Democrat Josh Turek wins Iowa Senate seat from Republican Ashley Hinson

Summarised from 5 outlets · 6 reports · Updated 4 Nov, 05:03 · Archive

Democrat Josh Turek has defeated Republican Ashley Hinson in Iowa's Senate race, according to projections from CBS News and the Associated Press. The victory flips a Republican-held seat and gives Democrats control of the Senate for at least the next two years.

Turek, 47, is a former wheelchair basketball Paralympian and state representative. He was born with spina bifida and played wheelchair basketball professionally in Europe, winning gold medals with the US team at the 2016 and 2020 Summer Paralympics. He ran for the open seat after GOP Sen. Joni Ernst announced she would not seek reelection.

Turek campaigned as a centrist 'common-sense populist' focused on lowering costs while agreeing with President Trump on some issues, including limiting Medicaid coverage and sports eligibility for transgender people. He campaigned on his record of working across the aisle.

Hinson, 43, is a former local news anchor who has represented northeastern Iowa in the House since 2021. She ran as a 'minivan-driving mom' on a mission to make life better for families. In the weeks before the election, Hinson called for the war with Iran to be brought to a 'successful and immediate end', though she had opposed Congressional efforts to rein in the president's war powers. During an October debate, she pledged to be Trump's ally when it was 'important for Iowa' but also said she would 'push back on him'.

The race proved more competitive than expected despite Iowa's rightward shift in recent years. Trump won the state by 13 points in 2024, and Iowa has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 2008. The competitive nature of the race forced both sides to spend heavily in the state.

According to reporting, multiple factors hurt Hinson's candidacy. Voters were affected by rising gas and diesel prices, the unpopular war with Iran, and high inflation under President Trump. The tariff policy also hit Iowa farmers hard. Trump announced an $8 billion harvest relief fund for farmers in October.

How it is being reported

• Democrat Josh Turek flips Iowa Senate seatTurek beat Republican Ashley Hinson, a US House member.Al Jazeera · 4 Nov, 04:55
• Josh Turek dunks GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson to give Democrats Senate controlThe race for the open Senate seat was surprisingly competitive in a state Trump won three times, carrying Iowa by 13 percentage points over Democrat Kamala Harris in 2024.New York Post · 4 Nov, 04:48
• Trump's Iowa nightmare becomes reality as Republican Ashley Hinson loses to Paralympic champion Josh Turek in another flip for DemocratsDemocrat Josh Turek has won Iowa's Senate race, flipping a Republican-held seat in a major blow to President Donald Trump and the GOP's battle to retain control of the chamber.Daily Mail · 4 Nov, 04:42
• Democrat Josh Turek wins the Senate seat in IowaDemocrat Josh Turek has defeated Sen. Ashley Hinson in Iowa, according to a race call by the Associated Press.NPR · 4 Nov, 04:37
• Democrat Josh Turek wins Iowa Senate raceDemocratic state Rep. Josh Turek defeated GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson in the Iowa Senate race, CBS News projects, in a major pickup for Democrats as they seek to take control of the upper chamber.CBS News · 4 Nov, 04:32
• Senate candidates in Iowa deliver final appeals for midterm electionsRepublican candidate Ashley Hinson and Democratic challenger Josh Turek make their final campaign push in Iowa.Al Jazeera · 3 Nov, 10:20

In this story: Josh Turek · Ashley Hinson · Iowa · Donald Trump · Joni Ernst · Democratic Party · Republican Party · United States Senate

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log