Iowa Democratic Senate candidate Josh Turek sought to dismiss concerns over his attendance record as a state representative during a second televised debate with his Republican opponent U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson.
The debate, held in Des Moines and jointly moderated by WHO13 News and KCAU9 News, saw the major clashes of the night involve questions over the personal conduct of each candidate.
When pressed over missing votes pertaining to legislation that increased funding for cancer research and expanded insurance coverage for cancer-related treatments, Turek cited his efforts on the campaign trail.
“I’m out campaigning. I’m out meeting Iowans all over. All 99 counties,” Turek said.
Iowa has the second-highest cancer rate in the nation, with a recent study by the University of Iowa finding the state is projected to have approximately 22,000 individuals diagnosed with cancer this year and 6,400 cancer-related deaths.
According to PoltiFact Iowa, Turek was absent for approximately 58 percent of votes during this year’s legislative session, which ran from January to April. Hinson hit out at Turek’s attendance record.
“You should know: If you [only] show up to work two out of five days, you’re not getting a promotion, you’re getting fired,” Hinson said.
Meanwhile, Turek criticized Hinson for a recent financial disclosure form that revealed her net worth had grown by nearly 15 times since being elected to Congress in 2020, and that she used over $50,000 in taxpayer funds for an apartment in Washington, D.C., despite her substantial wealth.
“This is what is wrong with D.C. We have a corruption crisis that is leading to an affordability crisis because we’re sending people like Ashley Hinson,” Turek said. “She’s made cuts to healthcare, food assistance, social security, just to give tax breaks to billionaires. It’s wrong.”
Hinson defended her finances by explaining the large increase in net worth was due to her husband selling his insurance business, in which he still holds a stake, and sought to draw a distinction between politicians owning publicly traded stocks and having an interest in a privately held company.
“Private stock is not trading stock. That is very, very clear,” Hinson said.
Democratic Comeback?
After the Hawkeye State spent the past decade voting reliably red, Democrats are hoping this November they can turn Iowa back to its traditional role as a toss-up state.
An Emerson College/Nextstar Media poll released last week showed Turek trailing Hinson by two points, with seven percent undecided. Meanwhile, the same poll found Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand holding a four-point lead over his GOP challenger, Zach Lahn, with four percent undecided.
Democrats have not won a Senate race in Iowa since 2008 and a gubernatorial contest since 2006.
Nationwide, Democratic Senate candidates are performing strongly in a number of traditionally Republican-leaning states, with recent polls showing Democrats holding slight leads in races in Alaska, Kansas, and Texas.
Turek, as with the Democratic candidates in those Senate contests, has sought to portray himself as a moderate or independent-minded as opposed to being aligned with the established wing of the party.
Democrats need to flip four seats in November to take control of the Senate.