Polling Average
50%40%30%20%10%0%
37.6%
35.4%
Democrat
Josh Turek
Democrat
Josh Turek
Iowa Democratic Senate nominee?
$106.1K
JUN 9, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleState Representative
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
Age47 years old (Apr 12, 1979)
GenderMale
Show moreShow less
LocationIowa
BackgroundPolitician
EducationB.A., History, Southwest Minnesota State University (2002)
Notable personal detailsJoshua Mark Turek is an American politician and wheelchair basketball player who has served as a Democratic member of the Iowa House of Representatives (District 20). He is a two-time Paralympic gold medalist with the U.S. men’s wheelchair basketball team and has been a wheelchair user since childhood due to spina bifida. In 2026, he ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Iowa.
SourcesShowHide
en.wikipedia.orglegis.iowa.govsos.iowa.govradioiowa.comiowacapitaldispatch.comwashingtonexaminer.comkttc.comwashingtonpost.comiowapublicradio.orgkcrg.comjoshturek.comap.orgaxios.comtheatlantic.comapnews.comtime.comturek4iowa.comthegazette.comkcci.combleedingheartland.comrepbio.orglegiscan.comyahoo.comiowastartingline.compunchbowl.newsnytimes.comcbs2iowa.comdesmoinesregister.comtheguardian.comcbsnews.comnews.ballotpedia.orgpolitico.comthehill.comreuters.comfacebook.cominstagram.comballotready.orgfec.govsenate.govncsl.orgdocquery.fec.govharder.house.govcongress.govcha.house.govdemocrats.senate.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports protecting social safety-net programs and opposes tax cuts that primarily benefit billionaires and large corporations; emphasizes lowering costs for families, raising the minimum wage, and supporting farmers and small businesses. Advocates using government policy to preserve and expand programs such as Medicaid and ACA subsidies rather than pursuing tax cuts for the wealthy.
Healthcare
Supports affordable, accessible health care and protection of Affordable Care Act subsidies; describes health care as a human right and opposes policies that privatize or cut Medicaid and other safety-net programs. Focuses on preventing rural hospital closures and expanding government-backed assistance to lower costs and increase access.
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Immigration & Border
Supports protections for immigrant families and criticizes aggressive federal ICE actions while acknowledging the need for immigration laws targeting violent criminals. Emphasizes local control and community safety over expansive federal enforcement. Frames immigration policy with a humanitarian focus given personal family ties to immigrants.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports restoring broader abortion access in Iowa, has called for codifying Roe v. Wade at the federal level, and filed legislation to overturn the state’s six‑week abortion ban. Frames the six‑week ban as harmful to health care access and maternal care in Iowa.
Climate & Energy
States support for “meaningful and effective environmental protection,” with emphasis on air, food, and water, but public materials do not specify detailed climate or energy policies such as emissions targets, fossil-fuel phase-out, carbon pricing, or major clean-energy programs.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 4, 2026
Josh Turek won the Democratic nomination for Iowa’s open U.S. Senate seat, defeating state Sen. Zach Wahls and setting up a general election against Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson. The race is being watched closely because Democrats see it as a possible pickup, but early polling and prediction markets still lean Republican. Recent coverage also notes that Turek emerged from a contested primary that drew attention to Democratic strategy in the state.
en.wikipedia.org+44
Articles
NNewsweek1 month ago
Democrats’ Chances of Flipping Trump Stronghold That Obama Won Twice
Neutral
TAThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution1 month ago
Democrat Josh Turek and GOP's Ashley Hinson to compete for pivotal US Senate seat in Iowa
Positive
DQDavenport Quad-City Times1 month ago
Josh Turek claims Iowa Senate primary victory
Positive
TAThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution1 month ago
Iowa state lawmaker Josh Turek wins Democratic nomination for US Senate
Positive
Polls
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
Iowa Democratic Senate nominee?
Endorsers of Josh Turek for Iowa Democratic Senate nominee?
Pete Buttigieg
Political organization
Pete Buttigieg endorsed Josh Turek's U.S. Senate campaign.
Nathan Sage
Political organization
Nathan Sage endorsed Josh Turek's U.S. Senate campaign after exiting the race.
J.D. Scholten
Public endorsement
J.D. Scholten endorsed Josh Turek after ending his own 2026 Iowa U.S. Senate bid.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Total raisedCash on hand
$3.5M
$2.6M
$1.7M
$865.8K
$0
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2026
$3.5M
$726.4K
$2.7M
$161.0K
Source: FEC