Iowa's Unexpected Battleground: Josh Turek, Ashley Hinson, and the Midterm Fight for Congress

Here's the Scoop Election Edition turns to Iowa as an unexpected battleground in the fight for control of Congress. Host Garrett Haake interviews Democratic Senate nominee Josh Turek and Republican strategist David Kochel about Iowa's competitive Senate, House, and gubernatorial races. The conversation covers how tariffs, the war in Iran, inflation, and President Trump's approval ratings are shaping campaign strategies and voter concerns.

■ Iowa's Political Landscape
- NBC News polling ratings for Iowa's House, Senate, and governor's races
- Iowa's shift from a classic swing state to Republican dominance and signs of renewed competitiveness
- The role of tariffs, energy prices, and agriculture in the state's economy

■ Josh Turek's Senate Campaign
- Turek's background as a Paralympian, state legislator, and former Republican
- His common-sense prairie populist message and focus on economic issues
- His positions on the Iran war, tariffs, healthcare, campaign finance, and bipartisan cooperation

■ David Kochel's Republican Analysis
- The difficult environment for Iowa Republicans and candidates distancing from President Trump
- Ticket-splitting, Ashley Hinson's campaign, and Rob Sand's gubernatorial bid
- Election-night indicators and the potential coattail effects in Iowa

■ Next Week's Preview
- AI data centers, energy and water concerns, and voter questions about AI

This episode is suited for viewers following U.S. elections, Iowa politics, and midterm party strategies. It offers context on the issues driving candidate messages and the factors that could decide control of Congress. Viewers will gain a framework for understanding the races and the indicators to monitor as results come in.