Josh Turek flips Iowa Senate seat, ending more than a decade of Republican control

Democrat Josh Turek defeated Republican Ashley Hinson in Iowa’s U.S. Senate race, flipping a seat Republicans had held since 2015 and delivering a major victory to Democrats in a state that has shifted sharply to the right.

The Associated Press called the race for Turek shortly before 10:50 pm CST. With 91% of expected ballots counted, Turek had 50.9% of the vote to Hinson’s 46.1%, according to AP-reported results. Libertarian Thomas Laehn also appeared on the ballot.

Turek, a state representative from Council Bluffs and two-time Paralympic gold medalist, will replace retiring Republican Sen. Joni Ernst. He becomes the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Iowa since Tom Harkin won reelection in 2008.

The race grew increasingly competitive as voters faced rising costs, tariff-related pressure on farmers and higher fuel prices tied to the war in Iran. Turek campaigned on affordability and anti-corruption, while criticizing Hinson’s support for President Donald Trump’s tax and spending law, which included cuts to Medicaid and food assistance.

Heartland Signal previously scrutinized Hinson’s financial disclosures and her congressional stock-ban messaging, finding that her family retained a substantial private-equity stake. The outlet also reported on Hinson’s campaign requesting oil and gas contributions from constituents as Iowans faced rising fuel costs.

Turek’s win flips a Republican-held seat and gives Democrats a major boost in their effort to reclaim the Senate.