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Josh Turek: Democratic Nominee for U.S. Senate in Iowa (2026) State: Iowa | Seat: U.S. Senate, Class II — open seat (Republican Joni Ernst is retiring, not seeking a third term) | Party: Democratic | General Election: November 3, 2026 | Opponent: Ashley Hinson (R); also Libertarian Thomas Laehn on the ballot At a Glance | Detail | Fact | |---|---| | Full name | Joshua Peter Turek (also cited as Joshua Mark Turek) | | Born | April 12, 1979, Council Bluffs, Iowa | | Age | 47 | | Party | Democratic | | Current office | Member, Iowa House of Representatives, District 20 (2023–present) | | Education | B.A. in history, Southwest Minnesota State University (2002); M.B.A., DeVry University | | Career before politics | Professional wheelchair basketball player (U.S. national team; played professionally in Europe) | | Family | Married Jarolin Turek since 2018 | | Political experience | Iowa House (2023–present); elected 2022, reelected 2024 | | Defining feature | A two-time P...

Ashley Hinson: Republican Nominee for U.S. Senate in Iowa (2026) State: Iowa | Seat: U.S. Senate, Class II — open seat (Republican Joni Ernst is retiring) | Party: Republican | General Election: November 3, 2026 | Opponent: Josh Turek (D); also Libertarian Thomas Laehn on the ballot At a Glance | Detail | Fact | |---|---| | Full name | Ashley Elizabeth Hinson | | Born | June 27, 1983, Des Moines, Iowa | | Age | 43 | | Party | Republican | | Current office | U.S. Representative, Iowa's 2nd Congressional District (2021–present) | | Education | Valley High School, West Des Moines; B.A. in broadcast journalism, University of Southern California | | Career before politics | Television journalist — anchor and reporter at KCRG-TV, Cedar Rapids, for more than a decade; two regional Emmy Awards | | Family | Married to Matt Arenholz; two children; lives in Marion, Iowa | | Political experience | Iowa House of Representatives, District 67 (2017–2021); U.S. House (2021–prese...