The 2026 United States Senate election in Iowa was held on November 3, 2026, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Iowa. Democratic state representative Josh Turek defeated Republican representative Ashley Hinson. Republican incumbent Joni Ernst did not seek a third term.
Primary elections were held on June 2. Endorsed by President Donald Trump, Hinson won the Republican nomination with 73.9% of the vote over former state senator Jim Carlin. Turek won the Democratic nomination with 62.6% of the vote over state senator Zach Wahls.
Turek is the first Democrat to win a Senate election in Iowa since 2008.
Background
Since voting for President Barack Obama in both 2008 and 2012, Iowa had trended increasingly Republican and was considered a moderately to strongly red state at the federal and state level. Republican nominee Donald Trump won Iowa in 2020 by 8 percentage points, and in 2024 grew his margin to 13 percentage points. Republicans controlled every statewide executive office (except the state auditor's office), majorities in both chambers of the state legislature, and the entire congressional delegation. Incumbent Senator Joni Ernst was first elected as part of the 2014 red wave and was reelected in 2020.
In the latter half of her second term, Ernst came under increasing pressure. In December 2024, she faced pushback from Republicans for her skepticism of Pete Hegseth's nomination for Secretary of Defense. She later sparked controversy for replying "we are all going to die" when a constituent confronted her for deaths that could be caused by cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, which she supported as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
In September 2025, Ernst announced that she would not seek reelection, officially citing family obligations, although her decision was interpreted in light of previous controversies. The resulting open seat was expected to make the race more competitive.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Ashley Hinson, U.S. representative from Iowa's 2nd congressional district (2021–2027)
Eliminated in primary
- Jim Carlin, former state senator from the 3rd district (2017–2023) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2022
Withdrawn
- Joshua Smith, former vice chair of the Libertarian National Committee (2022–2023) and Libertarian candidate for president in 2024
Declined
- Brenna Bird, Iowa attorney general (2023–2027) (ran for re-election; endorsed Hinson)
- Joni Ernst, incumbent U.S. senator (2015–2027) (endorsed Hinson)
- Kari Lake, senior advisor to the U.S. Agency for Global Media (2025–present), nominee for Governor of Arizona in 2022, and nominee for U.S. Senate in Arizona in 2024
- Zach Nunn, U.S. representative from Iowa's 3rd congressional district (2023–2027) (ran for re-election; endorsed Hinson)
Endorsements
Ashley Hinson
- Terry Branstad, former ambassador to China (2017–2020) and former governor of Iowa (1983–1999, 2011–2017)
- Markwayne Mullin, secretary of homeland security (2026–present)
- Donald Trump, president of the United States (2017–2021, 2025–present)
- Jim Banks, Indiana (2025–present)
- Katie Britt, Alabama (2023–present)
- Shelley Moore Capito, West Virginia (2015–present)
- Tom Cotton, Arkansas (2015–present)
- Joni Ernst, Iowa (2015–present)
- Chuck Grassley, president pro tempore (2019–2021, 2025–present) from Iowa (1981–present)
- Dave McCormick, Pennsylvania (2025–present)
- Jerry Moran, Kansas (2011–present)
- Tim Scott, South Carolina (2013–present)
- John Thune, Senate majority leader (2025–present) from South Dakota (2005–present)
- Tom Emmer, House majority whip (2023–present) from MN-6 (2015–present)
- Mariannette Miller-Meeks, IA-1 (2021–present)
- Zach Nunn, IA-3 (2023–present)
- Steve Scalise, House majority leader (2023–present) from LA-1 (2008–present)
- Elise Stefanik, NY-21 (2015–present)
- Brenna Bird, attorney general of Iowa (2023–present)
- Mike Naig, Iowa secretary of agriculture (2018–present)
- Paul Pate, Iowa secretary of state (1995–1999, 2015–present)
- Kim Reynolds, governor of Iowa (2017–present)
- Bobby Kaufmann, majority leader of the Iowa House of Representatives (2025–present) from HD-82 (2013–present)
