Trump-backed candidate in Iowa loses primary

It must be tempting for Iowans to believe they exist in the national imagination only for the duration of the fabled presidential election year caucuses, when the candidates and world media rush to the breadbasket for snowy January vistas and wholesome town halls and kitchen tables, with corn dogs and plaid shirts and John Deere caps and lonesome fields to present themselves as champions of the American pastoral.

Iowa voters cast their ballots in Tuesday’s heated primaries for months of fervent campaigning ahead of the November midterms, contests that could determine the balance of power in Congress.

Iowa state Representative Josh Turek is officially the Democratic nominee for Senate after winning his primary, but he may have a tough road ahead of him if he wants to beat Republican Representative Ashley Hinson.

The primary loss for Representative Randy Feenstra, whom the president endorsed on Friday afternoon, came at a time of mixed signals of Mr. Trump’s power over the Republican Party.