Turek Captures Iowa Senate Seat, Ending Republican Control

Democrat Josh Turek has won the U.S. Senate race in Iowa, The Associated Press reported. His victory marks the end of more than a decade of Republican control over both Senate seats in the state.

Turek, a state representative from Council Bluffs, defeated Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson. The race replaced retiring Republican Sen. Joni Ernst, who decided not to seek a third term last fall. Turek flipped one of the most competitive seats in the country.

The winner is a two-time Paralympic basketball gold medalist. He uses a wheelchair due to spina bifida, a condition he attributes to his father's exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. Turek was a relatively unknown state lawmaker before winning the Democratic nomination in June against Zach Wahls, the former state Senate minority leader.

Campaigning as a prairie populist, Turek focused heavily on healthcare reform. He criticized Hinson for supporting President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which cuts national Medicaid spending by nearly $1 trillion. Turek also noted that Hinson's personal wealth increased substantially during her time in Washington.

Both candidates emphasized their ability to work across party lines to win over uncommitted voters. As polls indicated a tight race, the tone grew more aggressive. The state's agricultural sector faced pressure from Trump tariffs and higher diesel prices linked to the war in Iran. These economic factors made the race a toss-up by summer.

The contest became one of the most expensive in the nation. Federal spending data indicates the candidates raised more than $30 million combined. Outside groups added more than $100 million to the race, according to Open Secrets. In the final quarter, Turek raised significantly more money than Hinson, a former TV journalist who had been a rising star in Iowa politics.

Hinson was initially viewed as the front-runner to replace Ernst. She received President Trump's endorsement shortly after announcing her candidacy. Trump had carried Iowa by a 13-point margin in the 2024 election. Some Republicans in the state began distancing themselves from the president as his approval ratings declined.