Democrats Josh Turek, J.D. Scholten team up to build momentum in U.S. Senate race

State Rep. Josh Turek has quickly built momentum for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate after launching his campaign Aug. 12.

Turek hosted a "homecoming campaign event" on Monday evening in Council Bluffs, following a swing through the Iowa State Fair and the Democratic Wing Ding dinner last weekend.

The Council Bluffs event drew a crowd of more than 50 people, leaving standing room only.

Turek, who lives in Council Bluffs, kicked off the event by greeting each guest individually as they entered. State Rep. J.D. Scholten of Sioux City — who dropped out of the race earlier in the day — then took the stage to offer an in-person endorsement of Turek.

Turek shared his personal story with the audience while touching on topics his campaign has focused on, including affordable housing and health care.

Born with spina bifida, Turek had 21 surgeries before age 12 and uses a wheelchair as the first permanently disabled member in the history of the Iowa Legislature. Turek has used his personal experiences to build his political platform.

“We're a common-sense state, and I'm a common-sense prairie populist," Turek said. "I think that people are going to appreciate my story. There's a genuineness, and there's an authenticity to me. I practice what I preach, but I'm going to get out there, and I'm going to talk about lowering costs for folks."

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Scholten had been actively campaigning for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican Sen. Joni Ernst, but he dropped out Monday morning to endorse Turek.

“There are many reasons why, but I'll start with first — this is out of friendship,” Scholten said. “When I launched this race, I was convinced that a western Iowa athlete who's a prairie populist could win this race. And the thing is, they still can. It's just not me.”

Scholten told the audience that recent passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” in the Republican-led Congress was a key factor in his decision to leave the race.

“One of the biggest components of that (bill), and the biggest impacts of Iowa on that, is the cuts to Medicaid,” Scholten said. "It is going to devastate rural hospitals. It's going to devastate all of our health care. I am convinced that that's going to be one of the key issues in the 2026 election. And I'm also convinced that there's not a better Democrat in Iowa or the country that can speak about Medicaid as Josh."

Ernst, who supported the One Bill Beautiful Bill Act, has not yet announced whether she will seek re-election in 2026.

Scholten said he was “completely comfortable” stepping away from the race and believes that working with Turek will be more beneficial than trying to compete.

“When it comes to this talk about Medicaid, when it impacts your whole livelihood, that's something I cannot talk about,” Scholten said. "So I'd rather join forces this early on to win this race, rather than do a long, drawn out battle primary."

Scholten said he is along for the ride, so whatever Turek needs to help his campaign, Scholten is ready to jump in and help.

'Fighting for the most vulnerable'

Turek preaches that one of his priorities is to look after everyday Iowans — something that he feels current lawmakers have forgotten.

“We deserve to have a representative, we deserve to have a senator that is out there that is fighting for these social safety nets, that is fighting for the people, that is fighting for social and economic justice, for women's rights, for the immigrant community, fighting for the most vulnerable, for the poor children, for the elderly, for the disabled,” Turek said.

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With the struggles that Turek has faced throughout his life, he thinks he has a good understanding of what people want from their elected officials.

“As someone that has overcome an enormous amount of economic adversity early in my life, and then also on a health care struggle, I understand some of what struggles people here are going through on a deep and personal level,” Turek said.

Turek is looking at how to drive down costs for Iowans while increasing access to health care and the affordability of prescription drugs. Turek also would like to address rising cancer rates in the state, water quality and the education system.

“I am only here because of the social safety nets like Medicaid, like vocational rehabilitation, like the (federal Americans with Disabilities Act), and we're seeing all of these social safety nets being eroded and defunded,” Turek said.

'I believe in checks and balances'

Asked by the Nonpareil about President Donald Trump’s recent deployment of the National Guard in Washington, D.C., Turek said that while he supports having safe communities, he does not support overreach.

“Certainly, we want to be able to have safe communities,” Turek said. “I believe in checks and balances, and I don't want to see an imperial executive branch overstepping.”

Turek also was asked to share his thoughts on the U.S. role in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war amid reports of civilians in Gaza being caught in the crossfire — including denials of the starvation caused by the conflict and restrictions on international aid efforts imposed by Israel.

Turek said that while Israel remains an ally to the U.S., there are limits to what the U.S. should be doing.

“The response at this point has been disproportionate," Turek said. "And I don't think that taxpayer dollars or United States support should be going toward the hurting or killing of children or civilians or certainly not impeding aid going into these areas.”

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