Trump Policies Spark Iowa Farm Crisis

Republicans are bracing for a potential wipeout in Iowa as a deepening farm crisis tied to President Donald Trump's policies threatens the party's grip on the state. According to a top GOP campaign consultant, 'In Iowa, we should brace for losing everything, definitely the governor's race and maybe the Senate race and who knows what else.'

The crisis is attributed to two Trump-driven pressures: tariffs that have raised prices for fertilizer, pesticides, and equipment while roiling markets, and the resulting trade fights with Canada, which buys roughly 30 percent of Iowa's exports. The war in Iran has also pushed diesel prices in the state up nearly 80 percent.

Local farmers are struggling to stay afloat, with some saying they can't even leave their family farms to their sons due to rising interest rates and consolidation. Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson is running roughly even with Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek in the Senate race, while Democratic state Auditor Rob Sand holds a wider lead over Republican Zach Lahn in the governor's race.

Mark Mueller, a Republican who leads the Iowa Corn Growers Association, downplayed the polling, suggesting voters are reluctant to admit backing Trump. However, he acknowledged that his own farm is 'scraping by' due to rising interest rates and added costs. Julius Schaaf, a retired Democratic farmer in Fremont County, said younger growers without a financial cushion are struggling most.

Some Republicans fear Lahn could drag down Hinson's chances, while others worry about discouraged GOP voters sitting out the election. 'It is going to be hard' for the Republican party to hold onto their seats, according to Lahn adviser Luke Thompson.