- Ashley Hinson is married to Matthew Arenholz (often called Matt), and together they have two sons, Max and Jax, who attend Linn-Mar schools in Marion, Iowa (Gazette; Radio Iowa).
- While serving in Congress, Hinson’s immediate family remained in Marion, where Matt has worked as a co-owner of a business in Waterloo, and the boys continued their education (Globe Gazette; Gazette).
- Hinson has openly discussed her experience as a working mother and Marion resident, often citing her parental perspective in public policy debates (Telegraph Herald; The Gazette).
- Her husband’s company received a federal PPP loan in April 2020, before Hinson’s election to Congress, with loan forgiveness later; as of 2022, her husband is reportedly no longer a part owner (Gazette; Globe Gazette).
- Hinson has described a family background that includes military service, noting her grandfather’s role as a WWII Navy veteran and her father-in-law’s Vietnam War service (Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier; Telegraph Herald).
- Potential vulnerability: Past media coverage of her husband’s co-ownership in a business that received and had forgiven a PPP loan could be subject to scrutiny, even though the loan was made before Hinson’s congressional tenure and he is reportedly no longer involved (Gazette).
Ashley Hinson's Family Remained In Marion, Iowa While She Served In Washington According to Gazette, "Although Hinson will be spending her weekdays in Washington, her family will remain in Marion where the boys attend school. Her husband is co-owner of a business in Waterloo." [Gazette, 12/8/20]
December 2020: Ashley Hinson Attended Freshman Orientation For Congress Remotely While In COVID-19 Isolation According to Globe Gazette, "Before she went to Washington, Hinson was 'home-schooling' while she was in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19. She participated in freshman orientation remotely with her sons, Max and Jax, at her side doing their schoolwork." [Globe Gazette, 12/5/20]
Ashley Hinson's Family Remained In Marion, Iowa During Congressional Term According to Globe Gazette, 'Although Hinson will be spending her weekdays in Washington, her family will remain in Marion where the boys attend school. Her husband is co-owner of a business in Waterloo.' [Globe Gazette, 12/5/20]
2022: Gazette Reported Hinson Has Two Sons Attending Linn-Mar Schools According to Gazette, "Hinson's two sons attend Linn-Mar schools." [Gazette (Cedar Rapids, IA), 11/9/22]
November 2020: Hinson And Her Husband Tested Positive For COVID-19 Before Congressional Orientation According to Fox News, "Hinson's congressional career got off to a rocky start. Before planning to fly to D.C. for freshman orientation, she tested positive for coronavirus, along with her husband. They are quarantining at home in Iowa with their two sons until after Thanksgiving break." [Fox News, 11/18/20]
2022: Ashley Hinson Expressed Personal Stake As A Linn-Mar Parent According to Radio Iowa, 'I’m a Linn-Mar parent myself, right? I have an 11 and 9 year old in fifth and third grade,' Hinson said, 'so I want to make sure that parents in this district and in my congressional district that I will stand up for their involvement in their kids’ education and to be heard.' [Radio Iowa, 5/5/22]
Donald Trump Described Ashley Hinson As A 'Loving Wife And Proud Mother Of Two Sons' According to Gazette, "'A Loving Wife and Proud Mother of two sons, Ashley is a champion for the American family,' Trump's post read. 'In Congress, she is fighting hard to Secure our Border, Cut Taxes, Reduce Burdensome Regulations, Promote American Agriculture, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment.'" [Gazette (Cedar Rapids, IA), 9/18/24]
Hinson And Her Husband Matt Raised Two Sons In Marion, Iowa According to Southeast Iowa Union, "Hinson and her husband, Matt, are raising their two sons in Marion." [Southeast Iowa Union, 10/17/24]
2019: Ashley Hinson Had Two Sons With Husband Matt According to Gazette (Cedar Rapids, IA), "She and her husband, Matt, have two sons." [Gazette (Cedar Rapids, IA), 1/21/19]
2020: Hinson Was 37 And A Mother Of Two During Congressional Campaign According to Des Moines Register, "In Iowa's 1st District, two women under the age of 40 are competing against each other: Finkenauer, who at 31 is the second-youngest woman in Congress, and Hinson, who is 37. Hinson's first television ad of the general election describes her only as 'Iowa mom Ashley Hinson' and includes images of her alongside her two young sons." [Des Moines Register (Iowa), 8/9/20]
Ashley Hinson Maintained A Family With Husband Matt And Two Sons According to Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA), "Family: Husband, Matt, and sons Matt, 9, and Jax, 7" [Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA), 10/11/20]
2020: Ashley Hinson Began Preparing For Congressional Service With Family Support According to Gazette, "Republican Ashley Hinson laughs Wednesday with her husband, Matthew Arenholz, as they recall telling their sons, Max, 9, and Jax, 7, about her victory as Hinson speaks with journalists at her Cedar Rapids campaign office. Hinson defeated one-term incumbent Democrat Abby Finkenauer." [Gazette, 11/4/20]
Ashley Hinson Raised Family In Marion, Iowa According to AshleyHinson.com, "Ashley and her husband Matt are raising their two sons in Marion. Her children motivate her every day to fight for a better community and a stronger economy for all Iowa families." [AshleyHinson.com, 4/3/24]
2021: Ashley Hinson Cited Deep Personal Concern For Children's Well-Being According to The Gazette, "Nobody cares about the health and safety of kids more than me," Hinson said, referring to her two sons who she said, she put on the school bus before the town hall. [The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, IA), 9/8/21]
November 2020: Ashley Hinson Celebrated Election Victory With Family According to Gazette (Cedar Rapids, IA), 'Ashley Hinson laughs with her husband, Matthew Arenholz, as they recall telling their sons, Max, 9, and Jax, 7, about her victory as Hinson speaks with journalists after her win in Iowa's 1st Congressional District race at her Cedar Rapids campaign office on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020.' [Gazette (Cedar Rapids, IA), 3/8/21]
