Iowa Democrat Josh Turek has made health care the centerpiece of his Senate campaign, and it has become one of his strongest lines of attack against Republican U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson. With only two days until the midterm elections, both candidates are doubling down on their campaigns for the hotly contested U.S.
Senate seat, which could flip the upper chamber where Republicans currently have control. While the economy remains top of mind for most Iowan voters, according to an October survey by Emerson Polling, health care is one of the clearest contrasts in the state’s closely watched Senate race, as the survey results show Democrats hold a clear advantage with voters compared to other issues. The Emerson Polling survey of 650 likely Iowa voters conducted between October 5 and 6 found that people most concerned about health care are more likely to support Turek over Hinson, giving Turek an opening to expand beyond the party’s base as he argues that Medicaid cuts, rising costs, rural care shortages and Iowa's cancer crisis have left many residents struggling.
Newsweek reached out to campaigns for both Hinson and Turek by email for comment. By contrast, voters who identify the economy as their top concern are more likely to support Hinson. However, at 47 percent to Turek's 43 percent, her advantage on economic issues is smaller than the lead Turek holds among voters who rank health care as their top priority.
Meanwhile, Turek argues that economy and health care are not isolated concerns. Today, I sat down with Iowa doctors, nurses, cancer survivors, and families to hear how rising costs on gas, groceries, and medication are piling on top of what cancer patients already face.” Iowa has the second-highest cancer incidence rate in the U.S., according to data from the Iowa Cancer Registry. To make matters more pressing, the cancer incidence rate is rising while the U.S. rate falls, with lung, melanoma, breast, and prostate cancer among those most diagnosed in Iowa.
Hinson has also addressed the state’s cancer crisis in her campaign messaging and recently introduced a bill in Congress aiming to improve access to cancer screenings. Senator [Chuck Grassley] and I are leading a bipartisan effort to improve access to screenings,” Hinson posted on X on October 23. However, Turek argues that Hinson’s actions in Congress have harmed Iowans’ access to health care.
He has attacked her vote for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law in July 2025, arguing that its Medicaid changes could leave thousands of Iowans without coverage. Hinson, meanwhile, has highlighted her efforts to lower prescription drug costs and expand access to screenings and rural care. I’ll work with anyone who is serious about bringing down prices immediately.” Whether the issue can overcome Hinson's strength on economic concerns remains unclear.
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