Iowa Clinches It: Turek Beats Hinson

Iowa is not supposed to do this. Trump carried it by more than 13 points in 2024, and the state hadn't sent a Democrat to the Senate since 2008. Now Josh Turek has beaten Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson for Joni Ernst's open seat, and the AP called it at 11:35 p.m. with Turek ahead 50.8% to 46.1%.

Say it plainly: Republicans lost a seat they should have held. The reporting points to fuel prices and tariffs squeezing farmers. Voters who cut the checks at the pump and the feed store noticed, and no consultant's talking points covered that gap. Regular folks figured this out a long time ago.

The Washington Examiner calls it a 51st seat for Democrats. Does Turek back Chuck Schumer as Majority Leader? His campaign hasn't settled that. Expect the media to ask about as hard as they asked about the price of diesel.