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Josh Turek Will Seek US Senate Seat in November

The Council Bluffs lawmaker secured the Democratic nomination for the November 3, 2026, general election.

Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a ballot box in a cornfield, symbolizing the Iowa US Senate race.
Iowa state lawmaker Josh Turek secured the Democratic nomination for the November 3, 2026, general election for the US Senate. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Democratic state lawmaker Josh Turek is set to compete in the Iowa US Senate general election on November 3, 2026. Turek is vying to fill the seat currently held by retiring Republican Senator Joni Ernst.

Why it matters

The outcome of this race will determine the balance of power in the US Senate for the upcoming term. Turek faces a competitive challenge in a district that notably supported Donald Trump by eight percentage points in 2024.

Turek previously won his first legislative election by a narrow margin of six votes in 2022. The 47-year-old candidate also holds a record of 4,024 points and 1,213 rebounds from his college basketball career.

The players

Josh Turek

He is an Iowa state legislator representing Council Bluffs and a two-time Paralympic gold medalist.

Joni Ernst

She is the Republican Senator from Iowa whose retirement has triggered this open election.

Ashley Hinson

She is a candidate for the US Senate seat in the November 2026 general election.

Thomas Laehn

He is a candidate for the US Senate seat in the November 2026 general election.

Donald Trump

He is the current President of the United States.

The details

Turek represents Council Bluffs in the state legislature and secured re-election in 2024. A former Paralympic athlete who competed in four Games, Turek graduated from Southwest Minnesota State University in 2002.

Timeline

  1. 2022: Turek won his first state legislative race.

  2. January 2023: Turek took office in the Iowa legislature.

  3. 2024: Turek won re-election to the state legislature.

  4. June 2, 2026: Turek won the Democratic Senate nomination.

  5. November 3, 2026: The US Senate general election occurs.

Political Context

Critics of the Democratic platform argue that Turek faces a steep uphill battle given that Donald Trump carried his legislative district by eight points in 2024. Opponents contend that Iowa remains firmly Republican, suggesting the state party will struggle to regain a Senate majority.

Iowans heading to the polls on November 3 will decide the legislative representative for a vacant US Senate seat. This election will directly influence federal policy regarding agricultural subsidies, healthcare, and tax regulations for state residents.

The takeaway

Tureks transition from Paralympic sports to legislative politics highlights a unique path to public office. Voters should review candidate platforms to understand how their priorities on regional issues align with the broader national agenda.

Further reading

Find more updates on the state race on our Iowa Elections page.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Economic Times.

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