Turek wins Iowa Senate primary

Iowa Democrat Josh Turek won the primary for retiring Sen. Joni Ernst's open U.S. Senate seat and will face Trump-backed Republican Ashley Hinson in November.

1. Frame 1Josh Turek moves Democrats into Iowa's open Senate election after voters picked him for Joni Ernst's seat.
2. Frame 2The Paralympic gold medalist and state representative defeated Zach Wahls after outside spending and top Democrats backed his campaign.
3. Frame 3Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson, endorsed by President Trump, won the GOP primary and waits on the November ballot.
4. Frame 4Joni Ernst's retirement opened the seat; Iowa last sent a Democrat to the Senate in 2008.
5. Frame 5Trump won Iowa by 13 points in 2024, but Democrats see cost-of-living frustration and House targets.
6. Frame 6The next pressure is whether Turek can unify Wahls voters and make a red-state Senate race competitive by November.