Democrats Flip U.S. Senate and Gain Ground in Iowa
Democrats won control of the U.S. Senate and made significant gains in Iowa, including a state House victory by candidate Eric Armstrong.
Democrats flipped both the U.S. House and Senate in the 2026 elections, a result Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer described as a decisive rebuke to the president and Republican majorities. Schumer announced that Democrats won the Senate and told the American people that relief is on the way.
In Iowa, the party saw a broader surge, winning the governor's race for the first time since 2006 and flipping three Republican-held congressional seats. Democrat Josh Turek, the former representative for House District 20, defeated Republican Ashley Hinson to win a U.S. Senate seat. Iowa Republican Party Chair Jeff Kaufmann called the results a disappointing evening.
In a notable local outcome, Democrat Eric Armstrong won the Iowa House District 20 seat despite suspending his campaign in September due to personal health issues. A retired railroad executive, Armstrong defeated Republican Keith Jones with 4,602 votes to 3,737, capturing 55.2 percent of the vote in the red-leaning district. Armstrong stated he would do his best to represent the district while continuing to struggle with his health.
