Iowa Holds June 2 Primaries for U.S. Senate Seat and Governor's Race

U.S. Senate seat on Tuesday between two state lawmakers who each argue they are best positioned to defeat the Republican candidate in November. The primary is one of the last competitive Senate nomination contests for Democrats nationwide.

Either Josh Turek or Zach Wahls will face the Republican nominee for the seat currently held by two-term Sen. Joni Ernst. Turek won election to the state House in 2022 after competing in four Paralympics and playing professional wheelchair basketball in Europe.

He has received outside support including $10 million in spending from VoteVets. Wahls gained national attention in 2011 when he addressed Iowa lawmakers as a teenager defending his two mothers against a proposed resolution on same-sex marriage. He later served as Senate Democrats' leader before being removed from that post.

President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance have visited Iowa this year to support Republican candidates. U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson is seeking the GOP Senate nomination with endorsements from both Trump and Ernst.

State Auditor Rob Sand is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination for governor and has raised an $18 million campaign fund. Republicans are holding a five-way primary to replace outgoing Gov. Kim Reynolds.

Democrats see opportunities tied to high prices, manufacturing job losses, and challenges in the agricultural sector.