Iowa
Midwestern farm state; elected Democrats Josh Turek senator and Rob Sand governor in 2026.
Iowa elected Democrats to its two top offices on 3 November 2026: Josh Turek took the open Senate seat 50.45% to 46.34% over Ashley Hinson, and Rob Sand became the first Democrat elected governor since 2006.
Last refreshed: 5 November 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Did fuel and fertiliser prices turn Iowa Democratic in 2026?
Timeline for Iowa
Mentioned in: Democrats win the Senate and the House
US Midterms 2026Turek beats Hinson as Sand wins Iowa
US Midterms 2026Mentioned in: SLF's final $43.9m: 7 of 10 targets won
US Midterms 2026Mentioned in: Democratic groups file $67.97m in Iowa
US Midterms 2026Mentioned in: New PAC Lower Costs Now spends $65.65m
US Midterms 2026Background
Iowa is a Midwestern state whose economy rests on corn, soybeans, livestock processing and ethanol. Fertiliser and diesel costs feed straight into farm incomes, so energy prices carry unusual political weight there. The state hosts the first presidential caucuses and voted Republican for president in 2016, 2020 and 2024.
In November 2026 it swung the other way down the ballot. Rob Sand won the governorship 757,326 votes to 607,415, and Josh Turek's Senate win added Iowa to the Democratic column in a chamber the party now controls.
The Republican side entered the general election divided. In the June governor's primary, Make America Healthy Again challenger Zach Lahn beat three-term congressman Randy Feenstra, who had party-establishment backing.
Farm costs turned Iowa's Senate race
Iowa's open Senate seat, vacated by Joni Ernst, began 2026 as a Republican hold. On 3 June Cook Political Report moved it from Likely to Lean Republican, blaming the war's toll on Iowa farms, where fertiliser depends on natural gas and planting runs on diesel. Sabato's Crystal Ball made it a Toss-up on 22 September.
On 3 November Turek won 686,486 votes to 630,615 on the Secretary of State's unofficial results, with 95 of 99 counties fully reported, clearing 50% outright. NBC News projected the seat as a Democratic gain. Democrats also led in three of Iowa's four House districts, two of them projected.
Democratic groups dominated Iowa's airwaves
Iowa's Senate race drew far more Democratic than Republican outside money in its final month. From 1 to 26 October Democratic-side groups filed $67.97m in the state against $18.49m from Republican groups, with Lower Costs Now leading all spenders on $17.21m. The National Republican Senatorial Committee gave its nominee nothing in early October after $5.54m in September.
The Senate Leadership Fund tried to close the gap late. It spent $7.65m against Turek in four days at the end of October, the heaviest single-state push in its final $43.9m week. Turek won by about 56,000 votes.
Why did the Iowa Senate race get more competitive in 2026?
Who is running for Senate in Iowa in 2026?
What crops does Iowa produce and why do energy prices affect farmers?
Has Iowa voted for Democrats recently in Senate races?
Who won the Iowa governor's race in 2026?
Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 5 November 2026. Editorial standards.