- AIPAC
- American Conservation Coalition
- Americans for Prosperity
- ClearPath Foundation
- Log Cabin Republicans
- Maggie's List
- Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America
Fundraising
Italics indicate a declined candidate.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Josh Turek, state representative from the 20th district (2023–present)
Eliminated in primary
- Zach Wahls, state senator from the 43rd district (2019–present) and former Senate Minority Leader (2020–2023)
Did not file
- Bob Krause, former state representative from the 7th district (1973–1978) and perennial candidate
- Richard Sherzan, former state representative from the 63rd district (1979–1981) and candidate for U.S. Senate in Arizona in 2016 and 2018
Withdrawn
- Jackie Norris, chair of the Des Moines school board and former Chief of Staff to the First Lady of the United States (2009–2011)
- Nathan Sage, market director for KNIA (endorsed Turek)
- J. D. Scholten, state representative from the 1st district (2023–present) and nominee for Iowa's 4th congressional district in 2018 and 2020 (endorsed Turek)
Endorsements
Josh Turek
- Pete Buttigieg, former secretary of transportation (2021–2025)
- Bob Casey Jr., former Pennsylvania (2007–2025)
- Catherine Cortez Masto, Nevada (2017–present)
- Tammy Duckworth, Illinois (2017–present)
- Ruben Gallego, Arizona (2025–present)
- Tom Harkin, former Iowa (1985–2015)
- Maggie Hassan, New Hampshire (2017–present)
- Tony Coelho, former House majority whip (1987–1989) from CA-15 (1979–1989)
- Ro Khanna, CA-17 (2017–present)
- Tom Miller, former attorney general of Iowa (1979–1991, 1995–2023)
- Sally Pederson, former lieutenant governor of Iowa (1999–2007) (previously endorsed Norris)
- Robert Dvorsky, former SD-37 (1995–2019)
- Michael Gronstal, former Senate majority leader (2006–2017) from SD-08 (1985–2017)
- Pam Jochum, former Senate president (2013–2017) from SD-36 (2009–2025)
- Jennifer Konfrst, former House minority leader (2021–2025) from HD-32 (2019–present)
- J. D. Scholten, HD-01 (2023–present) and former candidate for this seat
- 2 state senators
- 11 other state representatives
- 8 former state representatives
- Andy McGuire, former chair of the Iowa Democratic Party (2015–2017)
- Nathan Sage, market director for KNIA and former candidate for this seat
- Heat and Frost Insulators Local 39
- United Food and Commercial Workers Local 222IN
Zach Wahls
Fundraising
Italics indicate withdrawn candidate
Libertarian primary
On June 2, the Laehn campaign submitted nearly 10,000 signatures to the Iowa Secretary of State, satisfying the 3,500 signature requirement to qualify for the ballot. Laehn was added to the candidate list as the Libertarian Party's candidate.
Candidates
Nominee
- Thomas Laehn, Greene County District Attorney
General election
According to The Daily Iowan, the cost of living, inflation, tariffs, health-care affordability, agriculture, and AI data centers are contested issues of the campaign. Debates focused on which candidate was most capable to handle the American affordability crisis. Turek has said he would reverse the Medicaid spending cuts passed under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Hinson supported the cuts as fiscally responsible as well as Trump's tariffs.
Hinson ran on socially conservative policies, opposing a legal right to have an abortion with exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother and LGBTQ movements. Turek supports restoring the abortion protections that Roe v. Wade previously provided, by passing a federal law. He claimed that Iowa's six-week abortion ban reduced OB-GYN services available. Turek affirmed conservative policies on guns, transgender rights, and immigration.
Turek criticized the concentration of artificial intelligence technology in the hands of a few companies. He supports regulating data centers, opposes tax breaks for their operators, and "safeguards" for the technology. Hinson is in favor of AI development, and says that preparation for workers is necessary to adapt to AI job losses. She said an "AI economy" is necessary to win an American-Chinese AI arms race, "because the truth is: if we don't, China will."
