Senate race · 2026

Iowa Senate Race

This open seat election will determine who replaces retiring two-term U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst as Iowa's junior senator. The race is considered pivotal to control of the U.S. Senate.

All 2026 races

3 candidates · what each one campaigns on

Josh Turek

Democratic

Currently: State Representative

Josh Turek, 47, is a two-term state representative for House District 20 and is the first permanently disabled member of the Iowa Legislature.

Campaign platform

Combat High Prices
Turek would address high prices by enacting a federal ban on 'price gouging on food' and banning private equity firms from purchasing single-family homes and farmland.
EconomySource
Disability Rights
He supports ending 14C certificates which allow sub-minimum wages for disabled individuals and raising Social Security income and asset limits for disabled individuals.
JusticeSource
Healthcare Access
Turek would protect and expand the Affordable Care Act, cap prescription drug prices, and introduce a public option for healthcare coverage.
HealthSource
Campaign Finance Reform
He supports banning corporate PAC money, passing a constitutional amendment to reverse Citizens United, and enacting term limits for Congress and Supreme Court Justices.
DemocracySource
Middle Class Tax Cuts
Turek proposes cutting taxes for middle-class families while closing 'loopholes' for billionaires and large businesses.
EconomySource

Campaign site Ballotpedia profile

Ashley Hinson

Republican

Currently: Member of Congress

Ashley Hinson, 42, is currently serving on the House Appropriations Committee, House Select Committee on China, and the House Ethics Committee.

Campaign platform

Housing affordability and tax cuts
Supports tax-free first-time homebuyer savings and blocking institutional investors from single-family homes.
EconomySource
Lower prescription drug costs
Wants pharmacy benefit manager transparency and expanded rural health access.
Health CareSource
Family farms and biofuels
Champions year-round E15, opposes California's Prop 12 and backs passing a Farm Bill.
Agriculture & RuralSource
Secure the border
Supports enforcing immigration law and deporting criminal offenders.
ImmigrationSource
Veterans' health care
Wants expanded rural veteran mental health access and full VA funding.
VeteransSource

Campaign site Ballotpedia profile

Thomas Laehn

Libertarian

Thomas Laehn is running as a Libertarian candidate for the U.S. Senate.

Campaign platform

This candidate has not published a detailed issues platform we can quote yet. Their campaign materials and public filings are linked below.

Ballotpedia profile

Platform items are drawn from candidates’ own campaign materials and public reporting, summarised neutrally. They are what a candidate says they will do — not a judgement about whether they will do it. Once a candidate is serving in Congress, their record moves to the The Informed Ballot profiles.