SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Senate Majority Leader John Thune campaigned alongside Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson in Sioux City on Friday, October 24, declaring that the fight for control of the U.S. Senate now runs straight through Iowa.
Thune, the South Dakota Republican who leads the Senate GOP, joined Hinson for a bus tour stop at the 185th Air Refueling Wing and a roundtable with local workers at a bar and grill, according to CBS News. The visit came just days before the November 3 election, with Republicans working to hold a seat that has been in GOP hands for years but now sits in a dead heat.
Thune: Senate Majority Must Run Through Iowa
Thune made clear the stakes of the race, warning that a Democratic majority would grind the Senate to a halt.
The majority in the United States Senate must run through the state of Iowa.
He told the crowd that if Democrats take control, the next two years will be spent doing nothing but investigations and impeachment trials, which he said would be bad for the American people.
Thune also cited the political environment as a factor in why the race has grown more competitive in a state President Donald Trump won by 13 points in 2024. He pointed to economic and political headwinds facing Republican candidates this cycle, but expressed confidence in Hinson's chances.
You're talking about a midterm election, a non-presidential year, those are all factors that sort of weigh into what the overall environment is. But in spite of that, she's going to win.
Hinson Faces State Rep. Josh Turek in Open Seat Race
Hinson, who has represented Iowa in the House since 2021 and is a former local news anchor, is running against Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek for an open Senate seat. Democrats have not won a U.S. Senate race in Iowa since 2008, but polls have shown the race locked in a statistical tie as affordability issues squeeze Iowans, with extra strain on farmers.
Hinson has campaigned on her image as a working mom, joking that her experience parenting teenagers has prepared her to work with unreasonable people in Congress. She has also distanced herself in recent weeks from the administration on the unpopular war in Iran and high energy prices, though she appeared alongside Trump at a rally near Sioux City on Thursday.
Hinson told CBS News she is focused on all Iowa issues and driving down prices for everyone. Thune added that she is going border to border.
Roundtable Highlights Economy, Agriculture and Energy Costs
At the roundtable, local business leaders, including the head of a fertilizer distribution network and a restaurant owner, raised concerns about high prices, childcare availability, supply chain issues, housing and diesel costs.
Hinson outlined a list of priorities, including making the no-tax-on-tips policy permanent, addressing housing and lowering costs for farmers. In recent weeks, she has pushed for suspending the gas tax, pausing diesel exports from the United States and offering diesel relief to farmers and truckers.
Thune said he and Hinson had a good full day campaigning, including the air base visit, where they heard about the need to complete a runway project. He called it a great opportunity to hear the issues on the hearts and minds of Iowa voters.
And I think, like a lot of places, it's economic issues.
Thune noted that as someone who represents a neighboring state, he and Iowans share a lot of common issues, including transportation, national security and water.
Outside Groups Pour Millions Into Iowa Senate Race
The tight race has drawn heavy outside spending. The Senate Leadership Fund, the super PAC aligned with Senate Republicans, has spent more than $35 million in Iowa, with nearly all of it directed against Turek, according to The Daily Signal. The group has pledged to reach $53 million in the state by Election Day through TV and streaming ads, mail, texts and get-out-the-vote efforts.
The group's executive director, Alex Latcham, praised Hinson in a June statement, saying she has a proven record of taking on big fights and delivering real results for Iowa's farmers and working families.
Republicans on Defense in the Midwest
Iowa is not the only Midwestern state where Republicans find themselves in tighter-than-expected contests. Races in Nebraska and Kansas have also become more competitive than initially anticipated, according to CBS News.
Republicans currently hold 53 Senate seats. Democrats would need to flip four seats and defend a handful of others to take control of the chamber. While Democrats acknowledge that nearly everything would need to go right for them to secure the majority, it is no longer considered an unthinkable scenario.
Thune told reporters there is a lot more to do and that Republicans are ready to roll up their sleeves and get after it, but first they have to get through November 3.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is running for U.S. Senate in Iowa?
Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson, who has represented Iowa in the House since 2021, is running against Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek for an open Senate seat in the November 3, 2026 election.
Why is the Iowa Senate race so competitive this year?
Democrats have not won a Senate race in Iowa since 2008, but affordability issues and strain on farmers have tightened the race. Polls show Hinson and Turek locked in a dead heat, despite President Trump winning the state by 13 points in 2024.
How much money has the Senate Leadership Fund spent in Iowa?
The Senate Leadership Fund has spent more than $35 million in Iowa, with nearly all of it directed against Turek, and has pledged to reach $53 million by Election Day, according to The Daily Signal.
What are Ashley Hinson's main policy priorities?
Hinson has focused on making the no-tax-on-tips policy permanent, addressing housing, lowering costs for farmers, suspending the gas tax, pausing diesel exports and offering diesel relief to farmers and truckers.