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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

Democrats will debate in Iowa US Senate primary shaped by outside money and big-name endorsements

Turek is competing with Wahls for the Democratic nomination and has backing from VoteVets and several prominent endorsers.

SOURCE CHECK

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Host credibilityABC News84/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 6, 2026

Credibility rates ABC News, which republished this story. The other scores rate the article itself.

Republished with credit

Republished from Associated Press, with credit to the original publisher.

Associated Press95/100 HIGH

347 stories · 94.5–95.2 · updated Oct 12, 2026

This is Associated Press's own score, and this article is credited to Associated Press. The host score in the Source Check is ABC News's.

ABC Newsvia Associated Press
May 14, 2026
tl;dr

Zach Wahls and Joshua Turek are set to debate in Iowa’s Democratic Senate primary, a race marked by major outside spending and prominent endorsements. The winner will face an open Republican-held seat.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
Joshua Turek D · IA
NOT RATEDCLOSED

No good or bad look here

This story reports what happened without casting Turek in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Turek’s record.

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

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Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Iowa

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Zach Wahls
D · IA

Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Iowa

Wahls's version of this story ↗
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President of the United States

Former president of the United States

Maggie Hassan
D · NH · SEN

U.S. senator from New Hampshire who endorsed Turek

Ashley Hinson
R · IA-2

Republican U.S. representative and candidate backed by Republican Senate leaders

U.S. senator from Nevada who endorsed Turek

Tammy Duckworth
D · IL · SEN

U.S. senator from Illinois who endorsed Turek

Chuck Schumer
D · NY · SEN

U.S. senator from New York and Senate Democratic leader

Former transportation secretary who endorsed Turek

Elizabeth Warren
D · MA · SEN

U.S. senator from Massachusetts who endorsed Wahls

Joni Ernst
R · IA · SEN

Republican U.S. senator from Iowa who is not seeking reelection

ALSO MENTIONED  Tom Harkin, Former U.S. senator from Iowa who endorsed Turek

Part of a bigger story

9 OUTLETS
Joshua Turek And Zach Wahls Debate Ahead Of Iowa Senate Primary

Turek and Wahls debated as they competed for the Democratic nomination for Iowa’s open U.S. Senate seat. Turek argued that his record in a Republican-leaning district made him the stronger general-election candidate. Center outlets mostly present a matter-of-fact contest over electability, records and campaign issues, alongside outside spending and endorsements; some focus instead on debate logistics.

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