Iowa Senate Candidate's Digital Strategist Ties to Firm Paid Millions by Israel for Propaganda

Ashley Hinson, the Republican candidate in a closely contested race for an Iowa Senate seat against Democratic state Representative Josh Turek, has appointed Abe Adams as her digital strategy lead. This move has raised eyebrows due to Adams' connection with Targeted Victory, a digital consulting firm that received nearly $10 million from Israel to influence American public opinion through pro-Israel propaganda.

Targeted Victory, co-founded and managed by Adams alongside other high-profile figures in Republican politics like Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, operates closely with another entity named Targeted Communications Global. Both companies are subsidiaries of the marketing conglomerate Stagwell Global. In March 2025, Israel awarded a $9.9 million contract to Targeted Communications for social media and paid advertising efforts aimed at swaying American public opinion.

By October 2025, these firms were actively engaging in activities such as pitching content on major news networks like Fox News and CNN, and producing YouTube advertisements that portrayed Iran's youth as indoctrinated into violent anti-Christian sentiments. These actions are part of a broader strategy to shift the narrative around Israel’s conflict with Iran.

Hinson’s campaign has garnered significant support from President Donald Trump and the influential American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). She has also been outspoken in her backing of Trump's military interventions in Iran, aligning herself closely with pro-Israel stances. The June 2026 filing by Targeted Communications to the Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) further detailed extensive work for Israel, including efforts to shape public opinion through social media and traditional news platforms.

In addition to Adams, Hinson’s campaign includes Addison Lavis as deputy manager. Lavis previously worked at Targeted Victory and interned with AIPAC before joining Hinson's team in her 2023 congressional run. This interconnected network of individuals underscores the deep ties between Hinson’s campaign apparatus and pro-Israel lobbying efforts.

Hinson has received over $100,000 from AIPAC and related pro-Israel political action committees (PACs) this year alone. As a state representative, she supported legislation that prohibited Iowa from collaborating with any businesses boycotting Israel, further cementing her alignment with pro-Israel policies.

The Hinson campaign has spent more than $1.6 million on digital consulting and advertising services provided by Targeted Victory through the current election cycle, accounting for 27 percent of its total expenditures reported to the Federal Election Commission (FEC). This financial commitment highlights the strategic importance of digital influence in shaping public perception during a critical moment when Israel is investing heavily in American political discourse.

Israel’s extensive PR campaign, which has seen over $100 million allocated towards influencing young conservative voters and reshaping narratives around its conflicts, exemplifies the broader geopolitical landscape that Hinson's candidacy navigates. The intertwining of digital strategy with foreign lobbying efforts raises questions about transparency and the influence of international actors in U.S. elections.