On Monday, Oct. 14, Representative Ashley Hinson and small business owner Sarah Corkery grappled in a debate over the issues that affect Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, which encapsulates Cedar Falls and the rest of the Northeast Iowa area. The debate, hosted by Iowa Public Broadcasting, covered topics like abortion, immigration, the economy and healthcare.
The debate began with Republican incumbent Hinson and Democratic challenger Corkery discussing immigration and how it can impact Iowans at home. “We have 10 million illegal immigrants that have come across the border under the Harris border czar situation we’ve had, it’s been an absolute disgrace … I was just at a small school district where they’ve had several dozen new students come in that don’t speak the language … I think we need to deport the dangerous illegals in our country first, that should be our top priority,” said Hinson. Corkery pushed Hinson, stating that Hinson should have supported a bipartisan immigration package. Corkery argued that “73% of people working in agriculture” weren’t born in America, and that Iowa relies on those people to support the farming industry. Corkery also noted that she solely supports legal immigration.
Hinson and Corkery also applied pressure to one another while debating abortion on both a state and national level. While Hinson argued that she is pro-life but supports exceptions for rape and incest, Corkery brought up that Hinson cosponsored the Life at Conception Act, which does not include specific language regarding exceptions for rape and incest. “It’s about valuing life,” said Hinson. Corkery pressed Iowans to not just listen to Hinson, but to look specifically at how she votes. “This is what I believe – I believe Ashley Hinson would rather you be dead than have an abortion. She signed the Life at Conception Act which has no exceptions for rape or incest, or life of the mother. She says she supports women, but she would rather they die than have an abortion,” argued Corkery. Corkery was firm in her belief that there should be no gestational period laws, and that decisions around pregnancy should be strictly between the mother and her medical care team.
TikTok also became a point of debate between the two nominees, with Hinson being an adamant supporter of the Protecting Americans from Adversary Controlled Applications Act, the act that failed to ban TikTok. Corkery argues that the data gathered from TikTok will not be used to cause harm and has been used as a “fear tactic.” Hinson argued that China’s ownership of TikTok is similar to a “spy balloon on 200 million American phones,” and that data security is at stake and is a “threat that needs to be eliminated.”
Both Hinson and Corkery will be on the ballot this coming November for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District seat in the U.S House of Representatives. The 2nd District encapsulates Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Dubuque and Cedar Rapids. Iowa Public Broadcasting is set to host a second congressional debate on Oct. 21 at 8 p.m. for Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, which encompasses Iowa City, Davenport, Newton and Burlington. Republican incumbent Marianette Miller-Meeks will debate Democratic challenger Christina Bohannan. To register to vote, visit mymvd.iowadot.gov.
