Iowa Senate
Joni Ernst (R) is not running again. 3 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026. The Cook Political Report rates it a toss-up.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.Discuss
Ashley Hinson
Republican · in the House today
ALiberty Score AOn the liberty side in 124 of 130 votes and bills.
Raised $14,147,973 since January 2025: 53% from people, 28% transfers and other income, 19% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov
Josh Turek
Democrat · Iowa state representative, two-time Paralympic gold medalist
FLiberty Score F56 out of 100 across 7 principles. Graded on what Turek has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Turek.
Raised $24,290,521 since January 2025: 91% from people, 7% transfers and other income, 2% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov
Higher on Liberty Score: Ashley Hinson. Ashley Hinson: A, 96 out of 100 from recorded votes. Josh Turek: F, 56 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count.
Voting in Iowa: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Josh Turek, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Turek, so the grade above comes from this list: what Turek has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
-
On the day the United States began airstrikes on the Islamic Republic, said at a forum in Council Bluffs that the Islamic Republic should not have nuclear weapons and that he did not want a forever war.
“We do not want Iran to have nuclear weapons. However, I want to make sure that we don't end up in forever wars and forever conflicts as well.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
The measure is maximum pressure on the regime in Tehran. On the first day he neither backed the strikes nor opposed them, so this line counts for nothing.
-
Asked in the Democratic primary debate whether he would vote to go to war, called the war with the Islamic Republic one of the forever wars and said he would be against it.
“I would be fundamentally against the war.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
I count a vote to stop American action against the regime as against liberty. He says he would oppose the war.
-
Voted in the Iowa House for a resolution expressing support for Israel and condemning antisemitism, after voting for an amendment, which failed, that would have made that support conditional on Israel following humanitarian law.
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
I count a vote for a resolution standing with Israel as with liberty. The amendment he backed first would have put conditions on that support.
-
In his statement on the airstrikes, called the regime in Iran brutal and repressive and said bombing would not bring lasting change to the country.
“While there is no question the Iranian regime is brutal and repressive, bombing Iran is not the same thing as bringing lasting change to the country.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
The measure is backing the people of Iran against their rulers. He condemns the regime and names no step to help the people, so it settles nothing and counts for nothing.
-
Told Iowa Starting Line that no American tax money should go to any organization, group or regime that does not abide by international law, and has called Israel one of the few functioning democracies in the Middle East.
“My thought is that there should be no taxpayer dollars going to any organization, group, regime that is not abiding by international law”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
I count a vote to block weapons for Israel as against liberty. He sets a condition on aid and does not say here whether he would block any, so it does not settle the question and counts for nothing.
-
His platform pledges to protect freedom of speech and protest.
“Protect the freedom of speech and protest.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
The measure is no censorship by government. This is that.
-
His platform calls for a federal ban on what it calls price gouging on food.
“Impose a federal ban on price gouging on food so Iowans pay less at the grocery store.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
The measure is free markets with no price controls. A federal limit on what food may cost is a price control.
-
His platform pledges tax cuts for the middle class and working families together with closing tax loopholes for billionaires and large companies.
“Cut taxes for the middle class and working families and close loopholes for billionaires and big corporations.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
The measure is lower taxes. He would lower some and raise others, and names no bill, so this does not settle it and counts for nothing.
-
His campaign site says he spoke out against the legislation that took gender identity out of Iowa's civil rights code.
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
I count a vote against writing gender identity into federal civil rights law as with liberty. He argued for keeping it in Iowa law.
-
Told The New York Times that he does not think biological males should compete against females in sports.
“As someone that spent a lot of my life in high-level sports, I don’t believe that biological males should compete against females in sports.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
I count a vote for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act as with liberty.
-
His platform pledges support for troops, military families and veterans; it does not say what he would do on the defense budget.
“Support our military heroes and their families while they serve – and when they come home.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Care for troops and veterans is not the same question as funding and equipping the forces, so this counts for nothing.
-
Said in the Democratic primary debate that spending 1.5 trillion dollars on what he called the military industrial complex is a misuse of resources, and that Social Security should be protected first.
“we're willing to spend $1.5 trillion for military industrial complex. I think that it is a, it's a misuse of our resources”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
The measure is funding and equipping the armed forces. I count a vote for the yearly defense bill as with liberty, and a vote to cut the defense budget as against.
-
Was one of the Democrats who joined Republicans in the Iowa House to pass the 2024 bill that makes it a state crime to be in the country illegally after being deported or denied entry.
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
The measure is enforcing immigration law and deporting those who break it. The bill lets Iowa police arrest people who came back after being deported.
-
Said in the Democratic primary debate that he would not have voted to fund the Department of Homeland Security without changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, such as no masks, body cameras and limits near churches and schools.
“I would have not supported any DHS funding without serious reforms to ICE.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
The measure is enforcing immigration law. I count a vote to fund border and immigration enforcement as with liberty; he says he would have withheld that vote.
Also on the ballot
Thomas Laehn (Libertarian).
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. Race rating: the Cook Political Report, November 2, 2026. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
Who should win this race, and why?
Say it where other readers can answer you. Opinions, videos and corrections about this race are all in one place.
Discussion
Iowa Senate
Opinions, videos, corrections and bug reports about this race, all in one place. What readers post is their words, not mine. My answers carry the Host tag.
Leave out anything private about anyone. The rules, what your account keeps, and what readers have changed so far
Know this race better than I do?
Argue it with the hosts on a call. The community meets every day, and members help decide what goes on these pages.