DES MOINES, Iowa -- Two Democrats vying to be Iowa's next U.S. senator are scheduled to debate Thursday, as each seeks to convince voters he is better positioned to flip the Republican-held seat in a contest that has seen heavy outside spending and high-profile endorsements.
State lawmakers Zach Wahls and Josh Turek are competing in a June 2 primary. It is one of a few remaining competitive Democratic Senate primaries this year, as the party looks to find the best approach to reclaim the U.S. Senate this fall. Iowa's Republican Sen. Joni Ernst opted out of a reelection bid, leaving the seat open for the first time since she replaced retiring Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin in 2014.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive Democrats have rallied behind Wahls, with U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts joining him for campaign events in Iowa over the weekend. The progressive senator told voters the Senate needs Democrats who are willing to "get in there and stand up and fight."
Wahls has been vocal about his opposition to current Democratic leadership, saying he would not vote for Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York to be the caucus leader. "The leadership of Chuck Schumer has failed the Democratic Party, it has failed the state and it has failed this country," Wahls said during last week's debate at Iowa Press.
Wahls has also criticized what he calls insider influence in Washington, targeting VoteVets' $7 million spending on behalf of his opponent. He often highlights support from unions and local elected officials as evidence of his grassroots backing.
Turek has pushed back against suggestions he is aligned with party insiders. "I don't know these folks," he said when asked about outside groups supporting him. Turek explained that his criteria for leadership candidates centers on what they would do for Iowa, Iowans, and the middle class, stopping short of ruling out support for Schumer.
What the Right Is Saying
Republicans have consolidated around Ashley Hinson, a congresswoman representing northeast Iowa, committing $29 million to help keep their thin Senate majority. The substantial Republican investment reflects the national stakes of the open seat.
Turek has drawn contrasts with Wahls on immigration policy. He defended his support for legislation that makes it a state crime to be in the U.S. illegally, noting it was enacted during the Biden administration and emphasizing the importance of securing the U.S.-Mexico border. "I also support an easier path to citizenship and reforms to immigration enforcement under the Trump administration," Turek said.
Turek has highlighted his working-class background and contrasted his nonprofit work with Wahls' involvement in a super PAC focused on electing young Democrats.
What the Numbers Show
VoteVets has spent approximately $7 million supporting Turek in the final stretch of the campaign, according to reports. That amount exceeds what both candidates have raised and spent combined.
Republican Senate leaders have committed $29 million to support Hinson's general election bid.
Early voting began Wednesday for the June 2 primary.
Both Wahls and Turek have raised and spent similar amounts, though VoteVets' spending dwarfs both campaigns individually.
In the last presidential election, President Donald Trump won Iowa by double digits. The state currently has an all-Republican federal delegation.
The Bottom Line
Thursday's debate marks a final opportunity for each candidate to distinguish himself before the primary. While both candidates align on many issues -- opposing the president's tariffs and the war in Iran, supporting raising the minimum wage and restoring health care access with a public insurance option -- they have begun drawing contrasts on leadership preferences and immigration policy.
The outcome will determine which Democrat faces Hinson in November in a race that national Democrats see as a potential pickup opportunity despite Iowa's rightward trajectory. Both candidates have criticized corruption in Washington and proposed higher taxes on corporations and wealthy Americans, positioning either nominee to run on economic populism against the Republican nominee.