US President Donald Trump stands next to Representative Ashley Hinson (R-IA) as she speaks during a Republican campaign rally in Sioux City, Iowa, US, October 22, 2026. REUTERS/Evan Vucci
Shockwaves erupted Tuesday night after Democrat Josh Turek defeated Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) in Iowa’s Senate race, flipping a Republican-held seat in one of the most closely watched contests of the midterm cycle.
NBC News and Decision Desk HQ projected the race for Turek, who led about 51% to 45% with 78% of the vote counted, per DDHQ. He is the first Iowa Democrat to win a Senate seat since Tom Harkin in 2008. DDHQ had rated the race as leaning Republican before Election Day.
Hinson, who represents northeast Iowa, launched her campaign hours after Sen. Joni Ernst announced she would not seek reelection. Endorsed by President Donald Trump, Hinson won the GOP nomination on June 2, defeating former state Sen. Jim Carlin.
Turek, of Council Bluffs, beat state Sen. Zach Wahls for the Democratic nomination. Born with spina bifida, he won Paralympic gold in wheelchair basketball in 2016 and 2021 and flipped a GOP-held Iowa House seat in 2022 by six votes.
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