Turek Rallies Siouxland Voters in Tight Iowa Senate Race

Democrats reclaimed control of the Senate, gaining at least four seats and ending the Republicans’ 53–47 majority; they also made gains in the House. In Iowa, Democrat Josh Turek defeated Republican Ashley Hinson for retiring Sen. Joni Ernst’s seat, becoming the first Democrat to win a federal race in Iowa since 2008. Turek campaigned on affordability and a populist message, while voters raised concerns about rising costs, economic pressures on farmers and the national political climate. Democrats also won reported races in traditionally Republican states including Texas, Kansas, South Carolina and Ohio. President Donald Trump said Republicans had failed to turn out voters and argued he would have won if he had been on the ballot. The results position Democrats to constrain Trump’s agenda during his final two years in office.