Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson and Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek faced off Tuesday in their second and final debate for Iowa's open U.S. Senate seat, trading sharp attacks on the economy, the war in Iran, and each other's credibility. The contest, which will replace retiring Sen. Joni Ernst, has tightened in recent weeks, with forecasters shifting the race toward Democrats despite Iowa's Republican lean.
The debate, hosted by WHO 13 in Des Moines, came as the latest polls show the two candidates in a statistical dead heat, with Hinson holding a narrow edge, according to Decision Desk HQ. A Democrat hasn't won a Senate seat in Iowa since 2008, but this cycle's political headwinds have made the race competitive.
One of the most notable moments came when Hinson broke with President Trump over his diesel deal with Russia, a move that has drawn criticism from farm-state Republicans as fuel prices soar amid the conflict in Iran. "We need to lower gas prices in this country. We need to lower diesel prices, but I don't think we need to be making a deal with Russia to do it," Hinson said, proposing instead a federal gas tax cut and rebate program. Hinson, who has Trump's endorsement, has previously distanced herself from the president on the war, calling for an end to the months-long conflict.
Turek, who also opposed the Russian deal, quickly pivoted to hammer Hinson's voting record on the war, noting she voted seven times against a war powers resolution to rein in U.S. involvement in Iran. "We are in this situation because of this unnecessary war in Iran that Ashley Hinson voted in favor of continuing seven times," he said. "This has led to gas prices going up in Iowa more than almost any other state."
The debate took a personal turn when the candidates discussed their finances and attendance records. Turek accused Hinson of being part of a "corruption crisis" that fuels an affordability crisis, claiming she goes to Washington "not to fight for the people of Iowa but to go up there and to make themselves more wealthy and to look out for the billionaires." Attack ads against Hinson have focused on her personal wealth, while she has highlighted her support for a congressional stock trading ban.
Hinson defended her financial record, stating she owns no publicly traded stocks, though her financial disclosure lists mutual funds and ETFs. She also addressed her husband's 2021 sale of his insurance agency to High Street Insurance Partners, a private equity firm. "My husband sold his business, and private stock is not trading stock," she said. Turek's campaign has pointed to the sale as evidence of her ties to corporate interests.
Hinson turned the tables on Turek, attacking his attendance in the state legislature. "I've done more town halls than the percentage of time he showed up to work this year," she said, citing that Turek missed 42% of his votes. "If you don't show up to work two out of five days, you're not getting a promotion, you're getting fired." PolitiFact confirmed Turek missed 261 of 445 floor votes between January and April, and a local news analysis showed he missed 58% of votes in a later period.
Turek acknowledged his absences, attributing them to his busy campaign schedule. "I'm out campaigning. I'm out meeting Iowans all over all 99 counties," he said. "I've done hundreds of in-person town halls."
The debate underscored the high stakes of the race, which could help determine control of the Senate. With early voting underway, both candidates are making their final pitches to voters. The outcome may hinge on which candidate can better convince Iowans that they are the true advocate for their interests, as the nation watches a race that could shift the balance of power in Washington.
