UMVA has learned that Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek of Iowa has captured his party's Senate nomination in a highly contested race to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Joni Ernst.
Turek, a Paralympian and moderate Democrat, defeated state Sen. Zach Wahls in Iowa's Democratic Senate primary, setting up a crucial showdown against Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson, who cruised to the GOP nomination. This matchup has significant implications for the balance of power in the Senate.
The Republican-controlled Senate seat in Iowa is a top target for Democrats, and this race is one of about a dozen crucial contests in the midterm elections that will determine whether Republicans maintain their slim majority in the chamber.
Turek, who flipped a GOP-held Iowa House seat in 2022, was backed by former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, while Wahls, a progressive candidate, was endorsed by liberal champion Sen. Elizabeth Warren. The Democratic primary drew national attention and significant outside spending.
Hinson, a former TV news anchor and rising star in the Republican Party, defeated former state senator Jim Carlin in the GOP Senate primary. She was backed by President Donald Trump, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Iowa has shifted to the right in recent election cycles, with Republicans holding both of the state's Senate seats and all four of Iowa's congressional districts. However, Democrats are energized heading into the midterms, citing traditional headwinds facing the party in power, including persistent inflation and high gas prices.
The general election winner will succeed Ernst, a retired Army Reserve and Iowa National Guard officer who served in the Iraq War and was first elected to the Senate in 2014. Her "make 'em squeal" ads grabbed national attention during her initial campaign.
Democrats are optimistic about their chances in Iowa, particularly after flipping two GOP-held state Senate seats in special elections. The outcome of this contest will have significant implications for the balance of power in the Senate and the parties' prospects heading into the next election cycle.
