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Iowa Senate Race Turns Cook Toss-Up Between Hinson, Turek

8/28/2026

30 3 Full Breakdown

Center

Hinson Leads

Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson and Democratic Rep. Josh Turek lead Iowa’s U.S. Senate race, now a Cook toss-up.
Coverage stresses each candidate’s missed votes: Turek missed 58.1% of Iowa House votes, Hinson missed five of 283.
Rob Sand, Iowa auditor, said he would not want former Vice President Kamala Harris to campaign for him or Turek.
A Suffolk poll on August 26 gave Hinson a 45% to 41% lead over Turek.

Right

Democrats Reject

Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson and Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek are the leading candidates for Iowa’s U.S. Senate seat, now a Cook Political Report toss-up.
Democratic candidates in Iowa and elsewhere are publicly rejecting former Vice President Kamala Harris’s endorsement, emphasizing a desire to move beyond her brand.
Rob Sand, Iowa state auditor and Democratic winner, rejected Harris’s endorsement and declined Biden’s support.

Blindspot

Blindspot

State Rep. Josh Turek missed 58.1% of Iowa House floor votes in 2026, the second-highest rate among 100 members, while Rep. Ashley Hinson missed five of 283 votes, according to GovTrack data.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Center-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Right-leaning coverage.

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Hinson Leads

Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson and Democratic Rep. Josh Turek lead Iowa’s U.S. Senate race, now a Cook toss-up.
Coverage stresses each candidate’s missed votes: Turek missed 58.1% of Iowa House votes, Hinson missed five of 283.
Rob Sand, Iowa auditor, said he would not want former Vice President Kamala Harris to campaign for him or Turek.
A Suffolk poll on August 26 gave Hinson a 45% to 41% lead over Turek.

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