Iowa Senate Primary Results

In the Democratic primary for a contested Senate seat, Iowa Rep. Josh Turek emerged victorious over his left-handed rival, Zach Walls, on Tuesday.

Turek, a former Paralympic wheelchair basketball player, has garnered enthusiasm from establishment Democrats and is set to face Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson in the November election.

Walls gained attention in 2011 for his campaign against a state constitutional amendment that sought to ban same-sex marriage. He has supported progressive causes within the party, advocating for LGBTQ rights and critiquing what he describes as a “rigged” economy.

As a state senator and former House minority leader, Walls has pledged to oppose Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) if he wins a seat in the Senate.

The recent Iowa Senate primary reflected the larger ongoing struggle within the Democratic Party between moderate and progressive factions.

Turek has indicated that his focus will be on running against Hinson and Trump rather than Schumer, emphasizing a desire to collaborate and unite for the benefit of Iowa. He stated, “I am the epitome of the American Dream. There is no other country on earth where someone who went through the economic hardships and medical conditions I grew up in could ultimately accomplish what I was able to accomplish.”

Since 2012, when former President Barack Obama was re-elected, Democrats have not achieved a win in a statewide election in Iowa, a state that was once seen as largely competitive.

To gain a Senate majority, Democrats need to flip four seats, with Kirsten Gillibrand, chair of the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, identifying North Carolina, Maine, Ohio, and Alaska as key targets.

However, some long-term opportunities are perceived in states like Texas, Iowa, Florida, and Mississippi.

Hinson easily won her primary against former state Sen. Jim Carlin, bolstered by an endorsement from President Trump as she looks to succeed the retiring Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa).