Iowa Senate race centers on fight over California farm rules

Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson is campaigning for the U.S. Senate while criticizing California’s Proposition 12, which requires certain meat sold in the state to meet animal-confinement standards, including products from Iowa. Hinson said compliance can cost farmers thousands of dollars per sow and promoted her proposed Save Our Bacon Act.

The legislation, which would block individual state regulations on agricultural production methods, was included in a farm bill version that failed to advance from the Senate Agriculture Committee. Democrat Josh Turek, Hinson’s opponent, opposes the bill but has also said he does not support Proposition 12.

The contest tightened this week when the Cook Political Report shifted the race from leaning Republican to a toss-up. Hinson said the fair shows Iowans want her approach, while Turek said the rating reflects voters’ concerns about rising costs and a desire for change.

Read the full story at iowacapitaldispatch.com.