Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) campaigned with Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson in Sioux City, Iowa, on Friday to support her bid for an open Senate seat. The visit emphasized the importance of the race for Senate control, with Thune stating that the path to a Republican majority must go through Iowa. Hinson is facing Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek in a race that recent polling indicates is highly competitive, despite Donald Trump winning the state by 13 points in 2024.
The race takes place amid economic concerns in the Midwest, including high energy prices and agricultural costs attributed by local officials to tariffs and international conflicts. While Hinson has represented Iowa in the House since 2021 and appeared with Trump at a rally on Thursday, Democrats are seeking their first Iowa Senate victory since 2008. Turek is facing allegations that he missed House floor votes during the 2026 legislative session.
During a roundtable event at a local bar and grill, Thune and Hinson met with business leaders to discuss inflation, supply chain issues, and the cost of diesel fuel. Hinson proposed making no-tax-on-tips policies permanent and seeking diesel relief for farmers and truckers. Conversely, J.D. Scholten, a surrogate for Turek, stated that voters are frustrated by rising costs at the pump and in grocery stores, noting that a local hauling company closed due to diesel prices.
For the individual resident, the competition for this seat centers on proposed changes to tax and energy policy. Hinson’s platform includes suspending the gas tax and pausing diesel exports to lower domestic prices. Turek’s supporters argue that current trade policies and tariffs have increased costs for everyday goods.
The Iowa contest is being monitored as a potential bellwether for other Midwestern states like Kansas and Nebraska, where Republicans are also facing competitive races. The midterm election is on November 3. Final campaign activities and door-knocking efforts are scheduled to continue through Election Day.