Friends, I am excited to introduce you to one of the most inspiring candidates of the 2026 election cycle, State Rep. Josh Turek, our new nominee for US Senate in Iowa. You can find a recording and rough transcript of our conversation from earlier this afternoon above.
Josh has a remarkable story:
Josh Turek is a two-time Paralympic gold medalist for Team USA and a State Legislator who represents the reddest seat held by a Democrat in the state of Iowa. Born with spina bifida after his dad was exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam, Josh overcame 21 surgeries by the age of 12 to eventually represent the U.S. at four Paralympics.
Here is Josh’s take on the general election in Iowa (from our interview):
I would say that all of the stars have perfectly aligned here in Iowa. Unfortunately, we’re a state that has really bottomed out. We are basically dead last for economic growth, one of two states in an economic decline… basically dead last for nearly every health care metric, a state that’s closed 250 more health care clinics than we’ve opened in the last 15 years. And because of the tariffs, we now lead the nation in farm foreclosures and we’re seeing farm suicide rates skyrocketing, which has really led to to a “farmageddon,” a second farm crisis here in Iowa.
You’ve got this opportunity where it’s the first time since 1968 - an open governor’s race, along with an open Senate race, and two open congressional races. You’ve got great candidates like myself and Rob Sand with proven results to be able to win over, you know, the 37% of Iowa voters that are Independents and moderate Republicans…
It’s really an amazing opportunity.
To help Josh seize this “amazing opportunity” please consider donating to him today. You can also learn more about Josh and volunteer by heading to his campaign’s website.
Here is a video his campaign released right after his primary win last week that helps you get to know Josh and his opponent Rep. Ashley Hinson:
Here’s a great take on the race from CNN: A Paralympian and ‘prairie populist’: How this Iowa Senate candidate is trying to spark a rural revival for Democrats
Josh is running against Rep. Ashley Hinson, who just won the primary to fill the Senate seat left open by the retirement of Senator Joni Ernst. Like other Republican House Members running this year she will have to defend her votes for the tariffs, for the war, for gutting health care and food stamps, and for enormous tax cuts for wealthy people like her and Donald Trump - and that won’t be easy.
Here is something the campaign has put out regarding Hinson and the state of the race:
ASHLEY HINSON HAS REPEATEDLY SOLD OUT IOWANS TO ENRICH HERSELF AND HER DONORS
Ashley Hinson is a uniquely vulnerable Republican, and her party knows it, which is why they have nearly $40 million in reservations booked for the fall. With a net worth up to 100x higher than the median Iowa household, multi-millionaire Ashley Hinson is out of touch with everyday Iowans. Her favorability is underwater, most notably with Independents, who “view her negatively by more than a 2-to-1 margin.” Hinson has called herself an unpopular president’s “strongest ally,” even as Iowans are hurting. Our campaign will spend the next 153 days connecting her exceptionally bad voting record that has hurt Iowans with her clear prioritization of enriching herself and her fellow 1% donors. Polling already shows that Josh bests Hinson once voters hear equal positive messages and attacks on each candidate. The bottom line: Our campaign will leverage Josh’s compelling personal story and proven ability to connect with Republicans and Independents to capitalize on a favorable political environment and a vulnerable Hinson to win in November.
Trump’s favorability is underwater in Iowa, a state he won by 13 points in 2024. Republican-passed healthcare cuts have devastated an already broken, heavily rural healthcare system. The Middle East war is driving gas prices past $4/gallon in Iowa, with diesel even higher. Iowa’s agricultural economy is getting hammered by tariffs as farm foreclosures skyrocket. The state is dead last for economic growth, 48th for personal income growth, and one of the only states with a growing cancer rate. As a result, Iowa is home to the nation’s most unpopular Governor. What’s more: in the last Trump midterm, Democrats won three of the four Congressionals, and in 2022, Democrats nearly won three statewide offices. In this Trump midterm with an Iowa that is hurting like never before, voters know the status quo is failing them.
Friends, I am excited to introduce you to Rep. Josh Turek today. He’s another of the many inspiring Americans we’ve met who’ve stepped up to run in red states and red places this cycle. He has a real shot here, and I hope you will lend your support to him today……
Keep working hard all. We have a country to save, a democracy to protect, and great candidates like Josh to help elect, together! Simon
Bio - State Representative Josh Turek, U.S. Senate Candidate In Iowa
Josh Turek is a two-time Paralympic gold medalist for Team USA and a State Legislator who represents the reddest seat held by a Democrat in the state of Iowa. Born with spina bifida after his dad was exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam, Josh overcame 21 surgeries by the age of 12 to eventually represent the U.S. at four Paralympics.
After his basketball career ended with a gold medal in Tokyo in 2021, Josh ran to represent his hometown of Council Bluffs in the legislature. Running in a seat that Donald Trump had already won twice, Josh pushed his chair up hills and crawled up stairs to talk to Iowans of all political stripes, eventually winning by six votes. He was re-elected by a five point margin at the same time Trump was winning the seat by eight points, not only because of his work ethic but because he’s developed a reputation as a common-sense, bipartisan legislator.
Josh is committed to shaping economic policy decisions that benefit the middle class and workers rather than Wall Street and billionaire donors. Josh is committed to alleviating the economic pressures faced by increasingly cash-strapped Iowans and their families. He is a strong supporter of public education and has been a vocal opponent to school vouchers. He has been and continues to be a relentless advocate for major reform to Iowa’s broken health care system. He is a strong proponent of meaningful and effective environmental protection - especially the air, food, and water we all rely on.
While playing professional basketball, Josh began as the Volunteer Director for the Ryan Martin Foundation, an organization providing disabled children opportunities to play sports for free. He also worked with patients and doctors at a wheelchair and mobility assistance company, to provide mobility devices and complex rehab technology to people with disabilities. In this role, Josh recognized major shortfalls in our health care system - routinely failing the most vulnerable in our society.
Josh lives in Council Bluffs with his wife Jarolin, who is an immigrant and now a U.S. citizen, working in health care.
Learn more about Rep. Turek and his campaign for U.S. Senate here.
