Democrats flip Iowa Senate seat as Josh Turek defeats Ashley Hinson

Democrat Josh Turek defeated Republican Representative Ashley Hinson on November 3, 2026, flipping Iowa's open U.S. Senate seat and delivering a critical pickup in the fight for chamber control. Turek, a Paralympian state legislator born with spina bifida, capitalized on voter discontent with President Donald Trump's trade policies and Medicaid cuts, alongside rising fuel costs driven by the war with Iran. The high-stakes $200 million race marks the first Democratic Senate victory in Iowa since 2008.

Election results and historical context

• ▪Josh Turek became the first Democrat elected to represent Iowa in the U.S. Senate since Tom Harkin's victory in 2008
• ▪Democrat Josh Turek defeated Republican Representative Ashley Hinson to win Iowa's open U.S. Senate seat

Campaign issues and Turek's criticisms

• ▪Josh Turek campaigned against President Donald Trump's tax and health legislation, highlighting proposed cuts to Medicaid and food assistance programs
• ▪Josh Turek criticized Ashley Hinson's support for President Donald Trump's trade policies and the U.S. war with Iran, which increased gas and diesel prices for Iowa farmers

Hinson's campaign statements and criticisms

• ▪Ashley Hinson condemned an ad by Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy that featured the mother of Democratic opponent Amy Acton accusing her of being a liar
• ▪Ashley Hinson criticized Josh Turek for missing votes in the Iowa state House of Representatives during his primary campaign and characterized his record as overly liberal
• ▪Ashley Hinson attempted to distance herself from President Donald Trump by stating in September 2026 that the U.S. war with Iran should come to an end

Josh Turek's background and career

• ▪Josh Turek was born with spina bifida and won gold medals in wheelchair basketball representing the United States at the 2016 and 2020 Summer Paralympics
• ▪Josh Turek was elected to the Iowa state House of Representatives in 2022, becoming the Iowa Legislature's first permanently disabled member

Polling in the Iowa Senate race

• ▪The final New York Times/Siena poll released before the November 3, 2026 election showed Josh Turek leading Ashley Hinson 48 percent to 47 percent
• ▪For months leading up to Election Day, surveys of the Iowa U.S. Senate race consistently showed Josh Turek and Ashley Hinson within the margin of error

Impact of diesel costs in Iowa

• ▪High diesel fuel costs placed a severe squeeze on rural communities in Iowa that rely on the fuel for power, machinery, and vehicles
• ▪President Donald Trump took steps to reduce high diesel costs in rural areas by easing sales of tax-exempt fuel and striking a supply deal with Russia

Battle for Senate majority

• ▪Projections during the 2026 midterm elections indicated that Democrats were close to taking control of both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate
• ▪Democrats needed a net gain of at least four seats in the 2026 midterm elections to gain control of the U.S. Senate from the 53-47 Republican majority

Campaign spending in Iowa

• ▪The $200 million spent on the Turek-Hinson Iowa U.S. Senate campaign exceeded Iowa's $167 million annual state budget appropriation for agriculture and natural resources programs
• ▪The Iowa U.S. Senate campaign between Josh Turek and Ashley Hinson attracted approximately $200 million in spending from candidate committees and outside groups

Endorsements for Ashley Hinson

• ▪President Donald Trump also firmly endorsed Ashley Hinson, who consistently supported his legislative priorities, including the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, in the U.S. House of Representatives
• ▪Senate Majority Leader John Thune and NRSC Chairman Tim Scott endorsed Ashley Hinson in late 2025, helping her win her June 2026 primary with 75% of the vote

Endorsements for Josh Turek

• ▪Former U.S. Senator Tom Harkin and former U.S. Representative Tony Coelho endorsed Josh Turek during his Iowa U.S. Senate campaign
• ▪Former President Barack Obama and Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois also endorsed Josh Turek during his 2026 Iowa U.S. Senate campaign