Iowa Democrat Josh Turek is locked in one of the tightest Senate races in the country, and he’s employing a noticeable strategy for winning a state Donald Trump carried three times: keep the president’s name out of his mouth.
Turek, who won his first race for the state legislature by six votes, is no stranger to tough elections.
He told supporters at the University of Northern Iowa on Thursday that he believes his race will be the tightest on the Senate map, potentially determinative in the battle for control of the chamber.
Despite Trump easily winning Iowa three times, Turek does not often mention the commander in chief’s name. He didn’t mention it at all in an interview with the Daily Mail Thursday despite being asked about Trump’s win margins.
In the first Iowa Senate debate last week, Turek mentioned Trump’s name only twice, and both times he used it to highlight areas of common ground between the two.
As a Republican, Hinson mentions Trump more frequently, but is also unafraid to tout her bipartisan dealmaking as well, including a bill on maternal health that was signed into law by President Joe Biden.
Turek has previously said that he agrees ‘with President Trump that we need to get private equity out of housing,’ and even backed the need to ‘ensure that every Iowan and every American has safe and secure borders and safe communities,’ adding that he’s ‘willing to work with anyone, including President Trump, on this issue.’
The Iowa Democrat also said in last week’s debate that he has ‘no interest’ in looking at impeaching the president because ‘we need to look forward, not back.’
Iowa’s Democratic nominee for the US Senate, Josh Turek, spoke with the Daily Mail during a stop at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls on Thursday
Turek was at the University to meet with college students supporting his campaign
After two spirited debates, one held in each of the last two weeks, the Daily Mail asked Turek what he thinks his Republican opponent Ashley Hinson’s greatest asset is, to which he responded, ‘she plays the fiddle well.’
Hinson has long been known for her fiddle-playing, and she has frequently showcased her musical abilities at Republican fundraisers.
In response to Turek, Hinson’s communications director Billy Fuerst told the Daily Mail: ‘She plays a mean fiddle, but she’s even better at beating liberals like Josh Turek. Undefeated actually.’
Iowa Republican US Senate candidate, Ashley Hinson plays the violin during her BBQ fundraiser at the Horizon Events Center on August 29, 2026 in Clive, Iowa
A three-term Congresswoman, Hinson was found to be in a statistical dead heat with Turek. A poll released by Marist University Wednesday found Turek leading his opponent 48 percent to 45 percent. However, 59 percent of likely statewide voters believed that Hinson would be elected in November.
Turek told his supporters on Thursday in Cedar Falls that ‘young people … union workers, people in rural communities and farmers’ would make the difference in his race.
Asked earlier this week by the Daily Mail what was making this year’s races so competitive, Hinson shared that she always views Iowa as competitive and that she doesn’t change the way she runs ‘based on poll numbers,’ always campaigning like she is ‘ten points down.’
President Trump, who won Iowa by 13 percentage points in 2024, announced on Thursday two upcoming visits to the state, planned for October 22 and November 1.
The Daily Mail asked Hinson’s campaign if she is planning to appear at the rallies and did not immediately receive a response.
