Josh Turek delivers flips control of Senate with Iowa upset
· Axios
Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek defeated Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson in a major upset Tuesday, becoming the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Iowa since 2008, the AP projected and sealing Democratic control of the chamber.
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Why it matters: Turek's victory delivers Democrats control of the Senate — and signals a political backlash against Republicans in a state Trump won comfortably just two years ago.
The big picture: Turek's victory breaks the GOP's hold on both of Iowa's Senate seats for the first time since Democrat Tom Harkin left office in 2015, marking a major breakthrough for Democrats in a state that has shifted right.
State of play: The Cook Political Report rated the race a toss-up after moving it left during the campaign as mounting frustration over rising costs, Trump's tariffs and the Iran war put Republicans on the defensive.
Zoom in: Turek, a Council Bluffs state lawmaker and Paralympic medalist, built his campaign around affordability and appeals to working-class and independent voters.
- He criticized Trump's tariffs and other administration policies that he argued were hurting Iowa farmers and families.
- He also made government ethics and corruption a central theme, including support for a ban on congressional stock trading.
Between the lines: Republicans had held both of Iowa's U.S. Senate seats since Harkin retired, while GOP candidates have increasingly dominated statewide races.
The bottom line: Turek's win offers Democrats a potential roadmap for competing in increasingly Republican states — and raises questions about the GOP's political strength heading into 2028.