January 2017: Ashley Hinson Was Photographed Assisting Her Children On First Day Of Legislative Session According to Gazette (Cedar Rapids, IA), "Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Marion, helps her kids, Jackson Arenholz (left), 4, and Max Arenholz, 5, get settled Monday on the first day of the legislative session." [Gazette (Cedar Rapids, IA), 1/15/17]
2017: Ashley Hinson Arenholz Was Identified As Niece Of Carol Madonna Hinson Driver According to Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, "She is survived by her husband; son, Scott Driver (Ariel) of Phoenix, AZ; son, Jeffrey Driver (Gyobanna) of Waterloo, IA; daughter, Charlotte Backens (Josh) of Phoenix, AZ; three grandchildren: Luke Backens (8), Madelyn Driver (4), and Liam Backens (2); brother, Richard Hinson (Jane) of Malibu, CA; nieces, Ashley Hinson Arenholz of Cedar Rapids, IA and Piper Hinson of Los Angeles, CA; and nephew, Blake Hinson of New York, NY." [Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier (IA), 6/28/17]
May 2021: Hinson Shared Family Military History In Memorial Day Context According to Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, "Hinson said her late maternal grandfather served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, while her father-in-law, a Waterloo resident, served during Vietnam." [Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier (IA), 5/28/21]
Ashley Hinson Referenced Family Military Service In WWII And Vietnam According to Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, "Hinson said her late maternal grandfather served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, while her father-in-law, a Waterloo resident, served during Vietnam." [Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier (IA), 5/28/21]
2023: Ashley Hinson Cited A Family Connection To WWII Veterans According to Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA), "Hinson said her grandfather was also a World War II veteran, and she understands families' desires to have veterans properly recognized." [Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA), 12/20/23]
Ashley Hinson Cited Personal Family Connection To WWII Veterans During Medal Ceremony In 2023 According to Telegraph Herald, "Hinson said her grandfather was also a World War II veteran, and she understands families' desires to have veterans properly recognized." [Telegraph Herald: Web Edition Articles (Dubuque, Iowa), 12/20/23]
November 2020: Ashley Hinson Was Supported By Her Husband Matthew Arenholz At Campaign Event According to Gazette, "Matthew Arenholz, the husband of Republican candidate for Iowa's First Congressional District Ashley Hinson, waves as he arrives at Jimmy Z's 112 2nd St SE, in southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020." [Gazette, 11/3/20]
2020: Hinson Highlighted Experience As Working Mother And Marion Resident According to Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA), 'Hinson noted an increase in Republican women elected and her perspective as a working mother. "That's why I wanted my family here today," Hinson said. "I'm a Marion resident. My kids are in school here in Marion. My husband is a small-business owner so we understand a lot of the challenges that Marion residents are facing and what we need to do for economic development."' [Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA), 11/12/20]
1/3/21: Ashley Hinson's Family Attended Swearing-In Weekend, But Pandemic Limited Ceremony Attendance According to Muscatine Journal, 'Although Hinson's family is in Washington for the weekend for some sightseeing and to help set up her office and apartment, only her husband, Matt, will be able to attend the ceremony.' [Muscatine Journal (Iowa), 1/3/21]
April 2020: Hinson's Husband's Company Received And Was Forgiven PPP Loan According to Globe Gazette, "Hinson's husband, Matthew Arenholz, was a co-owner of Transportation Insurance and Consultants of Waterloo, which received a PPP loan of $142,029 in April 2020 — before Hinson was elected to Congress — for payroll. It had $143,043 forgiven, including accrued interest. The firm does business as Elliott Hartman Insurance Services." [Globe Gazette, 8/27/22]
April 2020: Hinson's Husband's Company Received And Had PPP Loan Forgiven According to Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, "Hinson's husband, Matthew Arenholz, was a co-owner of Transportation Insurance and Consultants of Waterloo, which received a PPP loan of $142,029 in April 2020 before Hinson was elected to Congress – for payroll. It had $143,043 forgiven, including accrued interest. The firm does business as Elliott Hartman Insurance Services." [Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier (IA), 8/27/22]
Ashley Hinson Thanked Family And Grassroots Supporters After 2020 Election Victory According to Sioux City Journal, "Hinson credited 'Ashley's army,' her grassroots team, for 'making those extra efforts to just help us cross the finish line first.' She also credited her husband, Matt, and two sons for their support." [Sioux City Journal (Iowa), 11/4/20]
August 2022: Hinson'S Husband Co-Owned A Company That Had A PPP Loan Forgiven Before Her Election To Congress According to Gazette, "Hinson's husband, Matthew Arenholz, was a co-owner of Transportation Insurance and Consultants of Waterloo, which received a PPP loan of $142,029 in April 2020 before Hinson was elected to Congress for payroll. It had $143,043 forgiven, including accrued interest. The firm does business as Elliott Hartman Insurance Services. Arenholz is identified as a partner in the agency on its website; Hinson's office said her husband is no longer a part owner." [Gazette, 8/26/22]
August 2022: Hinson's Office Reported Her Husband Was No Longer A Part Owner Of Previously PPP-Related Firm According to Globe Gazette, "Arenholz is identified as a partner in the agency on its website; Hinson's office said her husband is no longer a part owner." [Globe Gazette, 8/27/22]
August 2022: Hinson's Office Stated Her Husband Is No Longer Part Owner In Firm That Got PPP Loan According to Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, "Arenholz is identified as a partner in the agency on its website; Hinson's office said her husband is no longer a part owner." [Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier (IA), 8/27/22]