Iowa Poll Shows Hinson Leading Turek for U.S. Senate, Sand Ahead of Lahn for Governor

The September Emerson College Polling/Nexstar Media Iowa survey indicates that Republican Ashley Hinson is leading Democrat Josh Turek in the U.S. Senate election, with support at 50% compared to Turek's 45%. Hinson's support increased by two points since August, while Turek's remained unchanged. In the gubernatorial race, Democrat Rob Sand leads Republican Zach Lahn by 49% to 46%, with 6% of voters undecided. Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, noted that approximately six percent of voters are supporting both Hinson for Senate and Sand for Governor. Independent voters favor Sand over Lahn by a 12-point margin, 51% to 39%, while Turek leads Hinson by two points among independents, 46% to 44%. President Trump has a 44% job approval rating among Iowa voters, with 52% disapproving of his performance. The poll also revealed that 62% of Iowa voters oppose the construction of data centers in their communities, while 24% support it. When asked about the impact of data centers, 60% believe they will negatively affect the environment, and 52% think they will increase the cost of living. Voters are divided on the impact of data centers on jobs, with 44% seeing a negative impact and 41% a positive one. Regarding tariffs, 58% of voters oppose the U.S. imposing tariffs on Canadian products, while 42% support them. The opinion on tariffs varies by party, with 92% of Democrats and 60% of independents opposing them, compared to 70% of Republicans supporting them. Additionally, 71% of Iowans are concerned about Canada's potential retaliatory tariffs of up to 50% on U.S. imports. Voters also oppose the use of automated cameras by police to photograph vehicles, with 61% against and 26% in favor. Furthermore, 96% of voters believe it is important for Iowa officials to address exposure to environmental contaminants such as PFAS, nitrates, radon, and pesticides. The Emerson College Polling Iowa survey was conducted from August 31 to September 1, 2026, with a sample size of 750 likely voters and a credibility interval of +/- 3.6 percent. The data was weighted based on U.S. Census parameters and voter file data, and the survey was conducted in English.