By Leah Douglas
Nov 3 (Reuters) - Democrat Josh Turek won Iowa’s US Senate race on Tuesday, according to media projections, defeating Trump-backed Republican Ashley Hinson to become the state’s first Democratic senator in more than a decade and scoring a key pickup in the battle for Senate control.
President Donald Trump carried Iowa in three straight presidential elections, but Turek’s victory underscored Democratic gains in a state that had initially been expected to remain safely Republican.
Republicans held a 53-47 Senate majority going into Tuesday’s elections, with Democrats needing a net gain of four seats to take control. The race grew increasingly competitive and was considered a toss-up in the final weeks.
Turek, an Iowa state lawmaker who calls himself a “prairie populist,” campaigned on affordability and fighting corruption and criticized Hinson’s support for Trump’s 2025 tax law, which included Medicaid and food assistance cuts.
Like other Democrats in competitive Midwest races, he took moderate stances on transgender rights. His campaign also focused on fighting high cancer rates in Iowa and lowering costs for farmers.
Hinson had criticized Turek for missing votes in the Iowa House and characterized him as too liberal for Iowa on issues like immigration.
Born with spina bifida, Turek uses a wheelchair and has won two Paralympic gold medals in wheelchair basketball. Campaign videos featured him traveling up hills and stairs to knock on voters' doors.
Turek will replace Joni Ernst, who announced last year that she would not run for reelection.
(Reporting by Leah Douglas in Washington; Editing by Michael Learmonth and Howard Goller)