Bennett wins New Jersey primary; Hinson, Turek advance in Iowa

Rebecca Bennett, a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, won the Democratic primary Tuesday in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District, securing approximately 47.2 percent of the vote and defeating three rivals. Bennett, 37, will face Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. in November for a seat Democrats view as one of their best pickup opportunities in the midterm elections.

In a statement ahead of election night, Bennett wrote that the district "deserves a representative who actually shows up for every family" and pledged to work harder than ever if elected to represent the area.

In Iowa, two Senate primary races concluded Tuesday, setting up a general election matchup between Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson and Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek. Both candidates won their respective primaries to replace GOP Sen. Joni Ernst, who opted not to seek reelection.

Hinson, 42, defeated former state Sen. Jim Carlin in the Republican primary. She has represented Iowa in the House since 2021 and is endorsed by President Trump. Republicans lined up behind her heading into the primary, making her the de facto GOP nominee.

On the Democratic side, Turek, a 47-year-old state representative and former wheelchair basketball Paralympian, defeated state Sen. Zach Wahls. Turek has run on his record of working across the aisle and has touted representing the most conservative district in Iowa to send a Democrat to the state legislature. He secured endorsements from moderate Democrats, including Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada.

Wahls, who gained prominence in 2011 for opposing a state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, had championed LGBTQ issues and economic reform. He had vowed to oppose Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer if elected to the upper chamber.

In remarks captured on audio from a May 28 campaign stop in Fort Dodge, Iowa, Hinson privately acknowledged that the ongoing U.S. conflict with Iran could become a "political liability" if it extends beyond the next few weeks. "I do hope we can get this done by the next couple of weeks," Hinson said in the recording. "If it drags on beyond that, it's a political liability for us too. Because we've lost Iowa soldiers."

Hinson cited the deaths of Iowa service members as the source of her concern, noting she had attended four funerals since December. When asked about a timeline for the war, she said she was deferring to President Trump and his foreign policy team, who are seeking a deal with Iran.

Bennett will campaign in New Jersey's 7th District, which has been represented by Kean, a Trump ally. The district is expected to be highly competitive in the November midterms.