'All eyes are on Iowa this year' as Democrats hope to turn red seats blue

Democrats hope the road to control of Congress runs through the state.

The keys to the control of Congress might run through the Midwest, including Iowa, despite the state reliably voting red over the last decade.

There are open U.S. Senate and governor seats in the state for the first time in decades, along with some competitive congressional races that could reshape the balance of power in Washington.

In a midterm election year when voters historically check the party in power, Democrats are feeling bullish about their prospects. They are seizing on the president's low favorability ratings, growing concerns over healthcare cuts, tariffs, and rising fuel and fertilizer prices hitting the agriculture sector.

Republicans represent Iowa’s entire congeressional delegation and won a statehouse trifecta in 2016. Statewide, registered Republicans outnumber Democrats, but total "no party" voters surpass both in three of the state's four congressional districts.

On Tuesday, voters from both major parties will decide their nominees in what could be an early test of President Donald Trump's influence and who might best be suited to defend or challenge his policies.

"All eyes are on Iowa this year," said Erin Moynihan, a senior adviser to the Iowa Democratic Party. "I think that there's multiple opportunities in Iowa to win and to really bring back the Democratic majority in D.C."

For Democrats, flipping the Senate seat held by outgoing Republican Joni Ernst is a tall task. No Democrat has been elected to the seat since 2008 -- when Barack Obama won the presidential race in the state. But national groups from both sides of the aisle have already pledged to invest millions in the race, suggesting it could be competitive.

State Rep. Josh Turek and state Sen. Zach Wahls are fighting for the Democratic nomination. They have sparred over outside spending in the race and ways to address inaction in Washington.

Turek, 47, is campaigning on a "prairie populism" platform and boasts his electability, having prevailed over his Republican opponent in a conservative district. Wahls, 34, is vowing to put "Iowans over insiders" and end corruption.

The victor will likely compete against Trump-endorsed Rep. Ashley Hinson. She is looking to fend off a challenge from Jim Carlin, a former state senator and Army veteran.

With Hinson running for the Senate, her seat in the 2nd Congressional District is up for grabs. Trump-endorsed former state Rep. Joe Mitchell has significantly outraised his primary opponent, state Sen. Charlie McClintock.

Some Democrats have leaned into th