Senate candidate wants more for younger generations

OSCEOLA - Jim Carlin, who has made a bid to become the Republican candidate for one of Iowa’s seat in the Senate, spoke on his priorities should he become Senator while appearing before the Clarke County Republican Central Committee last Tuesday.

Topics discussed included housing prices, party loyalty and the recent arrest of the Des Moines Public Schools superintendent.

Carlin, who served in the Iowa Senate from 2017 through 2023 and previously in the Iowa House, opened his bid for the Senate seat occupied by Sen. Joni Ernst earlier this year. Following Ernst declining to run in 2026, the seat has been the subject of Republican interest in who could represent Iowa going forward.

The favorite for the Republican candidacy has been placed to Carlin’s opponent Ashley Hinson. Currently serving in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2021, Hinson has campaigned by declaring she could be President Donald Trump’s strongest ally in the U.S. Senate.

Endorsements for Hinson have outpaced Carlin, receiving support from fellow Representatives Zach Nunn and Marianette Miller-Meeks, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Trump himself.

Still, Carlin showed no signs of backing down while speaking to Clarke County Republicans last week.

Citing his background as a trial lawyer, Carlin reinforced into his commitment to Iowa. Describing his family and his new status as a grandparent, Carlin said new perspectives have been given to him as he campaigned to make the United States a better place for his grandchildren.

Using a metaphor from “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Carlin said the United States was starting to look like “Pottersville” as billionaires look to monopolize businesses and “destroy the culture of America.”

Referencing a Harvard study on the housing market, Carlin said housing prices have risen 60% since 2019. Carlin blamed the Federal Reserve and primary dealer banks for rising interest rates and devaluing the dollar. He said the lack of accountability and transparency contributes to these rising prices.

The economic future of the United States, focusing on first-time homebuyers, was a concern for Carlin. The average age of a first-time homebuyer is 39, which Carlin said wasn’t much for the next generation.

“We’re not giving them [our children] much of an economic future,” Carlin said. “The debt’s growing. When do we start thinking about our kids? Our grandkids?”

When discussing his time in the Iowa legislature, Carlin said he was disheartened by how the general consensus of the Republican Party was to go along with the party, even if he personally objected to a specific motion. Calling the party a “club,” he said he received pushback for going against the party.

“We can dress things up to look real, real nice, but the established base of the Republican Party in Iowa controls people,” Carlin said. “That’s reality. You may not want to hear that, but that’s reality.”

Carlin said he has stood against vaccine mandates (specifically citing the COVID vaccine mandate) and supported the heartbeat bill. As a part of a “courageous minority,” Carlin promised to push for his views if voted to the Senate.

As a member of the Iowa Liberty Network, Carlin said he and 22 other members of Iowa legislators help watch over the interests of constituents rather than the favor of the Republican Party.

“They’ll actually put your interests ahead of the clubs,” Carlin said. “They’ll fight for you and your grandkids.”

Carlin also took time to criticize Des Moines Public Schools amidst the arrest of Superintendent Ian Roberts by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Questioning the capabilities of the district and the safety of students, Carlin wondered if staff, including teachers, could also not be trusted.

“That was the superintendent; what about the teachers? What about the administrators?” Carlin said. “We’ve trusted you with our children, and you guys didn’t do a background check on the superintendent of the school district with 30,000 kids?”

Support for Trump came easy to Carlin, saying he aligned with the President’s America First agenda. He said he couldn’t imagine if last year’s election “had gone the other way.”

Showing support for “preserving the Trump legacy,” Carlin criticized U.S. legislators who voted for Trump’s impeachment and those who voted to certify the 2020 election, repeating false claims that the election was rigged.

The Iowa Republican Primary will take place June 2, 2026.