Turek Flips Iowa Senate Seat for Democrats

Josh Turek, a Democratic state representative and former Paralympic wheelchair basketball player, overcame GOP U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson in the contest for Iowa’s Senate seat, based on projected results. The victory gives Democrats a significant pickup in a state that had not elected a Democratic senator since 2008. Turek is set to succeed retiring Republican Sen. Joni Ernst.

The contest drew national attention and heavy spending as polls showed a close race. With more than 90% of votes counted when NBC News called it, Turek led Hinson by about 51% to 46%.

Turek focused his campaign on economic pressures, health care affordability and the impact of tariffs on Iowa farmers. He argued that Trump administration policies and the war in Iran had contributed to rising costs, including for fuel. He also presented himself as willing to work across party lines.

Hinson, a Trump-backed Republican, emphasized her record in Congress and said she would work with the president when his approach benefited Iowa, while also pushing back when she disagreed. She had supported Trump’s priorities in Congress, including the war, but called for it to end in the campaign’s final weeks. Turek used that shift to accuse her of changing positions.

Turek’s win marks a rare Democratic success in a state that has moved toward Republicans in recent years. The result brings Democrats closer to control of the Senate, though the reports differed on whether the party had secured a majority.

Iowa Voters Reject Trump’s Costly Agenda and Flip Senate Seat

Iowa voters delivered a sharp rebuke to the Republican agenda, electing Democrat Josh Turek over Trump-backed Rep. Ashley Hinson and flipping a Senate seat Democrats had not won since 2008. The victory offers Democrats a major boost in their effort to take control of the chamber.

Turek made the economic consequences of Trump’s policies central to his campaign, pointing to tariffs that hurt Iowa farmers and higher fuel costs amid the war in Iran. He also emphasized health care affordability, including concerns over Medicaid cuts, and argued that rural communities needed a stronger voice in Washington.

Hinson had voted with Trump on key priorities, including the war, then called for the conflict to end in the campaign’s closing weeks. Turek cast that change as a political reversal, while Hinson sought to assure voters she could work with the president and stand up to him when Iowa’s interests required it.

The result is a setback for a Republican administration whose policies and costs became liabilities in a state that has leaned Republican. Turek, a Paralympic gold medalist and Iowa lawmaker, will succeed retiring Sen. Joni Ernst. With more than 90% of votes counted when the race was called, he led by about 51% to 46%.

Iowa’s Senate Flip Tests Democrats’ Appeal Beyond Their Base

Democrats captured Iowa’s open Senate seat as Josh Turek defeated Republican Ashley Hinson, a Trump-backed congresswoman, in a state that has not elected a Democratic senator since 2008. The flip is a major gain for Democrats as they seek control of the chamber, but it also leaves questions about how the party will hold support in a Republican-leaning state.

Turek campaigned as a moderate, stressing economic concerns, health care and his willingness to work across party lines. He attacked Trump’s tariffs and the war in Iran over their effects on prices and Iowa farmers. Hinson, meanwhile, leaned on her congressional record and tried to balance support for Trump with promises to push back when she believed his decisions were wrong for Iowa.

The race was tight in the weeks before Election Day and drew substantial spending. Turek led by about 51% to 46% when the contest was called with more than 90% of votes counted. Hinson had warned voters that Turek was too liberal for Iowa, highlighting disputes over taxes, immigration and transgender policies.

Turek’s win gives Democrats a major Senate pickup, but it does not erase the state’s recent Republican tilt. He will replace retiring Sen. Joni Ernst. The result also reflects how economic concerns and the national political climate shaped a contest in a state Donald Trump carried by a wide margin in 2024.