Wahls, Turek Debate Ahead of Iowa Senate Primary

Two Democratic state lawmakers, Zach Wahls and Josh Turek, are set to debate Thursday in Des Moines ahead of their June 2 primary for Iowa's open U.S. Senate seat, each arguing he is best equipped to challenge Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson in the general election.

The contest has drawn significant outside spending and endorsements as Democrats seek to reclaim the seat, which Republican Sen. Joni Ernst chose not to seek again. Ernst succeeded retiring Democrat Tom Harkin in 2014. Republican Senate leaders have committed $29 million to Hinson, a northeast Iowa congresswoman, to preserve their narrow majority. Democrats view the race as a flip opportunity in the once-competitive state, even after President Donald Trump's double-digit presidential victory there and with an all-Republican federal delegation.

Early voting for the primary began Wednesday. Wahls and Turek have raised and spent comparable amounts, but the Democratic group VoteVets has poured about $7 million into supporting Turek in recent weeks, exceeding the candidates' combined spending. Turek, who is not a veteran, was born with spina bifida due to his father's exposure to chemicals during Vietnam War service....