WASHINGTON, June 2 (Reuters) – Iowa State Representative Josh Turek, who describes himself as a “common-sense prairie populist,” won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate on Tuesday and a chance in November to become the party’s first senator from the farm-belt state since 2008.
Turek, backed by national Democrats and former Democratic Senator Tom Harkin, defeated state Senator Zach Wahls, U.S. media projected. He will square off against Republican U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson, who won her party’s nomination for the open seat.
Turek and Hinson are running to replace Republican Joni Ernst, a two-term senator and retired military officer whose decision to retire from Congress has given Democrats hopes of picking up the seat in the general election and potentially taking control of the Senate.
(Reporting by David Morgan)
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