Josh Turek
Recent media appearances
Top articles
SemaforJosh Turek is running a radically centrist campaignOct 26, 2026
Dakota News Now (Gray Media Iowa State Capitol Bureau)How Josh Turek tries to connect with Iowans who haven't voted for Democrats latelyOct 22, 2026
NewsweekHinson, Turek clash in Iowa debate: Takeaways and latest pollsOct 14, 2026
WOWTWhere U.S. Senate candidates agreed and disagreed in 1st debateOct 8, 2026
Overview
Josh Turek is a Democratic state representative from Council Bluffs who has represented Iowa House District 20 since 2022, when he won his first race by six votes after a recount. littlevillagemag.com
Born with spina bifida, Turek played on the U.S. men's national wheelchair basketball team at four Paralympic Games, winning gold in 2016 and 2020. He has also worked as an assistive technology professional helping people obtain wheelchairs and mobility devices. littlevillagemag.com dakotanewsnow.com
He was the Democratic nominee for the open U.S. Senate seat held by retiring Sen. Joni Ernst, and ran against Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson and Libertarian Thomas Laehn. He describes himself as "proudly a moderate." dakotanewsnow.com semafor.com
Platform
- Proposes a federal ban on price gouging on food and a higher minimum wage tied to inflation.turek4iowa.com
- Proposes a public health insurance option and caps on prescription drug costs.turek4iowa.com
- Proposes banning members of Congress and their spouses from trading stocks and banning corporate PAC money in campaigns.turek4iowa.com
- Proposes a federal Right to Repair law for farmers and a crackdown on monopolies in agribusiness and meatpacking.turek4iowa.com
- Says his first bill would raise the federal minimum wage, end 14(c) subminimum wage certificates for workers with disabilities and include the PRO Act.kttc.com
- Says Social Security taxes should apply to all income and opposes raising the full-benefit age.wowt.com