The Iowa Democratic primary for U.S. Senate comes down to state lawmakers Josh Turek and Zach Wahls, each offering a different strategy to flip Sen. Joni Ernst’s open seat this fall. Turek has drawn heavy outside spending — roughly $10 million from VoteVets — while Wahls emphasizes a rural-focused message and criticizes national Democratic playbooks. Republicans are concluding a five-way primary to replace Gov. Kim Reynolds, with Trump endorsing Rep. Randy Feenstra; the GOP has pledged significant resources for the Senate fight.
Iowa Democrats Finalize Contentious Senate Primary as Parties Gear Up for High‑Stakes Fall Races
Iowa state Rep. Josh Turek, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks to supporters before a canvassing event, Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Waukee, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa Democrats on Tuesday will settle one of the party’s last competitive U.S. Senate primaries, choosing between two state legislators who each say they are best positioned to flip a retiring Republican’s seat this November.
The Senate Contest
Whichever Democrat — Josh Turek or Zach Wahls — wins the primary will face a robust Republican effort to retain Sen. Joni Ernst’s open seat, a race the GOP views as pivotal to protecting its Senate majority. The contest has drawn national attention and high-profile visits: President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance have both campaigned in Iowa this year to boost Republican turnout.
Iowa state Sen. Zach Wahls campaigns for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate during an event with local residents, Saturday, May 23, 2026, in Waukee, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Turek and Wahls broadly agree on policy priorities such as a public option for health insurance, a higher minimum wage and stronger collective bargaining rights. Both have criticized political corruption and corporate influence that they say hurt working families. But they have offered contrasting strategies for winning statewide and brought different personal narratives to the race.
Josh Turek is a relative newcomer to elected office. A former professional wheelchair basketball player who represented the U.S. at four Paralympic Games (most recently in 2021), he won his state House seat in 2022. His campaign has benefitted from heavy outside spending: veterans-focused group VoteVets has spent about $10 million on TV, digital and mail ads supporting Turek.
Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, talks with an audience member during a campaign rally, Saturday, May 30, 2026, in West Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Zach Wahls rose to national prominence in 2011 when, at 19, he defended his two mothers before lawmakers debating a resolution opposing same-sex marriage and later spoke at the 2012 Democratic National Convention. Elected to the Iowa Senate in 2018, he served nearly three years as the Senate Democrats’ leader. Wahls emphasizes a new, rural-focused vision for small towns and has criticized national Democratic tactics he says are out of step with Iowa voters.
Republican Primaries And Endorsements
On the Republican side, U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson is seeking the GOP Senate nomination with endorsements from President Trump and Sen. Ernst; she faces former state Sen. Jim Carlin in that primary. The Republican Senate campaign arm has pledged roughly $29 million to help the eventual GOP nominee in this and other competitive states.
Iowa state Sen. Zach Wahls campaigns for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate during an event with local residents, Saturday, May 23, 2026, in Waukee, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Republicans are also concluding a five-way gubernatorial primary to replace outgoing Gov. Kim Reynolds, who opted not to run for a third term. Candidates include U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (who received a Trump endorsement), state Rep. Eddie Andrews, businessman Zach Lahn, former state Rep. Brad Sherman and Adam Steen, former director of the state Department of Administrative Services. If no Republican primary candidate receives at least 35% of the vote, the party’s nominee will be chosen at a contested convention on June 13.
Other Congressional Races
Key congressional matchups include Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller‑Meeks, backed again by Trump, who faces a repeat challenger in businessman David Pautsch. On the Democratic side, Christina Bohannan — who narrowly lost to Miller‑Meeks in the last general election — has backing from the Democratic congressional committee but must first clear a primary opponent.
Iowa state Rep. Josh Turek, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, talks with Dave, left, and Lynnae Lathrop while canvassing, Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Waukee, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
In northeastern Iowa, Republicans Joe Mitchell and state Sen. Charlie McClintock are competing to replace Hinson in the 2nd District. Democrats in that race include state Rep. Lindsay James, nonprofit leader Clint Twedt‑Ball and former community college nursing dean Kathy Dolter. In the competitive 3rd District, Republican incumbent Zach Nunn and Democratic state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott are unopposed in their primaries.
Issues And What To Watch
Democrats believe voter dissatisfaction over high prices, lost manufacturing jobs, shuttered health-care facilities, and pressure on the agricultural economy gives them a path to break Iowa’s all‑GOP federal delegation and the Republican statehouse trifecta. Republicans point to years of economic progress under Gov. Reynolds but face intraparty debates over economic development, taxes, property rights, water quality and farm conservation.
What to watch next: the outcome of the Democratic Senate primary that will set the nominee to challenge for Ernst’s seat; the result of the Republican gubernatorial primary and whether any candidate clears the 35% threshold; and how outside spending and national party investments shape the fall map in Iowa.
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