Turek Defeats Hinson in Iowa Senate Race
Democrat Josh Turek wins the Iowa Senate seat, giving the party its first Iowa Senate win in more than a decade.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Democrat Josh Turek defeated Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson in the Iowa Senate election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Decision Desk HQ called the race for Turek Tuesday night, after The New York Times Needle had given him a 94% chance of winning for much of the evening.
Why it matters
The result gives Iowa its first Democratic senator in more than a decade in a state President Donald Trump carried by 13 points in 2024. It signals a competitive shift in a state that has leaned Republican in recent cycles.
Trump won Iowa by 13 points in 2024, while the final NYT/Siena poll had Turek up by just 1 point before election day. The stub does not provide the final vote margin.
The players
Josh Turek
Turek is a Democrat, a two-time gold medal-winning Paralympian in wheelchair basketball, and a member of the Iowa state Legislature since 2023.
Ashley Hinson
Hinson is a Republican U.S. Representative from Iowa who lost the 2026 Senate race to Turek.
The details
Turek, 47, is a two-time gold medal-winning Paralympian in wheelchair basketball and has served in the Iowa state Legislature since 2023. Hinson, 43, faced a series of negative headlines in October 2026, including an X Community Note on a campaign ad claiming she voted to release the Epstein files, which the note said was inaccurate.
Timeline
November 2025: Hinson voted for the Epstein Files Transparency Act (H.R. 4405).
September 2025: Sen. Joni Ernst announced her retirement from Congress.
October 2026: Hinson faced a series of negative headlines.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Turek defeated Hinson in the Iowa Senate election.
Season Trajectory
Turek's win breaks from Trump's 13-point Iowa margin in 2024, marking a departure from the state's recent Republican lean. It follows Ernst's September 2025 retirement announcement, which opened the seat.
Iowa voters now have a Democratic U.S. senator, which may shift how the state's federal delegation votes on legislation. The stub does not specify any immediate policy changes or implementation dates.
The takeaway
The Iowa result shows that statewide races in traditionally Republican states can tighten quickly when polling and candidate profiles shift. Readers tracking Senate control should watch how similar margins play out in other competitive states.
Further reading
Explore more on Iowa Elections for context on how the state's Senate race reshaped its political landscape.
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