US Rep. Ashley Hinson hospitalized in Cedar Rapids with kidney infection days before early voting begins

U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson was hospitalized Sunday night in Cedar Rapids and is being treated for a kidney infection, her chief of staff said.

"Congresswoman Hinson was admitted to UnityPoint St. Luke's Hospital yesterday evening where she is being treated for a kidney infection. She is looking forward to being back on the road soon. She appreciates all of the prayers and well wishes," Chief of Staff Jimmy Peacock said in a statement Monday morning.

Hinson, a Republican from Marion, is running for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District in northeast Iowa. She faces Democratic state Sen. Liz Mathis in the Nov. 8 election.

More:What Ashley Hinson and Liz Mathis say about abortion, inflation in Iowa's 2nd District race

The two were scheduled to debate Tuesday night at 7 p.m. on Iowa PBS, but the debate has been canceled.

Iowa PBS issued a news release Monday afternoon saying there are no plans to reschedule the debate.

"The campaigns … were offered several possible dates to reschedule the debate prior to the midterm election. None of those dates were mutually acceptable to the campaigns," the release said.

Sophie Crowell, Hinson's campaign manager, said in a statement that Hinson was looking forward to debating and had accepted the alternate dates offered by Iowa PBS.

"Ashley is disappointed that the debate will not happen," Crowell said in the statement. "When she recovers from her kidney infection, she looks forward to getting back out on the trail, meeting with Iowans in every county of the district, and answering voters’ questions."

Mathis said with early voting starting on Wednesday her focus will now shift to get-out-the-vote efforts, rallies and canvass launches through Election Day.

"I was sorry to learn this morning that Rep. Hinson is in the hospital and won’t be able to participate in the debate tomorrow evening," Mathis said in a statement Monday afternoon. "I wish her a speedy recovery from her illness and for her to rejoin the campaign trail as she feels better."

Hinson and Mathis have already participated in one debate, which was hosted last week by KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids.

On Saturday, Hinson joined U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz for a rally in Iowa Falls as part of his Take Back America bus tour ahead of the midterm elections.

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: US Rep. Ashley Hinson hospitalized in Cedar Rapids