Trump dominates Iowa Senate debate

President Donald Trump was the main character in a televised Iowa Senate debate Wednesday night between Democrat Josh Turek and Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson, despite being about one thousand miles away in Texas.

Turek attacks Hinson over Trump policies

Josh Turek hammered Hinson for supporting Trump policies he says caused rising costs for Iowa families, from chaotic tariffs to the war in Iran. He noted Hinson voted seven times against curtailing the war and five times against reining in tariffs.

Turek: Iowans are struggling

Turek told voters he is hearing from Iowans struggling to keep food on the table, pay electric bills, keep a roof above their heads, and now with the war in Iran, keep gas in their tanks.

“I'm struggling to keep food on the table, I'm struggling to pay my electric bill, I'm struggling to keep a roof above my head, and now with this war in Iran, I'm struggling just to keep gas in my tank.”

Hinson fires back at Turek

Ashley Hinson accused Turek of skipping votes in the Legislature, being too liberal for Iowa, and lying about her using her position to enrich her family. She said it is one thing to vote like an East Coast liberal, another to lie like them.

“It's one thing to vote like an East Coast liberal; it's another to lie like them.”

Hinson: You trashed Trump in primary

Hinson jabbed Turek for flip-flopping on his willingness to legislate with Trump, saying he trashed the president during the primary and now is doing ads saying he will work with him. She called it a tale of two Tureks.

“You trashed the president during the primary, and now you're doing ads saying you're going to work with him. It's a tale of two Tureks.”

Debate was unusually civil

By modern standards, the debate over a Senate seat that will determine party control of the chamber was unusually civil. Hinson expressed sympathy over Turek's sister being diagnosed with cancer, and both pledged to work with Trump or a future Democratic president.

Hinson points to bipartisan work

Hinson said she works with whoever is president on things important to Iowa. She pointed to laws President Joe Biden signed on preventing stillbirths and providing mental health services to rural veterans for which she was the lead Republican sponsor.

“You work with the person who's going to sign the bills, no matter who that person is, on things that are important to your state.”

Race is a dead heat

Recent polls have found the Iowa Senate race is more or less a dead heat, with several surveys showing each candidate with a lead within the margin of error. Iowa has been reliably Republican in recent years.

Trump's low approval ratings weigh on GOP

Trump's low approval ratings have been an anchor on Republican candidates in Iowa and across the country. Trump looms over virtually every contest approaching in the midterm election despite being about one thousand miles away.

Hinson touts border security

Hinson cited border crossings during Biden's term as a reason Iowans should not trust Turek and Democrats on immigration. She said Trump and Republicans deserve credit for clamping down on illegal immigration and sealing the border.

“We have now sealed off the border, that just took about six months to get that done, and now we have zero crossings happening at our southern border.”

Turek proposes immigration reforms

Turek said he would not vote to fund the Department of Homeland Security without significant changes to immigration enforcement policies, including requiring body cameras and revising use-of-force standards. He referenced federal officers killing Renee Good and Alex Pretti during an immigration crackdown in Minnesota this year.

Turek: Remove Social Security tax cap

Turek proposed eliminating the cap on Social Security taxes to keep the program solvent beyond the six-year time frame when benefits are expected to be reduced. The cap currently shields income above one hundred eighty-four thousand five hundred dollars per year from Social Security taxes.

“I think that it is fundamentally wrong that you have every single teacher and police officer and firefighter that is paying payroll tax and Social Security tax year-round. Meanwhile, you've got folks like Elon Musk and Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos that are paying just for the first few minutes of the year.”

Hinson backs commission approach

Hinson countered that lifting the cap would not fully fund Social Security payouts. She argued that a federal commission should be established to revamp the system and keep it solvent, with Congress then voting on the commission's plan.

“This is a serious issue for our seniors, and it is a promise we need to keep to them.”

Hinson highlights Schumer-backed super PACs

Hinson sought to undermine Turek's boast that he is not taking money from corporate PACs by highlighting Schumer-backed super PACs that have taken money from companies and spent heavily to help elect Turek. She called it laundered corporate PAC money.

“He is basically taking laundered corporate PAC money.”

Turek declines to denounce backing PACs

Turek declined to denounce the political action committees backing him or call for ads on his behalf to be taken down. He also declined to rule out voting to remove Trump from office if impeached, saying he has no interest in looking at impeachment.

“I have no interest in looking at impeachment. I think that we need to look forward, not back.”