Poll Shows Rep. Ashley Hinson Hurt by Sponsorship of Controversial Bill
Des Moines, Iowa – Iowa voters oppose the Save Our Bacon Act by nearly a two-to-one margin, according to a new statewide poll conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy, and released today by Farm Action Fund, a farmer-led nonpartisan organization dedicated to building a fair, competitive, resilient and healthy agricultural food system. The poll was first covered by Politico’s Weekly Agriculture newsletter.
The survey of 625 registered Iowa voters, conducted July 6-8, found that 45% of Iowans oppose the legislation while just 23% support it. Opposition spans every congressional district, age group, party affiliation, and among both men and women. Among voters who had already heard of the bill before being polled, opposition climbs to 60%.
The Save Our Bacon Act, which passed the U.S. House in April as part of the House Farm Bill (H.R. 7567), would prohibit states from enforcing many of their own standards governing the production and sale of agricultural products, overriding state laws approved by voters and legislatures.
“Iowa voters have sent an unmistakable message: they don’t want Washington and a China-owned pork giant overriding the standards set by states,” said Joe Maxwell, president of Farm Action Fund and a fourth-generation hog farmer. “They believe states—not powerful corporations or the politicians they fund—should have the right to set their own food and farming standards. Even in one of the nation’s leading pork-producing states, voters reject legislation that strips away states’ rights and undermines farmers who have already invested in meeting new market opportunities. Ashley Hinson is out of touch with her own constituents. Congress should listen to the 74% of Iowans – Republicans, Democrats and Independents alike – who want these decisions made close to home.”
Hardin County farmer John Gilbert said this legislation threatens not only his premium market for the pigs raised on the farm, but also endangers the safety of the food system for all Iowans. Gilbert said, “This anti-Prop 12 bill is so broadly worded that many other laws regulating farming and food safety are likely to be nullified. Why? All because the pork monopolies and foreign packers won’t take the ‘No’ from the U.S. Supreme Court which said Prop 12 is legal. Instead they have bought politicians like Ashley Hinson to do their bidding. Iowans deserve better than Big Pork’s gaslighting and deception about who this bill hurts, and who reaps the benefits. My independent hog farm is benefitting and so are many others.”
Opposition Increases After Voters Learn More
After hearing the strongest arguments from both supporters and opponents of the bill, opposition grew even stronger. A majority of Iowa voters (52%) opposed the bill, compared with 30% who supported it. Independents broke against the bill 62% to 25%.
Protection of States’ Rights Unites Iowa Voters
The poll’s strongest finding centered on the principle behind the legislation. 74% of Iowa voters said each state should have the right to establish its own food and farming standards, while only 19% said Congress should impose a single national standard.
The results are remarkably uniform: 74% of Democrats, 74% of Republicans, and 73% of Independents.
Support for state authority also exceeds 70% in every Iowa Congressional district.
Hinson’s Support Carries Political Risk
The poll also found that support for the Save Our Bacon Act could create political challenges for Rep. Ashley Hinson, who is the main sponsor of the bill and is a candidate for U.S. Senate.
After voters were informed that Congresswoman Ashley Hinson supports the legislation, has received contributions from China-owned Smithfield, and that the bill could disadvantage Iowa farmers who have already invested in meeting state standards, 64% said the information made them view Hinson less favorably. This includes 68% of independents, 44% of Republicans, 77% of voters in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, and 75% of voters in the 2nd Congressional District.
“For Iowa elected officials, the results make it clear that Iowa voters don’t want their elected officials in Congress to support overriding state authority or rewarding the largest corporate interests at the expense of the family farmers who played by the rules,“ said Maxwell.
The poll was conducted by live telephone interview with 625 registered Iowa voters, July 6-8, 2026, all of whom stated they were likely to vote in the November general election. The margin of error is 4 percentage points.
