Iowa
Latest Coverage
Cook Report: Iowa Rating Shifts to 'Lean Republican' Amid War, Primary
After Democrat state Rep. Josh Turk secured his party's nomination to face incumbent GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, in the race to replace retiring Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, he Cook Political Report moved its rating of Iowa's Senate race from likely Republican to lean Republican. Read More
Democrat Josh Turek and GOP's Ashley Hinson to compete for pivotal US Senate seat in Iowa
Iowa state Rep. Josh Turek won Tuesday’s Democratic primary for U.S. Senate and will next try to flip the seat currently held by GOP Sen. Joni Ernst, who is retiring. U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson has secured the GOP’s nomination for Senate. Turek defeated state Sen. Zach Wahls for the nomination. Turek is a former Paralympian and relative newcomer to public office, winning his state House seat in 2022. Many races in Iowa have attracted national interest. Zach Lahn won the GOP nomination for governor President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance have both touched down in the state this year to shore up Republican enthusiasm. Rob Sand is the Democratic nominee for governor. Read More
Iowa state lawmaker Josh Turek wins Democratic nomination for US Senate
Iowa state Rep. Josh Turek won Tuesday’s Democratic primary for U.S. Senate and will next try to flip the seat currently held by GOP Sen. Joni Ernst, who is retiring. Turek defeated state Sen. Zach Wahls for the nomination. Turek is a former Paralympian and relative newcomer to public office, winning his state House seat in 2022. His primary race against Wahls was upended by a flood of outside support that boosted him in the final stretch. Democratic political operation VoteVets spent millions of dollars in independent spending to blanket the airwaves, social media and mailboxes. Read More
Ashley Hinson wins Iowa Senate GOP primary, CBS News projects
Republican Sen. Joni Ernst is not running for reelection, and Ashley Hinson won President Trump's endorsement. Read More
Rep Ashley Hinson wins Trump-backed Iowa GOP Senate primary nomination
Rep. Ashley Hinson wins Iowa's GOP Senate primary, defeating former state senator Jim Carlin in the race to succeed retiring Sen. Joni Ernst in a key 2026 midterm contest. Read More
Iowa Democrats to settle a tense Senate primary as the party looks to flip GOP seats this fall
Iowa Democrats will settle one of the party’s last competitive Senate primaries in the nation. They're choosing Tuesday between Josh Turek and Zach Wahls, two state lawmakers who each say he is better poised to flip the seat held by Republican Sen. Joni Ernst, who is retiring. The Democratic nominee will face a full-throttled Republican defense, as the GOP sees winning in Iowa as pivotal to keeping its Senate majority. It’s one of many competitive races in Iowa attracting national interest, including from the White House. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance have both touched down in the state this year to shore up Republican enthusiasm. Rob Sand is the Democratic nominee for governor. Five Republicans are seeking the GOP nomination for governor. Read More
Sen. Ernst to Newsmax: ICE, Border Patrol Funding Take Priority Over Weaponization Fund
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, told Newsmax Tuesday that Republicans must keep their attention on funding border security and immigration enforcement despite growing divisions within the GOP over a proposed fund designed to compensate Americans who claim they were wronged by the federal government. Read More
Iowa Primary-Election Map: Live Results
Both parties are picking candidates in the races to replace the Republican senator Joni Ernst and the Republican governor Kim Reynolds. Read More
AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Iowa's state primary
The retirements of Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds and U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa have had ripple effects throughout Tuesday’s state primary, creating competitive nomination contests to replace them and a chain reaction of open seats down the ballot. The winners will compete in November’s critical midterm elections, in which Iowa’s U.S. Senate and House seats could determine control of the narrowly divided chambers. The next Iowa governor could also play a pivotal role in the 2028 election, given the state’s long history of making or breaking presidential hopefuls. Read More
What to expect in the Iowa state primary
The retirements of Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds and U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa have had ripple effects throughout Tuesday’s state primary, creating competitive nomination contests to replace them and a chain reaction of open seats down the ballot. Read More
Hinson, Carlin make their case to voters in Iowa's GOP US Senate race
U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson and former state Sen. Jim Carlin are competing for the Republican nomination to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst. Read More
Sen. Joni Ernst to Newsmax: GOP Must Unite, Govern
Appearing on Newsmax's Wake Up America, Ernst said Republicans still have major priorities to accomplish despite internal divisions following several high-profile primary defeats of GOP incumbents who opposed President Donald Trump. Read More
Two Democrats seeking US Senate nomination in Iowa debate who can flip a GOP seat
Two Democrats competing to become Iowa's next senator each say they're the best candidate to flip a GOP seat in the U.S. Senate. State lawmakers Zach Wahls and Josh Turek debated Thursday. They're running to flip the seat held by Republican Joni Ernst, who's not seeking reelection. Republican leaders are backing Ashley Hinson and committing $29 million to help the congresswoman keep their Senate majority. Turek says he’s the “battle-tested” candidate who has won in a red state House district. Wahls is criticizing national Democratic leaders, who he says have lost the trust of rural and working-class voters. Read More
Democrats will debate in Iowa US Senate primary shaped by outside money and big-name endorsements
Two Democrats competing to become Iowa's next senator are set to debate. State lawmakers Zach Wahls and Josh Turek will face off Thursday night. Both say they can flip the seat held by Republican Joni Ernst, who's not seeking reelection. Republican leaders are backing Ashley Hinson and are committing $29 million for the congresswoman to help keep their Senate majority. Democrats see a chance to gain seats despite the state's Republican leanings. A veterans group has spent $7 million supporting Turek. Turek and Wahls oppose President Donald Trump’s tariffs and support raising the minimum wage but differ on other key issues. Read More
Iowa's 2026 elections are nationally watched
With Gov. Kim Reynolds and Sen. Joni Ernst not running, competitive House races and hot primaries, Iowa's in the spotlight this year. Read More
Did Joni Ernst expose Pete Hegseth for 'stolen valor' by asking to see combat badge during Senate hearing?
The story was yet another fabricated political confrontation, using real footage to lend credibility to a false claim. Read More
Bill would bar sex criminals from getting federal pensions in wake of Eric Swalwell scandal
Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) teamed up on the "No Taxpayer-Funded Pensions for Sex Criminals Act," which comes in the aftermath of the rape and sexual misconduct accusations that forced former Rep. Eric Swalwell to resign. Read More
Ernst to Newsmax: Planned Parenthood Got $90 Million in COVID Loans From Biden WH
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said on Newsmax that the Biden administration improperly directed more than $90 million in forgiven Paycheck Protection Program loans to Planned Parenthood affiliates despite their ineligibility, adding she uncovered the payments while investigating alleged COVID-19 relief fraud and efforts to recover taxpayer funds. Read More
Biden Admin Hid Loans to Planned Parenthood It Was Ineligible For
Biden administration officials may have broken the law by hiding pandemic-era small business loans to abortion giant Planned Parenthood, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) said. Read More
Sen. Ernst to Newsmax: Trump 'On Right Track' With Iran Pressure Campaign
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said Wednesday on Newsmax that President Donald Trump is absolutely on the right track in confronting Iran, calling for sustained sanctions and increased pressure. Read More