Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson and Democrat Josh Turek will meet for their second debate on Tuesday in the race to succeed retiring Sen. Joni Ernst. The debate, hosted by WHO 13 in Des Moines, comes as recent polling shows a narrow contest, with Hinson holding just a two-point lead over Turek.
Moderated by Amanda Krenz of WHO 13 and Tim Seaman of KCAU, the debate will cover topics critical to Iowa voters, including immigration, education, health care, agriculture, and technology, according to Nexstar Media, which owns both stations.
In their first debate, both candidates highlighted their bipartisan credentials and instances where they broke with their party lines. Turek noted his vote to criminalize certain immigration violations, while Hinson pointed to her collaboration with former Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The latest Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey, released last week, shows Hinson with 47 percent support to Turek's 45 percent, within the margin of error. Libertarian candidate Thomas Laehn trails with 2 percent, and 7 percent remain undecided. Laehn will not participate in Tuesday's debate because he did not meet Nexstar's qualification criteria.
Turek has attracted support from establishment Democrats, including former President Obama, who appeared in a campaign video playing a game of "IOWA" with the candidate. Turek has also distanced himself from Vice President Harris, a common move for Democrats in red states, and has focused on rising costs, particularly fuel prices.
"We're looking at diesel prices being at an all-time high as our farmers are going into harvesting time and leading to a furthering increase of input costs, like fertilizer," Turek said during the first debate, adding that Iowa farmers are telling him it affects their bottom lines.
Hinson, meanwhile, has had to navigate her ties to former President Trump, whose approval ratings remain low. She has called for an end to the war in Iran, saying she wants a quick resolution to prevent further American casualties.
"I don't want this to be a forever war, so I want to make sure we do everything we can," Hinson said. "I trust in our U.S. military, the greatest fighting force in the world, to bring this to a close as quickly as possible, because I know people are getting squeezed."
Decision Desk HQ, a partner of The Hill, rates Hinson as "narrowly favored" over Turek, while the Cook Political Report classifies the race as a "toss-up." The outcome could hinge on voter turnout in a state that has trended Republican in recent cycles, but Turek's campaign hopes to energize Democrats and independents frustrated with rising prices and the ongoing conflict.
Tuesday's debate will be pivotal for both candidates to solidify their bases and sway undecided voters. With control of the Senate at stake, the Iowa race is drawing national attention, and both campaigns are expected to ramp up their efforts in the final weeks before the election.
