10
Loading video...
By Anna Skinner and Anna Commander
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Democrat Josh Turek won Iowa's U.S. Senate race on Tuesday, defeating Republican U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson in a contest closely watched as a measure of political sentiment in the rural Midwest.
Turek, an Iowa state representative and two-time Paralympic gold medalist, received 50.5 percent of the vote to Hinson's 46.4 percent.
Turek said in his victory speech that the system has been broken for too long.
Read More on Politics
"I believe to my core that the single greatest vehicle to make societal change is the United States Senate," he said.
...
Despite Democrats' overwhelming performance in securing the Senate and House, University of Iowa political science professor Timothy Hagle told Newsweek that he was surprised Turek won.
"Turek was a good candidate, but Hinson was stronger," Hagle told Newsweek on Wednesday. "Even so, Iowa's Senate race was somewhat tied to the gubernatorial race in that both were open, statewide, and high-profile races. [Rob] Sand was the stronger candidate in the gubernatorial race and my thought was that he might be able to pull Turek and some other candidates across the finish line. I think that's essentially what happened."
Hagle also noted that many voters split their votes, as a Republican won in the secretary of state, secretary of agriculture and state treasurer races.
Related Story
Newsweek Webinar: How the Politics of AI Could Shape Midterms
Hinson told her supporters that she is proud of their campaign's old-fashioned grit. She said the fight for common sense is far from over.
"The campaign is behind us, and the work of serving the people of Iowa remains ahead," she said. "It's time to put politics aside, dial down the rhetoric and start solving problems for Iowa's families and Iowa's farmers."
Senate Majority PAC spokesperson Lauren French said Turek will put working families first.
”Turek has spent his career fighting for Iowans, from lowering health care costs and confronting Iowa’s cancer crisis to standing up for the farmers and small businesses that keep the state’s economy running," she said.
Josh Turek ends Iowa's Republican control in the Senate
Turek is the first Democrat elected to Iowa’s U.S. Senate seat since 2008. His campaign focused on the economy, particularly how Iowa farmers had been wounded by Trump’s tariff and Iran war policies, and expanding health care access across Iowa. He also repeatedly criticized Hinson for her House votes that contributed to the continued U.S. involvement in the Iran war.
Iowa's other senator is Republican Chuck Grassley, who, at 93, is the oldest sitting senator in Congress. Grassley's current term will end in 2028, and he has not yet confirmed whether he plans to run for re-election.
...
Ashley Hinson vs. Josh Turek: What Latest Polling Results Showed
Recent polls have shown a very tight race between the two candidates:
- Echelon Insights: A survey of 403 likely voters between October 16 and 23 gave Turek a two-point lead over Hinson with only days before the election. Of those surveyed, 45 percent said they'd vote for Turek to 43 percent who said Hinson. Seven percent said they planned to vote for Thomas Laehn, the Libertarian candidate, and 3 percent were undecided.
- InsiderAdvantage: An InsiderAdvantage poll of 1,200 likely voters between October 21 and 22 found that 47 percent of respondents planned to vote for Hinson compared to 46 percent for Turek. Three percent said Laehn and 4 percent were undecided.
- YouGov: A YouGov poll conducted between October 6 and October 12 of 2,245 likely voters gave Turek a narrow lead over Hinson at 47 percent to 46 percent, with 4 percent of voters still undecided.
- Marist University: A Marist poll conducted between October 8 and October 11 surveyed 1,100 likely voters, giving Turek a three-point lead over Hinson, at 48 percent to 45 percent, with 5 percent still undecided.
- Emerson College: An Emerson poll surveyed 650 likely voters between October 5 and October 6. Hinson led by two points, at 47 percent to Turek's 45 percent, with 7 percent of those surveyed still undecided.
- CNN/SSRS: A CNN/SSRS poll was conducted between September 29 and October 5 and surveyed 801 likely voters. Hinson led by two points at 45 percent to Turek's 43 percent, with 8 percent saying "neither" and 3 percent saying "someone else."
- Suffolk University: A Suffolk poll surveyed 500 likely voters between October 1 and October 4. Turek held a four-point lead, with 48 percent to Hinson's 44 percent and 2 percent of those surveyed said they planned to vote for Libertarian candidate Thomas Laehn. Six percent said they didn't know who they would vote for.
Why the Iowa Senate Race Is Critical to 2026 Midterm Elections
Democrats were hoping to flip control of both the House and the Senate. Republicans were trying to fight off a blue wave as President Donald Trump's approval ratings continue to slide and voters express concerns tied to the economy, inflation, rising fuel costs and the Iran war.
Iowa had been thought to be a safe spot for Republicans, having last elected a Democrat to the Senate in 2008 and to the governor's mansion in 2006.
The state also backed Trump in all three of his White House runs, including by 13 points in 2024. But as Democrats have gained momentum, the state became a prime target as one of the four GOP seats they needed to flip—while defending their own—to take control of the upper chamber.
Retiring Republican Senator Joni Ernst left the Iowa seat open, contributing to the competitiveness of the race. Tariffs, immigration and voting records played a major role throughout the candidates’ campaigns.
Although Iowa has voted Republican in the Senate elections since 2008, the state has also had a history of voting for presidential candidates from both political parties, making the current political environment a competitive one. Before Trump won Iowa all three times, President Barack Obama won Iowa twice.
What Are Josh Turek’s Policies?
Turek, a Democrat who has represented District 20 in the Iowa House since 2023, campaigned as a bipartisan legislator focused on the economic and practical concerns of Iowa voters.
His legislative work has included assignments covering health policy, human resources, natural resources, state government and veterans’ affairs. He previously served as the ranking Democrat on the Iowa House Veterans Affairs Committee.
During the Senate campaign, Turek emphasized his record of winning in a district that had also supported Trump.
His campaign said that he had developed a reputation as a “common-sense, bipartisan legislator” who was willing to engage with voters across party lines.
What Happens Next for Josh Turek?
Turek’s victory makes him the first Democrat to win a Senate race in Iowa since 2008.
He will succeed Republican Joni Ernst, who did not seek reelection after two terms. His win also helped Democrats secure control of the Senate, giving the party command of the chamber when the new Congress convenes in January.
The race call does not mark the end of the formal election process. State and county officials must complete the canvass before Iowa certifies the result. In the meantime, Turek can begin planning his transition to the Senate, including recruiting staff and establishing offices in Washington and Iowa.
Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Samantha Beech and Gray R. Thomas
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines