Iowa Democrat Josh Turek wins Senate seat

Council Bluffs, Iowa, Democrat Josh Turek won the U.S. Senate race in Iowa, according to an Associated Press race call. The victory breaks more than a decade of Republican control over both Senate seats in the state.

Turek, a state representative, defeated Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson in a contest that replaced retiring Republican Sen. Joni Ernst. Ernst announced in late 2025 that she would not seek a third term. The race was widely considered one of the most competitive in the country during the fall campaign.

Turek is a two-time Paralympic gold medalist in basketball. He uses a wheelchair because of spina bifida, a condition he attributes to his father's exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. In June, Turek secured the Democratic nomination by defeating former state Senate minority leader Zach Wahls.

During the campaign, Turek described himself as a prairie populist. He focused heavily on healthcare reform and criticized Hinson for supporting the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Turek argued the legislation reduces national Medicaid spending by nearly $1 trillion. He also claimed Hinson's personal wealth increased during her time in Washington.

Both candidates pitched themselves as bipartisan lawmakers to appeal to uncommitted voters in Iowa. However, polling data showing a close race led both sides to intensify their attacks. Turek raised more than $30 million with Hinson in the final quarter of the election, according to federal spending data. Outside groups contributed more than $100 million to the race, according to Open Secrets.

Hinson had been considered a rising star in Iowa politics and a front-runner to replace Ernst. She received President Trump's endorsement shortly after announcing her candidacy. Trump carried Iowa by a 13-point margin in 2024. Hinson faced challenges as Trump's approval ratings fell and the state's agricultural industry dealt with tariffs and higher diesel prices linked to the war in Iran.