Former Paralympian Josh Turek Aims to Flip Iowa Senate Seat Using Tariff Anger
Josh Turek, a Democrat and former Paralympic basketball champion, is embarking on a formidable political challenge: winning Iowa's open U.S. Senate seat. In an exclusive interview with The Independent, Turek outlined why Democrats might finally have a shot at victory in this traditionally conservative state, pointing to economic discontent over tariffs as a key factor.
From Gold Medals to the Campaign Trail
Turek, a native of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and current state legislator, has competed in four Paralympic Games, securing two gold medals in basketball. He expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming Winter Paralympics, noting sports like sled hockey and monoskis skiing. However, his current pursuit—capturing a Senate seat for Democrats—presents an even tougher battle than athletic competition.
Democrats hold 47 Senate seats and need to flip several to regain the majority. While targets include Maine and North Carolina, red states like Iowa are critical. Iowa has not elected a Democratic senator since Tom Harkin in 2008, the same year Barack Obama won the state by nine points. Since then, Republican dominance has grown, with Donald Trump winning Iowa in 2016, 2020, and 2024, and the GOP now controlling all four congressional seats.
A Unique Political Opportunity
Turek believes Democrats have a unique opening due to the retirement of Republican Governor Kim Reynolds and the open Senate seat after Senator Joni Ernst declined to run. "This is the first time since 1968 we've got an open Senate seat with an open governor's race, and then we've got two open congressional seats, and so there's no power of incumbency," he explained.
He argues that Iowa's economic struggles, exacerbated by Trump-era tariffs, could sway voters. The Supreme Court struck down initial tariffs, but Trump later imposed a 15 percent tariff for 150 days, hitting Iowa's soybean farmers hard. China has reduced purchases, leading to higher input prices and economic distress in rural areas.
"When you go out in rural Iowa, you see farm foreclosures and dramatically higher farm suicides," Turek said. "These communities are really hurting." He criticized Trump-endorsed Senate candidate Rep. Ashley Hinson for not voting to repeal the tariffs in Congress.
Primary Challenges and Policy Priorities
Turek faces a competitive primary against state senator Zach Wahls, but has gained endorsements from former candidates JD Scholten and Nathan Sage. He positions himself as an authentic alternative to "cookie-cutter Democrats" from privileged backgrounds. "What people want is real. They want authentic," he stated.
Born with spina bifida, Turek often crawls up stairs in his wheelchair to campaign door-to-door, an effort he says resonates with voters. "They say, 'You're an old school Democrat, an FDR Democrat, a JFK Democrat'—the definitions are irrelevant," he noted. "We need candidates focusing on the middle class and workers."
His policy agenda includes:
- Raising the minimum wage and eliminating subminimum wages for people with disabilities.
- Providing collective bargaining rights for all workers.
- Preventing Wall Street firms from buying single-family homes.
- Repealing Medicaid cuts from the One Big, Beautiful Bill, which threatened funding for rural hospitals.
Turek highlighted criticism of Senator Ernst during Medicaid debates, where she remarked, "We all are going to die," before announcing her retirement months later.
An Uphill Battle in a Red State
Despite the optimism, Iowa remains a steep challenge for Democrats. Trump won the state by 13.3 points in 2024, a swing of over 20 points since Obama's 2008 victory. However, Turek points to his representation of one of Iowa's reddest legislative districts as evidence of his appeal. "We aren't a red state, we're a common sense state that has masqueraded more red than what we are," he asserted.
With the Paralympics showcasing resilience, Turek's campaign embodies a similar spirit, aiming to turn tariff anger into a Democratic victory in deep-red Iowa.
