Iowa voters selected nominees Tuesday for competitive governor, Senate and House races that national party strategists say could help determine control of Congress. The results set up a general election in a state governed by Republicans but one that has voted Democratic in recent federal elections.
The most striking result came in the Republican primary for governor, where businessman Zach Lahn narrowly defeated Rep. Randy Feenstra despite Trump endorsing Feenstra last week. The Associated Press called the race for Lahn by a margin of a few thousand votes — a rare public rebuke of Trump's preferred candidate in an Iowa primary.
For Democrats, state Rep. Josh Turek won the U.S. Senate nomination over state Sen. Zach Wahls. Turek represents a Trump-won district in the Iowa House and has backing from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and former Sen. Tom Harkin. Wahls had endorsements from several labor unions, progressive organizations and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
Turek will face Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson, who won her primary easily with Trump's endorsement. The seat was vacated by retiring Sen. Joni Ernst.
On the Democratic side for governor, state Auditor Rob Sand ran unopposed for his party's nomination. He currently outraises Republican competitors and enters the general election as a competitive candidate in a race experts describe as a true tossup.
What the Left Is Saying
Iowa Democrats expressed optimism that Trump's unpopularity in the state combined with Turek's bipartisan appeal could help flip the Senate seat. 'Turek represents a Trump-won district — he knows how to reach voters beyond traditional Democratic strongholds,' one party strategist said, speaking on background.
Sand's campaign has highlighted his record as state auditor and framed the race as a choice between experience and chaos. His fundraising advantage signals strong organizational capacity heading into November.
Progressive groups that backed Wahls acknowledged the primary is over and signaled commitment to supporting Turek in the general election. 'We need to focus on beating Ashley Hinson and taking back this seat,' said a spokesperson for one progressive organization that had endorsed Wahls, declining to be named ahead of an official statement.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican Party Chairman Jeff Kaufmann called for party unity after Tuesday's results. 'If we don't do that, then there could be consequences,' he said at Iowa's Faith and Freedom Spring Kickoff event last month. 'Let's let the grassroots speak, that's what the primary is.'
Trump weighed in on Twitter following Lahn's victory: 'Zach ran a great campaign and I look forward to supporting him in November!' The post marked a rare instance of Trump publicly accepting an outcome that went against his stated preference.
Hinson's campaign emphasized her alignment with Trump's agenda and congressional experience. Her team pointed to constituent casework and legislative accomplishments during her time in the House as evidence of her effectiveness.
What the Numbers Show
Trump won Iowa by approximately 3 percentage points in 2024, making it a competitive but Republican-leaning state at the federal level.
In the governor's race, Kim Reynolds — who is term-limited — leaves office with approval ratings that polling indicates are mixed. Her successor will inherit a state budget and policy agenda shaped by her two terms.
Sand reported $2.1 million in his campaign account entering May, significantly more than any Republican gubernatorial candidate had raised at the same point.
In Iowa's 1st Congressional District, incumbent Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks won re-election in 2024 by fewer than 800 votes — one of the closest House races nationally that cycle.
Iowa's 3rd Congressional District features incumbent Rep. Zach Nunn facing Democratic state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, who has won multiple elections in Republican-leaning legislative districts.
The Bottom Line
The Iowa results illustrate ongoing tensions between Trump-era Republican politics and grassroots conservative activism, particularly the governor's race outcome. For Democrats, Turek's victory positions them with a candidate they believe can compete statewide on economic issues affecting farmers — namely tariffs and trade policy.
Three of Iowa's four congressional districts are expected to be competitive in November, potentially determining which party controls the House of Representatives. The Senate race adds another potential pickup opportunity for whichever party wins control.
Voters and political observers will now focus on how these nominees position themselves on agricultural economy issues, tariff policy, and the Trump administration's broader agenda ahead of what both parties describe as high-stakes elections.