Ashley Hinson's BBQ Bash hosts Jim Jordan, Tom Emmer and lots of criticism of Democrats

U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson welcomed prominent Republicans from the state's delegation and across the country in front of a crowd of more than 300 during her fourth annual BBQ Bash on Saturday, fewer than 100 days before the 2024 general election.

Hinson, a Marion native representing Iowa's 2nd Congressional District, welcomed House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, a Republican from Minnesota, to Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids.

Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst and Rep. Zach Nunn also spoke on Saturday. Long-time Iowa Republican Party Chair Jeff Kaufmann provided passionate introductions for each speaker.

The event has become a showcase for prominent Republicans from outside of Iowa over the past four years. The 2023 edition featured then-presidential hopeful Nikki Haley, while the 2022 version featured South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott.

As in years past, Hinson opened the afternoon by joining the Kickin’ Country band on stage for a rendition of "God Bless America" on her violin.

Rep. Ashley Hinson critical of 'radical, out of touch' Democratic agenda

Hinson opened the afternoon’s remarks by calling out “woke nonsense” from the Democratic party.

Bringing out a joke her 11-year-old son told her last week, she said that the nation's egg shortage has been caused by "all the hens identifying as roosters."

More: 10 candidates to speak at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox: When to see them

On multiple occasions, she warned supporters that the Biden-Harris administration has been trying to turn the country into a “liberal wasteland” by allowing transgender people to compete in women's sports, permitting "dangerous illegal immigrants" to enter the country and spending money that the country does not have.

Democrats "may have a new nominee, but their woke, out-of-touch policies will be the exact same," Hinson said.

Hinson, like others, backed her party's nominee, former president Donald Trump, saying the United States "cannot afford" four more years of Democratic party rule and pointing out "attacks" Democrats have levied against Trump.

"They tried to attack his character. They tried to attack his family. They tried to weaponize our judicial system to put him beyond bars," Hinson said. "And through it all, he has never given up on us. He's never given up on our country. And he's always fought for us. So, I am proud he is the Republican nominee."

Immigrants, 'border crisis' get prominent attention at Ashley Hinson's BBQ Bash

Each speaker, including Kaufmann, focused some of their remarks on the current administration's border policy.

Hinson was critical of President Joe Biden's decision to "open the southern border," pause deportations and stop the construction of the border wall.

Referencing the death of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student at the University of Georgia allegedly murdered by an illegal immigrant, Hinson hammered Biden after he "apologized to the illegal alien who took her life instead of her family" following the 2024 State of the Union address. Biden did apologize for using the term "illegal" to describe the suspect instead of "undocumented" in an interview with MSNBC in March, but made no specific reference to the alleged killer.

"We will secure the border," Hinson said. "We need to deport these dangerous illegals and we will make America safe again and that is a promise."

More: See how much these key Iowa House, Senate candidates have raised for their November races

Hinson was the first of the speakers to promise to secure the border, an issue that Grassley later said was "the worst thing" and "probably first on your list" of priorities.

"We shouldn't be surprised that we have an open border and the sovereignty of the United States has been compromised," Grassley said.

Jordan went a step further, saying that the U.S. no longer has a southern border because of the policies enacted under the Biden administration. Ernst said leadership needs to focus more on national security and that Trump "will change the mindset."

Grassley claimed that the open border during the Biden administration has caused increases in "crime and murder," mirroring rhetoric used by Trump. Crime data released by the FBI shows an overall decrease in crime. A 2024 mid-year crime trend report released by the Council on Criminal Justice on July 25 also showed that crime has decreased to pre-pandemic levels. A RNC spokesperson told USA TODAY in April that "families are rightfully concerned" about crime.

Many of the elected officials who spoke on Saturday used the weak border policies as evidence of weak leadership by Vice President Kamala Harris, who they pointed to as the leading figure of the Biden administration's border policy.

Jordan said Harris had been appointed as the "border czar," a claim rated as false by USA TODAY. Harris was tasked with determining the "root causes" of migration in connection with a 2021 executive order issued by Biden. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, a Biden-appointed cabinet member, said in June 2021 that it is his responsibility, not the vice president's, to "address the security and management of our border."

Iowa's senators paint Kamala Harris as 'radical' and 'far left'

Ernst called Harris "very, very liberal" for excusing the actions of "mobs" of protesters with "antisemitic behaviors" across the country.

"She is one of the most radical, far-left senators that we have ever seen in the United States," Ernst said. "So don't let her claim the title of, 'Oh, I really was a good prosecutor working against the drug cartels.' She's trying to make it sound good, folks. She's for an open border. If she weren't, something would have happened by now in this administration."

This echoed a claim made by Trump at a North Carolina rally in late July, when he said Harris "is the most incompetent and far-left vice president in history."

More: What Kamala Harris' failed Iowa Caucus campaign tells us about her 2024 presidential bid

Grassley made similar comments, saying that a Harris presidency would amount to "the fourth and fifth terms of an Obama presidency."

He pointed to rising inflation during the Biden presidency, saying that the cost of living has increased 19.6% under Biden, amounting to a loss of $7,500 over the past three-plus years for the average American family. An October 2023 House Budget Committee assessment placed the figure in the same ballpark that Grassley referenced.

Tom Emmer, Jim Jordan bash Democrats while encouraging support for Republicans

Emmer entered the stage by thanking attendees for welcoming him to Iowa, calling his home state "The People's Republic of Minnesota" and criticizing Gov. Tim Walz — a candidate to be Harris' running mate — for trying to destroy Minnesota.

With an eye to November and general Election Day just 94 days away, Emmer said "Americans know better" than to support a Democratic nominee after experiencing rising grocery prices first-hand, for example.

More: Democrats' VP chatter turns to swing state governors. Which could turn their state blue?

Emmer told attendees, "Do not look at the polls in August," as Harris chooses her running mate and the Democratic National Convention begins in Chicago.

"If we do what I expect we're going to do, we are going to flip the Senate," Emmer said. "We will absolutely will keep our majority in the U.S. House of Representatives and we will expand it, and guess what? (Even) better, we are going to elect Donald J. Trump back to the White House and we're going to fix this country starting in January."

Emmer echoed high praise for Trump, saying that he is a "fighter of all time."

"We've got a guy who doesn't need this job. He can be off playing golf every day just enjoying his wonderful life," Emmer said. "But he loves this country so much that he's willing to put his family on the line. He's willing to put his business empire on the line. And folks, two weeks ago, we saw he's willing to put his life on the line to save this country."

More: President Joe Biden's decision to end reelection bid comes weeks before DNC. When is it?

Jordan echoed many of those same points as he emerged to raucous cheers as the day's final speaker.

"I tell folks, not all Democrats are crazy," Jordan said. "But the left that now controls their party is."

He said many of the most basic freedoms, like the five protections afforded by the First Amendment, are now under attack, specifically referencing the freedom to assemble, the right to petition the government and the right to a free press.

"Thank you for being involved," Jordan told the crowd. "This country is the greatest country ever because Americans have always been willing to take the risk associated with doing worthwhile things and defending values and principles that matter."

Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at rhansen@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01.

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Ashley Hinson's BBQ Bash: Guests Jim Jordan, Tom Emmer bash Democrats