Democrat Josh Turek has won Iowa's open U.S. Senate seat, defeating Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson and flipping a seat previously held by Republicans. The Fox News Decision Desk projected Turek's victory, which marks the first time Democrats have secured this seat since 2008.
President Donald Trump had carried Iowa by more than 13 points in 2024, making Turek's win a notable development in a state considered a Republican stronghold. Senate Majority Leader John Thune had identified Hinson's race as crucial for Republican control of the chamber.
Hinson conceded the race to Turek, acknowledging the hard-fought campaign and calling for a focus on serving Iowans. "Josh and I, to put it mildly, disagree on a lot. But tonight I hope that we can agree on this, that the campaign is behind us, and the work of serving the people of Iowa remains ahead," Hinson stated.
Turek's campaign centered on issues of affordability, healthcare, and wages. He pledged to advocate for lower prescription drug costs, more accessible housing, an increased minimum wage, and a federal ban on food price gouging. His platform also included proposals to restore Medicaid funding, protect Affordable Care Act subsidies, and support rural hospitals.
His personal background as a two-time Paralympic gold medalist, born with spina bifida, informed his stance on healthcare, which he described as a human right. Turek presented himself as a potential bipartisan legislator, emphasizing his message of a better future for Iowa.
Hinson's campaign focused on tax relief, border security, parental involvement in schools, and support for agriculture and biofuels. Trump had endorsed Hinson, promising to make year-round E15 fuel standards permanent if she were elected.
Turek, campaigning as a "prairie populist," argued that working families were struggling with rising costs of housing, groceries, and fuel, while benefiting politicians and corporations. He also linked economic pressures in Iowa to national policies like former President Trump's tariffs and the war in Iran.