Democratic state Rep.Josh Turek of Iowa on Tuesday captured his party's Senate nomination in the race to succeed retiring GOP Sen.
Joni Ernst.Turek, a Paralympian, defeated state Sen.Zach Wahls in Iowa's Democratic Senate primary, The Associated Press reported, and will now face off against Republican Rep.
Ashley Hinson, who cruised to the GOP nomination.The Republican-controlled Senate seat in Iowa is a top target for Democrats, and the race is one of about a dozen crucial showdowns in this year's midterm elections that will determine whether Republicans successfully hold onto their slim majority in the chamber.THE MIDTERM RACES THAT COULD TIP THE BALANCE OF POWER IN THE SENATEState Rep.Josh Turek, D-Iowa and a U.S.
Senate candidate, greets attendees while campaigning at the Des Moines Farmers Market in Des Moines, Iowa, May 23, 2026.Iowa is holding a primary election June 2.
(Scott Morgan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)Turek, a moderate Democrat who flipped a GOP-held Iowa House seat in 2022, was backed by former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.Wahls, a progressive candidate who Republicans likened to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, was endorsed by liberal champion Sen.Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.
The Democratic primary grabbed plenty of national attention and drew tons of outside money.DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUBIowa state Sen.Zach Wahls campaigns for the Democratic nomination for U.S.
Senate during an event with local residents May 23, 2026, in Waukee, Iowa.(Charlie Neibergall/AP Photo)Hinson, a former TV news anchor who is in her third term representing Iowa's 2nd Congressional District, defeated former state senator and former U.S.
Senate candidate Jim Carlin in the GOP Senate primary, The Associated Press reported.Hinson was backed by President Donald Trump; Senate Majority Leader John Thune; the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which is the campaign arm of the Senate GOP; and by Ernst as she c...