Democrat Josh Turek Flips Iowa Senate Seat, Ending 10-Year GOP Hold
Democrat Josh Turek has won the U.S. Senate race in Iowa, ending more than ten years of unified Republican control over both of the state’s Senate seats, according to a race call by The Associated Press.
Turek, a state representative from Council Bluffs, defeated Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson to capture the highly competitive seat. He will succeed retiring Republican Sen. Joni Ernst, who announced last fall that she wouldn’t seek a third term.
A self-described “prairie populist” and two-time Paralympic gold medalist in basketball, Turek uses a wheelchair due to spina bifida, a condition he attributes to his father’s exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. Turek first emerged on the statewide stage in June, when the relatively unknown lawmaker defeated former state Senate minority leader Zach Wahls to secure the Democratic nomination.
Economic Strain and Healthcare Focus
Turek anchored his campaign on healthcare reform while mounting aggressive attacks against Hinson. He criticized her vote for President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act—legislation that cuts nationwide Medicaid spending by nearly $1 trillion—and raised questions about the growth of Hinson’s personal wealth during her tenure in Washington.
Hinson, a former television journalist long viewed as a rising star in Iowa politics, initially held front-runner status to replace Ernst. She secured President Trump’s endorsement soon after launching her campaign in a state that backed Trump three times, including a 13-point victory margin in 2024.
The political climate shifted as Trump’s approval ratings dropped and Iowa’s agricultural sector faced mounting pressure from trade tariffs and elevated diesel prices linked to the war in Iran. As some GOP candidates across the country began stepping back from Trump, Hinson faced a delicate balancing act. By summer, political analysts rated the contest a toss-up.
A Record-Breaking Campaign
Both candidates campaigned on their bipartisan records in an effort to win over Iowa’s large pool of undecided voters, though political attacks intensified as polling narrowed. Former U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin joined Turek on the trail late in the race, addressing supporters alongside him at a campaign event at the Noethe Brother’s family farm in Westside, Iowa, on November 01, 2026.
The high-stakes battle became one of the nation’s most expensive Senate contests. Federal spending data indicates Turek and Hinson jointly raised more than $30 million, while tracking by Open Secrets showed outside groups poured over $100 million into the race.
Turek surged past Hinson in fundraising during the final quarter of the campaign, capitalizing on grassroots momentum to secure the victory and flip the open seat.