Josh Turek flips Republican Iowa Senate seat
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Bénin Web TV
Iowa General Assembly · Usage libreDemocrat Josh Turek, a two-time US Paralympic wheelchair basketball champion, won Iowa’s Senate seat against Republican Ashley Hinson. The victory flipped the seat to the Democrats and strengthened the party’s projected majority in Congress, according to the Associated Press and Reuters.
Democrat Josh Turek, a two-time Paralympic wheelchair basketball champion, won the US Senate election in Iowa against Republican Ashley Hinson, according to projections published on Wednesday 4 November 2026 by the Associated Press and Reuters. His victory flipped a Republican-held seat and strengthened the Democrats’ projected majority in Congress.
Josh Turek, 47, had served since 2023 in the Iowa House of Representatives. Born with spina bifida, he won two Paralympic gold medals with the US team, in Rio in 2016 and Tokyo in 2020, at Games held in 2021. His campaign focused on the cost of living, agricultural difficulties and access to healthcare. He will succeed Republican Joni Ernst, who was not seeking re-election.
Josh Turek’s election came on the same day as the Democrats’ takeover of both chambers of Congress, announced on 4 November. It was also part of a series of Democratic victories, including Peggy Flanagan’s Senate win.