Post-primary endorsements
Ashley Hinson (R)
- George W. Bush, former president of the United States (2001–2009)
- Lee Greenwood, former member of the National Council on the Arts (2008–2022)
- Elon Musk, former senior advisor to the president (2025) (Independent)
- JD Vance, vice president of the United States (2025–present)
- John Barrasso, Senate majority whip (2025–present) from Wyoming (2007–present)
- John Cornyn, Texas (2002–2027)
- Ted Cruz, Texas (2013–present)
- John Kennedy, Louisiana (2017–present)
- Eric Schmitt, Missouri (2023–present)
- Rick Scott, Florida (2019–present)
- Mike Johnson, speaker of the House (2023–2027) from LA-4 (2017–present)
- Eddie Andrews, HD-43 (2021–present)
- Mike Bousselot, SD-21 (2023–present)
- Jim Carlin, former SD-03 (2017–2023) and primary candidate for this seat (previously declined to endorse)
- Jeff Kaufmann, former HD-79 (2005–2013) and chair of the Iowa GOP (2014–present)
- Joe Mitchell, former HD-84 (2019–2023)
- Charley Thomson, HD-58 (2023–present)
- Dan Gable, former freestyle wreslter
- Scott Jennings, political strategist
- Zach Lahn, businessman and nominee for governor of Iowa in 2026
- Chris McGowan, economic development executive
- Bruce Rastetter, businessman and entrepreneur
- National Border Patrol Council
- America PAC
- Iowa Corn Growers Association PAC
- Iowa Farm Bureau
- National Federation of Independent Business
- NRA Political Victory Fund
- Senate Leadership Fund
- The Family Leader
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Josh Turek (D)
- Martin O'Malley, former commissioner of the Social Security Administration (2023–2024)
- Barack Obama, former president of the United States (2009–2017)
- Kirsten Gillibrand, New York (2009–present)
- Mark Kelly, Arizona (2020–present)
- Andy Kim, New Jersey (2024–present)
- Elissa Slotkin, Michigan (2025–present)
- Chris Van Hollen, Maryland (2017–present)
- Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island (2007–present)
- Jamie Raskin, MD-08 (2017–present)
- Edgar Bittle, former HD-66 (1973–1977) (Republican)
- Andy McKean, former HD-23 (1979–1983), HD-44 (1983–1993), SD-28 (1993–2003) and HD-58 (2017–2021)
- Zach Wahls, former Senate minority leader (2020–2023) from SD-43 (2019–present) and primary candidate for this seat
- Matt Walsh, former mayor of Council Bluffs (2014–2025) (Republican)
- Jon Bauman, singer and game show host
- Matthew Yglesias, blogger and journalist
- American Federation of Government Employees
- Iowa Farmers Union
- Iowa Professional Fire Fighters Association
- National Education Association
- United Auto Workers
- End Citizens United
- Feminist Majority PAC
- J Street
- Jewish Democratic Council of America
- League of Conservation Voters
- Peace Action
- Reproductive Freedom for All
- The Des Moines Register
- The Gazette
Declined to endorse
- Jim Carlin, former SD-03 (2017–2023) and primary candidate for this seat (Republican; later endorsed Hinson)
Polling
Aggregate polls
Results
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic:
- Dallas (largest municipality: Waukee)
- Des Moines (largest municipality: Burlington)
- Dubuque (largest municipality: Dubuque)
- Marshall (largest municipality: Marshalltown)
- Muscatine (largest municipality: Muscatine)
- Pottawattamie (largest municipality: Council Bluffs)
- Winneshiek (largest municipality: Decorah)
Analysis
While there were few Republicans who voted for Turek in 2026, Turek won independents by 20%. However, 10% of Trump voters in 2024 backed Turek, while very few Harris voters backed Hinson. Additionally, Rob Sand's landslide victory in the 2026 Iowa gubernatorial election may have produced coattail effects that helped Turek.