In the lead‑up to the 2026 U.S. Senate race, Iowa Democrat Josh Turek is airing television ads that stress his willingness to work with President Trump and Republican lawmakers on key issues such as border security and tax policy. The ads are part of a broader strategy by several Iowa Democrats to broaden their appeal beyond the party’s traditional base.
Ads stress bipartisan voting record
One of Turek’s commercials notes that he has voted with Republicans more than 700 times while serving in the Iowa Legislature, citing support for tax cuts and protections for gun owners. A second spot focuses on immigration, describing Interstate 35 as a direct link between Iowa and the southern border and asserting that both parties have failed to fix the nation’s immigration system.
“I’m Josh Turek, and in the U.S. Senate I’ll work with anyone to fix it, including President Trump, to secure the border and stop the flow of drugs into Iowa,” Turek says in the ad.
Candidate explains the rationale
In an interview with KCCI, Turek said he believes border security should be a non‑partisan issue. “All Iowans recognize that we can have two things be true at the same time. We need to have safe and secure borders. We do,” he explained, before outlining additional immigration positions.
Turek supports creating a clearer pathway to citizenship for immigrants who fill critical labor gaps in Iowa’s agriculture and manufacturing sectors. He also calls for reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including stricter use‑of‑force standards and limits on agents wearing masks.
Other Democrats adopt similar messaging
Governor‑candidate Democrat Rob Sand released an education ad that emphasizes a focus on math and reading rather than “political agendas from either extreme.” State Senator Sarah Trone Garriott, running for the 3rd Congressional District, highlighted her opposition to allowing men in women’s locker rooms and stressed that parents, not politicians, should make decisions for their children.
Political analysts weigh in
KCCI political analyst Dennis Goldford noted that Iowa’s voter registration landscape forces Democrats to court independent and even some Republican voters. “Democrats come in third in party registration, behind Republicans and then independents,” Goldford said. “You cannot win a statewide Democratic race unless you at least attract some independent votes.”
Goldford cautioned that the strategy carries risk. “The ads could turn off core Democratic voters unless they calculate that this is necessary to pick up enough persuadable voters,” he warned.
Implications for the Senate race
The Cook Political Report recently moved the Iowa Senate contest from “Lean Republican” to a “Toss‑Up,” citing public and private polling that shows a tighter race than historical voting patterns would suggest. With President Trump having carried Iowa by more than 13 points in 2024, the outcome of this race could have a decisive impact on control of the U.S. Senate.
As Election Day approaches, the ads provide an early glimpse of how Iowa Democrats are attempting to reshape their message to win over a state that still leans heavily Republican.
Original reporting: KCCI Des Moines — read the source article.
