U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican, delivered a speech at the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition fall fundraiser Sep. 19, 2026 at the Airport Holiday Inn in Des Moines. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
U.S. Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana told a crowd of Iowa conservatives Saturday he believes current high inflation is being caused by the U.S.-Iran war — but said he sees an end to the conflict within six months.
Kennedy was the keynote speaker for the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition’s annual fall fundraiser in Des Moines Saturday evening. The crowd of more than 1,300 expanded into an overflow room at the Airport Holiday Inn.
During his address, Kennedy spoke in support of U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson’s campaign to join him in the Senate, while defending Republicans’ move to lower taxes through the “One, Big Beautiful Bill” Act.
While praising 2025 tax cuts for small businesses and Social Security recipients, Kennedy also acknowledged high costs from recent inflation — though he claimed inflation was higher under former President Joe Biden. He said the 3.7% increase in inflation, referencing the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, is because of the U.S. war with Iran. Kennedy said, “That’s just a fact.”
“There’s no sense bubble-wrapping it,” Kennedy said. “That is that is the genesis of the inflation that we have right now.”
He said inflation caused by the conflict is because “oil is in everything, folks,” and fuel costs have gone up due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the conflict. According to data from AAA-Iowa, average prices for regular unleaded gas stand at $4.39 per gallon in Iowa, a 47% spike from the $2.98 average price per gallon a year ago. Diesel currently sits at $6.21 per gallon, the highest ever recorded average price in Iowa.
“It’s affected the price of everything, but we’re going to get it down,” Kennedy said. “And I believe — I don’t get want to get off the subject — but I believe that that war will be concluded within the next six months. And I think you will see the price of oil come down and inflation come down with it.”
In August, Kennedy said on “Meet the Press” that his stance on President Donald Trump making a deal to end U.S. military involvement in Iran was that, “No deal is just fine. Not preferable, but it’s fine. A bad deal isn’t.” He instead advocated for continued sanctions and a blockade against Iran.
“I don’t know whether the president should start a new bombing campaign again, because I don’t have the military intelligence,” Kennedy said in August. “Now, that’s a problem too, because it’ll cause a lot of pain. It’ll cause energy prices to go up, and a lot of inflation for the American people. They’re all hellish choices. But for the moment, I’d maintain the status quo.”
Kennedy’s visit also came in support of Hinson, who aims to join him in the U.S. Senate in the 2026 election. He praised Hinson as “temperate,” “thoughtful,” and “an adult,” while adding, “If you don’t like Ashley, you’re probably going to hell.”
“Yeah, she’s charming, but if you get between Ashley and what is best for the people of Iowa, she will devour you like a light snack,” Kennedy said. “She will beat you. She will beat you like you stole Thanksgiving, man. Now, I don’t want to tell the good people of Iowa how to vote, OK? But I want to tell you: If you don’t vote for Ashley Hinson, you probably need to change your meds.”
Hinson faces state Rep. Josh Turek, a Council Bluffs Democrat, in the general election. Political forecasters including Cook Political Report rate the race as a “toss-up,” seeing the seat as more competitive in the 2026 midterms than in previous election cycles.
Kennedy is visiting Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska to attend fundraisers supporting GOP Senate candidates. According to the Washington Post, Kennedy told reporters Thursday: “If you told me six months ago I was going to be having to spend my time in those three states, I wouldn’t have believed you. Those ought to be fat guy layups for us.”
Speaking to the group, Hinson called for Iowans to support her and Republicans’ track record in the November election.
“I would echo what Senator Kennedy said — we’ve gotten some really amazing things done, despite some incredible headwinds in this country, not just from the Democrats but from the national media as well,” Hinson said. “But I can tell you this: we’re all fearless in this room, right? What they lie about us, what do we do? We tell the truth about them. We’re going to do that.”
Earlier Saturday, Hinson campaigned in Ankeny with U.S. Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, promoting the elimination of taxes on tips and overtime work including in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
[subed]GOP congressional candidates call for GOP voters to not be ‘demoralized’[/subhed]
Three of Iowa’s four Republican congressional candidates — incumbent Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks in the 1st District, as well as Republican Joe Mitchell running for the 2nd District and Chris McGowan running in the 4th — introduced themselves to the crowd in a question-and-answer segment hosted by state Rep. Charley Thomson.
Iowa currently has an all-Republican congressional delegation. But three of the state’s four U.S. House seats are considered “toss-up” races by political forecasters heading into the 2026 midterms. In addition to Miller-Meeks and Mitchell’s races, the 3rd District contest between incumbent Rep. Zach Nunn and Democratic state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott is also considered one of the most contentious races in the country.
McGowan, who is running for the seat currently held by Rep. Randy Feenstra in Iowa’s longtime conservative stronghold, said his goal was to “maximize turnout” in the 4th District and beyond helping support other candidates like Hinson and gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn.
He also said Republicans should not be discouraged by polls and political forecasters, highlighting the crowd of 1,300 who attended the fundraiser.
“The media is going to try and tell us that we’re demoralized, that we’re battling headwinds,” McGowan said. “Well, I’ll tell you something. I got here about two hours ago, and I’m parked in another zip code. That tells me about the energy right now.”
Miller-Meeks agreed, referencing her position in the Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll published before the 2024 election. She joined the lawsuit brought by President Donald Trump against the Des Moines Register and pollster J. Ann Selzer over poll results, which showed Trump behind former Vice President Kamala Harris.
“Remember, they underestimate us every single time, every single time,” Miller-Meeks said. “Remember that poll? I was going to lose by 16 points. I’m still here. I’m elected.”