What Changed

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MIDTERMS 2026 - SENATE

Iowa

TOSS UP R-held - Open: Ernst is not running

CALLED: Democrat wins

DEMOCRAT

Josh Turek

Newzino coverage of Turek

Iowa state representative from Council Bluffs and a Paralympic wheelchair basketball medalist. source

REPUBLICAN

Ashley Hinson

Newzino coverage of Hinson

U.S. representative since 2021 (now Iowa's 2nd District), formerly a state legislator and a KCRG-TV reporter. source

Where they differ

Only issues they disagree on. Each position is something the candidate said, voted for or published, linked to where.

Tariffs

TUREK

Says he would vote on his first day in the Senate to end Trump's tariff policy. source

HINSON

Voted in February 2026 against repealing the Canada tariffs, saying Trump will 'level the playing field' on trade. source

Medicaid and the 2025 tax-and-spending law

TUREK

Would restore the Medicaid funding cut by the 2025 law, which he says puts 110,000 Iowans at risk. source

HINSON

Voted for the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes Medicaid changes. source

ACA subsidies

TUREK

Would protect and expand the Affordable Care Act, citing 118,000 Iowans who use its subsidies. source

HINSON

Voted in January 2026 against the House bill to extend the expired enhanced ACA subsidies. source

Abortion

TUREK

Wants to make Roe v. Wade 'the law of the land again' and protect contraception and IVF. source

HINSON

Calls herself 'unapologetically pro-life'; co-sponsored the Life at Conception Act, a federal bill banning abortion. source

Social Security

TUREK

Opposes raising the retirement age; would apply Social Security tax to wages above the $184,500 cap. source

HINSON

Open to phasing in a higher retirement age; points to 'Trump accounts' for younger savers. source

Iran war

TUREK

Says he would 'put an end to forever wars' and criticizes Hinson for not voting to end the Iran war. source

HINSON

Called in September for a 'successful and immediate end' to the war but did not vote for House war powers resolutions. source

The money

Each campaign's own filings with the Federal Election Commission, for the whole 2026 cycle. Reports are filed on different days, so check the date under each name.

RAISED

Turek $20.2M

Hinson $14.1M

SPENT

Turek $16.5M

Hinson $13.9M

CASH LEFT

Turek $3.6M

Hinson $2.2M

Turek: through 2026-09-30; Hinson: through 2026-10-14. Source: FEC, read 2026-10-23.

Outside groups

Money super PACs, parties and other groups reported spending on their own to help or hurt each candidate.

Josh Turek

to help $9.9M

to hurt $471K

Ashley Hinson

to help $4.3M

to hurt $10.3M

Independent expenditures reported to the FEC for the 2026 cycle, primary included. Groups that do not have to report (some issue ads) are not counted.

Latest polling

A New York Times/Siena poll (Sept. 22-Oct. 1, likely voters) had Hinson 48%, Turek 47%, within the margin of error. source

Iowa right now

How the state is doing going into the vote, from the people who count it.

JOBLESS RATE

3.2%

US: 4.2%

September 2026, seasonally adjusted, preliminary. Source: BLS

GAS, REGULAR

$4.16

US: $4.27

State average on 2026-10-27. Source: AAA

Think you know how Iowa goes? Call it on the map and see who controls the Senate.

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Photos from Wikimedia Commons: Josh Turek by Iowa General Assembly, Copyrighted free use; Ashley Hinson by Office of Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, Public domain.

Positions checked 2026-10-23. Things they agree on are left out on purpose. Spot something wrong? Use the feedback button and we will fix it.