Politics · United States · 2 hrs ago
Josh Turek wins Iowa Senate seat, boosting Democrats’ bid for majority
Democrat Josh Turek defeated Republican Ashley Hinson for Iowa’s open U.S. Senate seat, NBC News projected.
Turek is a state representative, while Hinson served three terms in the House.
The result gives Democrats a key seat as they try to take control of the Senate from Republicans.
They needed to gain at least four seats, and Democrats had not won an Iowa Senate seat in nearly two decades.
Turek focused on Hinson’s support for President Donald Trump’s policies, including trade measures and the war with Iran, which he argued had added to costs for Iowans.
Voter frustration over living costs helped shape the race, while Hinson sought to appeal to Trump supporters and distance herself from him on some issues.
Democrat Josh Turek won Iowa’s open U.S. Senate seat, defeating Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson, according to race calls reported by NPR and NBC News.
The victory flipped a Republican-held seat and gave Democrats a boost in their effort to win control of the Senate.
Turek is a state representative from Council Bluffs and a two-time Paralympic gold medalist in wheelchair basketball.
He campaigned on healthcare reform and criticized Hinson’s support for President Donald Trump’s policies, including tariffs and the war with Iran.
The race was closely contested and drew more than $100 million in spending from outside groups, according to NPR.
- Who
- Democrat Josh Turek defeated Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson.
- What
- Turek won Iowa’s open U.S. Senate seat, flipping it for Democrats.
- When
- The race was called on Nov. 4, 2026.
- Where
- Iowa.
- Why
- Turek’s campaign linked Hinson to Trump and his policies, which NBC News said were unpopular with Iowa voters.
Josh Turek
Ashley Hinson
Trump and policy record
Josh Turek
Turek criticized Hinson’s votes supporting Trump’s trade policies and argued that they hurt Iowa producers and consumers.
Ashley Hinson
Hinson defended her record and said she would tell the president when his actions were right or wrong for Iowa.
War with Iran
Josh Turek
Turek criticized Hinson’s support for the war and used her changed position to call her a flip-flopper.
Ashley Hinson
Hinson said in September that she believed the conflict should end after voting against efforts to end it.
Turek defeated state Sen. Zach Wahls in the Democratic primary.
Hinson said she believed the war with Iran should come to an end.
Trump held a rally in Sioux City to support Hinson and other Republican candidates in Iowa.
NPR and NBC News reported that Turek had won the Senate race.
- Winner
- Josh Turek, Democrat
- Opponent
- Ashley Hinson, Republican U.S. representative
- Seat
- Iowa’s open U.S. Senate seat
- Primary result
- Turek defeated Zach Wahls, 63% to 37%
- Outside spending
- More than $100 million, according to Open Secrets
- Democratic Senate goal
- A net gain of at least four seats to take control of the Senate
4 sources
What people are saying
I work alongside the president. When he’s right for Iowa, I’m going to tell him. When he’s wrong for Iowa, I’m going to tell him
But that’s not a change for me in how I’ve operated. I’ve always worked with both sides to get things done for Iowa.
It’s terrible. I think about it as a mom, and you think about your kids surviving childhood sexual abuse and having to relive that trauma on TV again