Josh Turek wins Iowa Senate seat for Democrats
The gist
Democrat Josh Turek won Iowa's U.S. Senate race, defeating Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson, per an AP race call.
His win ends over a decade of Republican hold on both Iowa Senate seats.
How it unfolded
- Jun 2, 2026Turek defeated state Sen. Zach Wahls in Iowa's Democratic Senate primary, 62.6% to 37.4%, per an AP projection; Hinson won the Republican primary over Jim Carlin by about 48 points.
- Sep 29, 2026A Decision Desk HQ polling average showed Turek with a nominal 0.5-point lead, 45.6% to 45.1%.
- Oct 16, 2026Third-quarter FEC reports showed Turek raised $13.9 million and Hinson nearly $3.3 million.