Josh Turek Flips Iowa Senate Seat
Paralympian Josh Turek has won his latest match—a victory against Iowa GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson to become the state’s junior senator–elect, NBC News and Decision Desk HQ projected Tuesday night: Turek, a Iowa state legislator long seen as a prime candidate to help flip the Senate for Democrats, campaigned as a moderate with an emphasis […]
Josh Turek, a Paralympic athlete born with spina bifida, has flipped the Iowa Senate seat after a closely contested battle against Republican Ashley Hinson. Both candidates campaigned as moderates, with Turek focusing on issues like Medicaid cuts under the Trump administration. The race saw a back-and-forth in polls, with the final New York Times/Siena poll showing Turek leading 48% to Hinson's 47%.
Turek's personal experiences, including his 21 surgeries and family's struggles with poverty, underscored his commitment to reversing Medicaid cuts. He was endorsed by former Sen. Tom Harkin and disability advocates like Tammy Duckworth and Barack Obama. Trump, on the other hand, supported Hinson, emphasizing the importance of a Republican victory for the country.
A key factor for Turek was his emphasis on reversing Medicaid cuts, which resonated with farmers and families relying on these services. Although Turek faced criticism for not fully supporting transgender rights, he maintained a balanced stance on government coverage of gender-affirming care. As a result, he became the first Democratic senator from Iowa since Harkin's retirement in 2015.
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