Former President Barack Obama formally endorsed Democratic Senate candidate Josh Turek for Iowa’s open Senate seat on Wednesday, releasing a video of the two playing basketball. Turek, a state representative and two-time Paralympic gold medalist, won the Democratic primary by a 24.8-point margin. Obama praised Turek’s character and winning record, urging Iowans to support his candidacy.
The endorsement comes as Iowa, once a swing state, has shifted rightward in recent elections. Obama won the state in 2008 and 2012, but it backed President Donald Trump by double digits in 2016, 2020, and 2024. Turek faces Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson, who is endorsed by Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst. The race is seen as a key test for Democrats aiming to regain ground in the Midwest.
Turek and Hinson have agreed to two debates ahead of the Nov. 3 general election, though dates have not been set. Hinson has criticized Turek’s legislative record, particularly his votes on transgender policies for minors and illegal immigration, as well as his attendance in the state legislature.
Steffen Schmidt, a political science professor at Iowa State University, described the race as a "dead heat," noting that endorsements from Obama and Trump are likely to cancel each other out. Independents are expected to play a decisive role in the outcome.