# Hinson and Turek spar over Iran votes, wealth and healthcare > Iowa's Republican and Democratic Senate candidates clash on military spending, personal finances and Medicaid in their first debate. - Title: Hinson and Turek spar over Iran votes, wealth and healthcare - Summary: Iowa's Republican and Democratic Senate candidates clash on military spending, personal finances and Medicaid in their first debate. PolitiFact fact-checked… - Keywords: ashley hinson, josh turek, iowa, us senate, 2026 election, iran war, immigration, medicaid, fact-checking, debate, politics, fact check - Source: PolitiFact — https://politifact.com/article/2026/oct/08/ashley-hinson-josh-turek-iowa-immigration-iran - Author: Caleb McCullough - Published: 2026-10-08T18:27:05+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: ashley hinson, josh turek, iowa, us senate, 2026 election, iran war, immigration, medicaid, fact-checking, debate, politics, fact check ## Two candidates clash in Iowa Senate race Republican Ashley Hinson and Democrat Josh Turek met for their first debate on October seventh at Iowa PBS in Johnston, Iowa, competing to fill retiring Senator Joni Ernst's seat. ## Hinson is three-term congresswoman and former TV anchor Ashley Hinson, the Republican candidate, has served three terms in Congress and previously worked as a television anchor before entering politics. ## Turek is state representative and Paralympic athlete Josh Turek, the Democratic candidate, is a state representative from Council Bluffs and a two-time Paralympic gold medalist in wheelchair basketball. ## Turek ties Hinson to Iran war votes Turek claimed Hinson voted in favor of the Iran war seven times. PolitiFact found this mostly accurate. Hinson voted against six War Powers resolutions calling for the war's end. > Ashley Hinson has voted in favor of the Iran war seven times. ## Hinson's seventh Iran vote was on Lebanon The seventh vote Turek cited was Hinson's June thirtieth vote against a resolution to withdraw U.S. forces from Lebanon. Some lawmakers noted no U.S. forces were engaged in conflict there. ## Hinson says she wants war to end During the debate, Hinson said she wants an immediate and successful end to the Iran war but does not want Congress to limit President Donald Trump's military authority. > immediate and successful end ## Hinson claims Turek supports amnesty Hinson said Turek supports the Dignity Act, which would allow basic amnesty. PolitiFact rated this half true. Amnesty has no clear legal definition and can mean different things. > supports the Dignity Act, which would allow for basic amnesty ## Dignity Act has strict requirements The Dignity Act would allow some people living illegally in the U.S. to stay if they meet work or school requirements, pass a background check, pay seven thousand dollars and back taxes. ## Turek disputes Hinson's wealth claims Turek said Hinson's wealth increased fifteen times in six years in Congress and she owns up to five million dollars of private stock. Hinson denied owning individual stocks. > up to 15 times more wealthy, still owns up to $5 million of private stock ## Hinson's wealth grew but not fifteen times Hinson's assets grew from seven hundred twenty-six thousand to two point four million in twenty twenty to two point three million to eight point eight million in twenty twenty-five. ## Hinson's wealth came from husband's insurance stake Hinson's wealth growth came largely from her husband Matt Arenholz's equity stake in Highstreet Insurance Partners, valued between one million and five million dollars after a twenty twenty-one acquisition. ## Turek attacks Hinson's Medicaid vote Turek said Hinson voted for one hundred ten thousand Iowans to lose healthcare by supporting the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. > voted for 110,000 Iowans to lose their healthcare ## Hinson says reversing law would restore illegal immigrant coverage Hinson responded that reversing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act would immediately put immigrants in the country illegally back on Medicaid. ## Key takeaway PolitiFact fact-checked claims by Republican Ashley Hinson and Democrat Josh Turek in their October seventh Iowa Senate debate, finding mixed accuracy on Iran war votes, immigration policy, wealth growth and healthcare effects.