Iowa Democrat Josh Turek is navigating one of the nation’s closest U.S. Senate contests with a deliberate approach: in a state Donald Trump has won three times, he is largely avoiding the president’s name on the campaign trail.
Turek has experience competing in difficult political environments. He won his first state legislative election by just six votes.
Speaking to supporters Thursday at the University of Northern Iowa, Turek said he expects the race to be the closest Senate contest in the country—and one that could help decide which party controls the chamber.
Trump’s three decisive victories in Iowa have not changed Turek’s strategy. He rarely refers to the president, and during a Thursday interview with Our News Outlet, he avoided mentioning Trump even when asked about the size of the president’s victories in the state.
During Iowa’s first Senate debate last week, Turek referred to Trump just twice. On both occasions, he focused on issues where he said he shared common ground with the president.
Republican Ashley Hinson brings up Trump more often, but she has also emphasized her record of working across party lines. That includes legislation addressing maternal health that was signed by President Joe Biden.
Turek has previously said he agrees with Trump’s call to remove private equity firms from the housing market. He has also endorsed efforts to provide “every Iowan and every American” with secure borders and safe communities, saying he would work with anyone—including Trump—to advance those goals.
At last week’s debate, Turek also said he had “no interest” in pursuing the president’s impeachment, arguing that the country should “look forward, not back.”
Iowa Democratic Senate nominee Josh Turek spoke with Our News Outlet Thursday during a campaign stop at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.
Turek visited the university to meet students backing his campaign.
Following two energetic debates held over the past two weeks, Our News Outlet asked Turek to identify Hinson’s biggest strength. His answer was lighthearted: “She plays the fiddle well.”
Hinson has built a reputation for her fiddle performances and regularly displays her musical talent at Republican fundraising events.
Billy Fuerst, Hinson’s communications director, answered with a pointed response: “She plays a mean fiddle, but she’s even better at beating liberals like Josh Turek. Undefeated actually.”
Iowa Republican Senate candidate Ashley Hinson plays the violin at her barbecue fundraiser at the Horizon Events Center on August 29, 2026, in Clive, Iowa.
Hinson, a three-term congresswoman, remains locked in a statistical dead heat with Turek. A Marist University poll released Wednesday showed Turek ahead, 48% to 45%, although 59% of likely Iowa voters said they expected Hinson to win in November.
At Thursday’s event in Cedar Falls, Turek said his path to victory would depend on support from “young people … union workers, people in rural communities and farmers.”
When Our News Outlet asked Hinson earlier in the week why this year’s contests were so competitive, she said she has always treated Iowa as a competitive state. She added that polling does not alter her campaign strategy: she runs every race as if she is “ten points down.”
Trump, who carried Iowa by 13 percentage points in 2024, announced Thursday that he plans to return to the state for campaign appearances on October 22 and November 1.
Hinson’s campaign did not immediately respond when Our News Outlet asked whether she would join Trump at either rally.
