Josh Turek wins Iowa Democratic primary for Senate

State Representative Josh Turek soundly defeated state Sen. Zach Wahls That’s predicted Tuesday in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary in Iowa, the Associated Press reported. The primary was one of the party’s most closely watched races as Democrats try to regain control of the Senate in November’s midterm elections.

Turek received 62.6 percent of the vote, while Wahls received 37.4 percent, with more than 98 percent of the expected votes counted. MS NOW.

Turek, 47, will run to become the first Iowa Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate since Tom Harkin in 2008.

Turek will face Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson, who represents the state’s 2nd congressional district, to fill the seat vacated by GOP Sen. Joni Ernst at the end of this year.

Hinson, 42, handily defeated Jim Carlin in the Republican Senate primary on Tuesday by a margin of nearly 48 percentage points.

Turek faces the difficult task of winning in a state that President Donald Trump won by 13 percentage points in 2024 and has nearly 200,000 more registered Republican voters than Democrats. But Democrats are optimistic about taking the seat as Trump’s approval rating has fallen due to the Iran war and difficulties in the state’s economy.

Farm bankruptcies are on the rise statewide. tax revenue in decline. And Tariffs and Iran war hit soybean and other farmers hard.

Meanwhile, Morning Consultation in a survey The report, released in May, revealed that Trump’s -7 approval rating in Iowa was lower than it was in February, before the Iran war began. The same poll also rated a Republican victory in the Senate race as “likely.”

The fight between Turek and Wahls was emblematic of a larger struggle between the more moderate and progressive wings within the Democratic Party and became a referendum for Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (DY).

The general election for the Iowa Senate seat could be crucial to Democrats’ effort to take back the chamber. To do so, they will need to flip four states won by Trump: Iowa, Texas, North Carolina and Maine, while also successfully defending Democratic-held seats in states like Georgia, Michigan and New Hampshire.

“The big fight among Democrats right now is who is more electable.” Timothy HagleThe University of Iowa political science professor said before the primary. “Which direction do we go? Republicans, of course, want Wahls because Wahls is so far to the left that it’s probably going to distract non-party voters. And a lot of Democrats are saying, ‘We need Turek because we need a fighting chance in this election.'”

Turek was seen as the establishment’s nominee, with the support of Harkin, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and a handful of senators. Turek, who lives in Council Bluffs on the state’s western border with Nebraska, is a Paralympian who won a two-time gold medal in wheelchair basketball and won a seat in the state legislature long held by Republicans.

“I am the only candidate running against, let alone beating, a Republican in this race,” Turek said. sent to x In May. “I have been battle tested and I am ready to face Ashley Hinson and win.”

Wahls was seen as the more progressive candidate and was supported by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. During his campaign, he vowed not to endorse Schumer as party leader if elected. He lives in Coralville, a suburb of Iowa City, a college town in Democratic stronghold Johnson County.

“Ashley Hinson is Donald Trump’s choice for this seat. My main opponent is Chuck Schumer’s choice. But this seat does not belong to them, it belongs to the people of Iowa,” Wahls said. wrote on a Substack Release on Monday.

Iowans on Tuesday also voted in primaries in three of four congressional districts, choosing the Republican candidate for governor in a five-way race that includes GOP Rep. Randy Feenstra.

Rob Sand, Iowa’s state auditor, ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination for governor.