Iowa (RI) — The two Iowa Democrats running for the US Senate used their final debate before the June Primary to present themselves as the party’s best General Election option against Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, the likely Republican Party pick for the US Senate.
State Senator Zach Wahls of Coralville says Democrats need to win back the trust of rural and blue-collar voters. “I’m the only candidate in this race who has won and represented small town and rural Iowa,” Wahls said. “In this campaign, I’m proud to have won the support of 27 labor unions representing 30,000 hardworking, blue-collar Iowans.”
State Representative Josh Turek of Council Bluffs says independent voters will be the kingmakers in November, and they’ll respond to a candidate focused on lowering costs and ending political corruption. “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity that we have here in Iowa to once again have a senator that is fighting for the people, fighting for Iowa and Iowans, not just the millionaires and billionaires and the large corporations,” Turek said. Both candidates support raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans, and both say it’s time to break up monopolies. Wahls says that’s particularly true in the meatpacking industry.
Turek says a ban on grocery store mergers would lower food costs, and Turek says the federal government needs to provide incentives for first-time homebuyers.
Wahls closed the debate by suggesting that for Democrats to win, they have to use a new playbook after losing all four U.S. Senate races in the past 12 years.
Turek closed by saying the focus needs to be on middle-class issues.
Last night’s debate was hosted by KCCI in Des Moines, KTIV in Sioux City, KCRG in Cedar Rapids and KWQC in the Quad Cities.
KIWA Staff Photo
