2026 Iowa U.S. Senate Election
Compare candidates’ positions, polling, and sourced race updates.
The 2026 United States Senate election in Iowa will be held on November 3, 2026, to fill the open seat left by retiring Republican Senator Joni Ernst. The race is a key battleground in the fight for Senate control: Iowa has trended sharply Republican in recent cycles — Donald Trump carried the state by 13 points in 2024 — and Democrats have not won a Senate race here since 2008, though recent polling shows the contest essentially tied. Republican U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson, endorsed by President Trump, faces Democratic state Representative Josh Turek, a former Paralympian, in a race that has drawn national attention. Both major-party candidates have agreed to two statewide debates, and Libertarian Greene County Attorney Thomas Laehn is also on the ballot.
Candidates
Compare allAshley Hinson is a U.S. Representative from Iowa's 2nd congressional district, first elected in 2020. She announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate in 2026, positioning herself as a conservative voice focused on economic growth, border security, and supporting veterans. Before Congress, she served in the Iowa House of Representatives and worked as a television news anchor.
Josh Turek is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Iowa in 2026. A two-time Paralympic gold medalist in wheelchair basketball and a state representative for Iowa House District 20 since 2023, he was born with spina bifida. His campaign emphasizes healthcare, disability rights, veterans' issues, and economic opportunity.
Thomas Laehn is the Libertarian nominee for U.S. Senate in Iowa in 2026. He is the Greene County Attorney, elected in 2018 and reelected in 2022, making him the first Libertarian in Iowa history to hold an elective partisan office. A former political science professor and constitutional law instructor, Laehn campaigns against the two-party system and advocates limiting executive authority, protecting private property from eminent domain, leaving abortion regulation to the states, and decriminalizing marijuana.
Race Forecast
Ashley Hinson favored
Ashley Hinson: 63% modeled win probability with a +3.0 pts estimated margin
Polling
About this research
Data compiled from public sources and analyzed using AI. Last updated 8/10/2026. Visit candidate websites for the most current information.