Republican Ashley Hinson and Democrat Josh Turek debated foreign policy, tariffs, and immigration in their final scheduled debate before the Nov. 3 election.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
Republican Ashley Hinson and Democrat Josh Turek met for their final scheduled debate on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at the WHO-13 studios in Des Moines. The hour-long event, hosted by WHO-13 and Nexstar Media Group, marked the last major public confrontation before Iowa voters head to the polls on Nov. 3. The candidates are competing for the open U.S. Senate seat left by retiring Republican Senator Joni Ernst.
The debate focused on foreign policy, trade, healthcare, and immigration. According to Newsweek, the candidates sparred over Iran, tariffs, and the economy, though they largely avoided personal confrontations. On the issue of tariffs, Turek argued that tariff authority should primarily rest with Congress rather than the president and criticized Hinson's support for Trump-backed trade measures. When asked if she would support legislation limiting presidential tariff authority, Hinson said she would want to review the proposal before deciding how she would vote.
Immigration was another key point of contention. Hinson pointed to border security as "the defining issue" of the 2024 election when asked if the administration of President Donald Trump had gone too far on enforcement. Turek accused Hinson of supporting policies that benefited large corporations and pledged to protect Social Security and Medicare if elected. Hinson countered that Turek would support the agenda of Democratic leaders in Washington.
Moderators also questioned Turek about his attendance record in the Iowa Legislature. Turek replied that he had been campaigning, while Hinson argued that elected officials should be judged on whether they show up to do their jobs. On transgender participation in women's sports, Turek stated he did not believe biological males should compete in female sports, adding that athletic governing bodies should establish standards rather than individual states.
The race is considered a "toss-up" by elections analysts at the Cook Politico Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball, according to the Des Moines Register. Polling data shows a tight contest, though results vary by source.
Prediction markets show a different picture. Both Polymarket and Kalshi favor Hinson, with Polymarket showing her at 57 percent and Kalshi at 60 percent.
The debate was moderated by WHO 13's Amanda Krenz and KCAU's Tim Seaman. According to AOL, the rules allowed each candidate 60 seconds to answer a question, 30 seconds for a rebuttal, and 15 seconds for clarification. Each candidate had 30 seconds for a closing statement.
Libertarian candidate Thomas Laehn was on the ballot but was not invited to participate. WHO-13 stated that Laehn did not meet Nexstar's criteria to participate in the debate.
The outcome of this race could significantly affect the balance of power in the U.S. Senate. Republicans currently hold 53 seats, while Democrats hold 45, with two Independents caucusing with the Democrats. Flipping this seat could help Democrats gain control of the Senate, making it one of the most competitive races in the country.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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