In Other News · United States · Politics

Source: Axios

Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek defeated Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson in a major upset Tuesday, becoming the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Iowa since 2008, the AP projected.Why it matters: Turek's victory delivers Democrats a critical pickup in their fight for Senate control — and signals a political backlash against Republicans in a state Trump won comfortably just two years ago.The big picture: Turek's victory breaks the GOP's hold on both of Iowa's Senate seats for the first time since Democrat Tom Harkin left office in 2015, marking a major breakthrough for Democrats in a state that has shifted right.State of play: The Cook Political Report rated the race a toss-up after moving it left during the campaign as mounting frustration over rising costs, Trump's tariffs and the Iran war put Republicans on the defensive.Zoom in: Turek, a Council Bluffs state lawmaker and Paralympic medalist, built his campaign around affordability and appeals to working-class and independent voters.He criticized Trump's tariffs and other administration policies that he argued were hurting Iowa farmers and families.He also made government ethics and corruption a central theme, including support for a ban on congressional stock trading.Between the lines: Republicans had held...