mitchell, on the other hand, made history as Iowa’s youngest ever legislator - winning in 2018 when he was just 20.He’s a developer by trade and has worked with the Trump Administration in various roles.“I’m in charge of a lot of different initiatives to rollback rules and regulations from the Biden era to make sure that more people can get mortgages and afford mortgages,” Mitchell said.President Trump President Trump is where these two really split.Mitchell was endorsed as ‘a real patriot’ by Trump.“[Joe has] proven he has the Courage and Wisdom to deliver strong results for the incredible people of his wonderful State and Nation,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.“Ultimately, I work for the president,” Mitchell said.But McClintock worries Trump will hurt Republicans in the general election as he says the President has pushed away independents and moderates.“I’m a 2016 Trumper,” McClintock said.“The first time I ever caucused was in 2016 and Trump, he was, he was going to go out to DC and he was going to change things.“ But throughout Trump’s second term, McClintock has broken off.“I didn’t leave Trump, he left me,” McClintock said.Insider trading The two still share many similarities, especially when it comes to cleaning up corporate influence and insider trading for members of Congress.“The very issue we have with Congress is that people feel that there’s, you know, the money is the problem there,’ McClintock said.”By the time you’re taking in all this money, by the time you get there, you’re already part of the problem.“ “They go up there with a worth about $2.00 and they come out, they’re worth about $200 million,” Mitchell said.“They’re not smarter than Warren Buffett.They don’t know how to trade stocks better than the Wall Street guys, but they do and they make a lot of money.“ Campaign status Mitchell has a big fundraising advantage that he’d carry into a general election, but McClintock plans to rely on independent voters.Full interviews with Mitchell and McClintock as well as profiles of other primary races can be found on the KCRG news apps for Connected TV and Mobile.Early voting is open now with polls closing at 8PM on June second.Copyright 2026 KCRG.All rights reserved.