Republican Ashley Hinson and Democratic Josh Turek, Iowa’s candidates for U.S. Senate, debated immigration, the war in Iran and agriculture with less than a month till the Nov. election. 

The debate, hosted by PBS and moderated by Kay Henderson, had no time limits.

Immigration

Immigration grew as a campaign issue as a result of legislative and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions and reforms.  

“We need to be deporting these dangerous criminal illegals,” Hinson said. “We have now sealed off the border that just took about six months to get that done, and now we have zero crossings happening at our southern border.”

“If you have come here illegally and you have committed violent crimes, you should no longer be here, but at the same time, I think we can recognize that we need to have a pathway to earn citizenship for those that have come here illegally,” Turek said.

Hinson represents Iowa’s 2nd district in the U.S. House and claims to have voted for legislation when she was in the state house to have law enforcement cooperate efficiently with ICE.

Tariffs

 Tariffs impact the finances of every Iowan and, as a result, have become a large topic of discussion. The Midwest Economic Policy Institute found that tariffs raised the cost on Midwestern families by an average of $2,000 in 2025. 

“We certainly need strategic tariffs and tariffs to protect American jobs, and to protect American manufacturing, but not off the backs of the agricultural industry, and not off the backs of small federal firms,” Turek said.

Hinson explained she advocates for fertilizer policies relating not only to duties and tariffs, but also to domestic manufacturing. 

“I voted for the working families tax cut bill which made it possible for many of these investments, including this steel mill with 1,700 jobs paying $49 an hour to come to our state,” Hinson said.

Iran War

Iowans have felt gas price increases in relation to the war in Iran. According to Gas Buddy, the average price per gallon of gas is $4.03 in Iowa. 

“This war in Iran has led to gas prices going up in Iowa more than almost any other state,” Turek said. “We’re looking at diesel prices being at an all-time high, as our farmers are going into harvesting time, and leading to a further increase of input costs like fertilizer.” 

Hinson was asked why she continued to vote against a resolution as a congresswoman. 

“I don’t think we need another resolution and I certainly don’t want to see the President not be able to do an orderly end to this war,” Hinson said. “We don’t need to lose another Iowan.”

Farm Bill

This year, the Farm, Food and National Security Act passed in the House and hasn’t yet been voted on in the Senate.

“I’m showing up in Washington, D.C. to make sure we’re advocating for priorities like the farm bill, getting that across the finish line to help support our farmers with the safety and security nets they need,” Hinson said.

“I would have voted for it because I don’t think that we should let perfection stand in the way of progress,” Turek said. “I will work to pass a farm bill and have a provision in place that the Congress cannot adjourn without passing a farm bill.”

The current bill has been in effect since 2018 and has been extended three times since.