Rep. Ashley Hinson won the Republican primary for Senate in Iowa on Tuesday, according to The Associated Press, capturing her party’s nomination in a red state that both parties have signaled will be unusually competitive this year.

Hinson, a third-term lawmaker whose district covers most of the northeastern part of the state, was the favorite of Republican leaders and donors. She won the endorsements of President Donald Trump, Gov. Kim Reynolds and Sen. Joni Ernst, who opted out of running for a third term in September, opening the seat for the first time since 2014.

Hinson defeated Jim Carlin, a former state senator who had cast himself as the true conservative in the race.

The state, which Trump won three times, remains deeply red. Republicans control Iowa’s entire congressional delegation, the governor’s mansion and both chambers of the state legislature. But when Ernst dropped out, Democrats saw an opportunity.

Hinson has highlighted her connection to the president, promising to be his “top ally in the United States Senate” and highlighting her backing for legislation that included tax cuts on tips and overtime pay. But she has also stressed a willingness to work across party lines, focusing much of her message on seeking “common-sense solutions” on cost of living issues.

Democrats have indicated that they plan to attack Hinson for supporting other parts of the president’s agenda. The Senate Majority PAC, which is aligned with national Democrats, announced that it planned to spend $13.4 million on ads attacking Hinson for supporting the Trump administration’s tariffs and legislation that will cut Medicaid spending by more than $900 billion over a decade.

Democrats believe that Iowa, which is heavily reliant on agriculture, could emerge as a new battleground, as farmers struggle with the increased costs of machinery, gas and fertilizer as a result of the Trump administration’s tariffs and war in Iran.

Republicans, too, have indicated that they believe the race could be more fiercely contested than in recent elections. In April, the Senate Leadership Fund, the main super PAC for Senate Republicans, made what it described as an initial investment of $29 million in Hinson’s campaign.

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This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

By Lisa Lerer/KC McGinnis
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