Iowa Senate Voter Guide: Hinson, Turek and Laehn on Immigration, Iran and War Powers
Three candidates are on the ballot for U.S. Senate in Iowa on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026: Republican Ashley Hinson, Democrat Josh Turek and Libertarian Thomas Laehn. The seat is open because Sen. Joni Ernst is retiring, KTIV reported.
The Digital Free Press voter guide video compares the three side by side on immigration and the war with Iran. Here is where each one stands, based on the video, the candidates' own words and Iowa reporting.
Ashley Hinson (Republican)
Hinson represents Iowa's 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House, according to the Iowa Capital Dispatch.
On immigration, the video says Hinson opposed the 2024 border bill because it would let in too many people. In an Iowa PBS debate she said the bill "would have let uncapped numbers come across our southern border," and she called Turek "too liberal" on border security, Iowa Public Radio reported.
On the war with Iran and war powers, the video says Hinson opposed a resolution limiting the president's war powers but wants an immediate and successful end to the war. In the final debate she said a "successful end" means assurances that Iran will never have a nuclear program, adding, "nobody wants a forever war," the Iowa Capital Dispatch reported.
Josh Turek (Democrat)
Turek is a state representative from Council Bluffs and a disability advocate, according to KTIV and his campaign.
On immigration, the video says Turek backed a 2024 Iowa law on illegal reentry, now blocked by a federal court, and wants earned citizenship. He said in the Iowa PBS debate that he was "one of three Democrats to vote with Republicans" on that law, and that "we need to have a pathway to earned citizenship," Iowa Public Radio reported.
On the war with Iran and war powers, the video says Turek would fight to end the war from his first day in the Senate and return to diplomacy. "I'm going to fight to end this war in the U.S. Senate, day one," he said in that debate. He has also blamed the war for higher gas and diesel prices in Iowa.
Thomas Laehn (Libertarian)
Laehn is the Greene County attorney, a former constitutional law professor and the first Libertarian elected to a partisan office in Iowa, KTIV reported. He says he is not running to be a "spoiler."
On immigration, the video says Laehn wants a secure border along with raising or ending the caps on legal immigration. His campaign says he wants to keep the national government out of the areas the Constitution leaves to the states.
On war powers, the video says that Laehn, in a general stance not specific to Iran, wants to block wars a president starts without Congress and bring troops home. He also wants to eliminate the personal income tax and blames both parties for the national debt, according to KTIV.
Where to Follow the Candidates
Ashley Hinson: @hinsonashley on X. Josh Turek: @Turek4Iowa on X and @turek4iowa on TikTok. Thomas Laehn: @laehn4iowa on X.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. This guide is for information only; The Digital Free Press does not endorse any candidate.
Yossi Schmidt, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Digital Free Press
Hold Everyone Accountable.
Sources: Iowa Capital Dispatch, "Hinson, Turek share views on U.S.-Iran, Russia-Ukraine wars amid high fuel prices" (Oct. 13, 2026): https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2026/10/13/hinson-turek-share-views-on-u-s-iran-russia-ukraine-wars-amid-high-fuel-prices/ ; Iowa Public Radio, "U.S. Senate candidates Hinson and Turek debate Iran war, affordability and voting records" (Oct. 8, 2026): https://www.iowapublicradio.org/political-news/2026-10-08/u-s-senate-debate-ashley-hinson-josh-turek ; KTIV, "How Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate Thomas Laehn said he would fight political corruption" (Oct. 23, 2026): https://www.ktiv.com/2026/10/23/how-liberterian-us-senate-candidate-thomas-laehn-said-he-would-fight-political-corruption/ ; Iowa Capital Dispatch, Voter Guide: 2026 Iowa general election: https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/voter-guides/2026-iowa-general-election/ ; Thomas Laehn campaign: https://laehn4iowa.org/ ; Josh Turek campaign: https://turek4iowa.com/ ; Ashley Hinson campaign: https://ashleyhinson.com/
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