Iowa’s US Senate candidates make final push before Tuesday’s primary

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI/KCRG) - With one day left before Iowa’s primary election, candidates in both parties are making their final pushes to voters.

Two Republicans and two Democrats are competing for the open U.S. Senate seat. Each are running to replace Sen. Joni Ernst, who is not seeking another term.

It’s the first time a Senate seat in Iowa has been open in more than a decade.

The winners of Tuesday’s primary will advance to the general election in November.

On the Republican ballot, it’s between Ashley Hinson and Jim Carlin.

Republican U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson is campaigning with Ernst’s endorsement. She is also supported by several other high-profile leaders, including Attorney General Brenna Bird, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and Secretary of State Paul Pate.

“I think that I have a strong record of moving conservative policy forward while still working with anyone to advance priorities for Iowa,” Hinson told KCRG last month.

We asked Hinson about the war in Iran, Iowa’s cost of living, healthcare affordability and more. Watch her full interview below.

Former state Sen. Jim Carlin, Hinson’s opponent in the primary, has emphasized his work as a trial lawyer and his time in Iowa’s legislature. He is endorsed by former National Security Adviser Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, as well as several state lawmakers.

“When I see something wrong, I don’t look the other way. I do my homework,” Carlin said. “I don’t quit until I fix it. That’s why I think I’ll make a good senator.”

Carlin says he is running to fix the rising cost of living. He shared he would work to simplify the citizenship process while cracking down on the border. He also shared his thoughts on ICE, healthcare, agriculture and more in his interview with KCRG.

On the Democrat ballot, Josh Turek and Zach Wahls face off to see who’s most likely to flip the Republican seat. Iowa’s Democratic voters face high stakes, as the last Democrat to win federal office statewide was President Barack Obama in 2012.

State Rep. Josh Turek, a four-time wheelchair basketball Paralympian, says his story of overcoming adversity and his politics appeal to independent and moderate Republican voters.

“I’m uniquely the American Dream. In no other country on Earth could someone who’s gone through the economic struggle and the health care situation I grew up in be ultimately able to accomplish what I’ve been able to accomplish,” Turek said. “Winning gold medals representing my country, running for U.S. Senate and I think that we’re seeing those social safety nets eroded. We’re seeing that American Dream being taken away.”

Turek said he’s laser-focused on securing a livable wage, health care access and drinkable water, not the culture-war issues that he said Republicans use to distract voters from the core problems they are facing.

If elected, Turek told KCRG he would introduce a Dignity in Work bill, which would raise minimum wage for all and do away with labor laws that allow employers to pay workers with disabilities less than the federal minimum wage. Watch his full interview here:

Sen. Zach Wahls, a lawmaker from eastern Iowa since 2019, said his campaign focuses on what he described as a rigged economy. Wahls is campaigning on expanding healthcare, lowering costs and raising the federal minimum wage.

“Our message is all about putting Iowans over insiders,” Wahls said.

If elected, Wahls said he would seek a seat on the Agriculture Committee to get a Farm Bill that works for Iowa and clean up Iowa’s waterways. Watch his full interview here:

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Find your polling place on the Iowa Secretary of State website.

Reporting from the Associated Press was used in this story.