Dems flips yet another Senate seat in Trump country amid sweeping GOP upsets

The Fox News Decision Desk projects that Democrat Josh Turek will win Iowa's open U.S. Senate seat, flipping a Republican-held seat as the GOP fights to retain control of the chamber.

Turek defeated Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson in the race to succeed retiring Sen. Joni Ernst.

"Iowa, after 448 days of hard work, pushing up hills, knocking doors, visiting all 99 counties, visiting small and midsized communities all across Iowa, and preaching a message of a better future for Iowa – together, we have made history," Turek wrote on X.

The victory marks the first time Democrats have won the seat since 2008, when former Sen. Tom Harkin secured his final term. It also represents a Democratic pickup in a state President Donald Trump carried by more than 13 points in 2024.

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Iowa Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Josh Turek speaks during a primary night rally at The Loft on June 2, 2026, in Des Moines, Iowa. (Charlie Neibergall/Getty Images)

Senate Majority Leader John Thune had made Hinson’s race a priority, saying: "I’m absolutely convinced that she flat has to win, and if she doesn’t, we’re not going to be in the majority."

Hinson shared with a crowd of supporters that she had conceded her race to Turek and congratulated him on a "very hard fought campaign."

"Josh and I, to put it mildly, disagree on a lot. But tonight I hope that we can agree on this, that the campaign is behind us, and the work of serving the people of Iowa remains ahead," Hinson said.  "It is time to put politics aside, dial down the rhetoric, and start solving problems for Iowa's families and Iowa's farmers." 

Hinson then goes on to state that veterans, young people, students and millions of Americans need the help of politicians.

"That's who this campaign was really for. And while tonight's outcome was not the one that we wanted, I am so deeply proud of our campaign's fight, and I am just eternally grateful to everyone who helped make that happen to all of you," Hinson said.

Turek centered his campaign on affordability, health care and wages. He promised to push for lower prescription drug costs, more affordable housing, a higher minimum wage and a federal ban on food price gouging.

DEMOCRATS SAY THEY'LL MAKE LIFE AFFORDABLE. YOUR WALLET MAY DISAGREE

Republican nominee for U.S. Senate Ashley Hinson speaks during a televised debate with Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Josh Turek at WHO 13, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Health care was a personal theme for Turek, who was born with spina bifida and became a two-time Paralympic gold medalist. He pointed to his own experience accessing care and said "health care is a human right." His platform also called for restoring Medicaid funding, protecting Affordable Care Act subsidies and supporting rural hospitals.

Turek presented himself as a bipartisan lawmaker who could work across party lines, including on immigration. He campaigned as a "prairie populist," arguing that working families were being squeezed by housing, grocery and fuel costs while Washington politicians and corporations benefited. He also tied Iowa’s economic pressure to Trump’s tariffs and the war in Iran.

TRUMP-BACKED IOWA US SENATE HOPEFUL SAYS IRAN WAR MUST 'BE BROUGHT TO A SUCCESSFUL AND IMMEDIATE END'

Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Josh Turek speaks during a televised debate with Republican nominee for U.S. Senate Ashley Hinson at WHO 13, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Hinson ran on tax relief, border security, parental involvement in schools and support for agriculture and biofuels. Trump backed her at a Sioux City rally, calling her "a mother, a warrior, a patriot" and promising that "with Ashley in the Senate, we will make it year-round E15. We’ll make it permanent."