Josh Turek has won the Iowa Democratic Senate primary and will face Republican Ashley Hinson in the general election. On The Bulwark Podcast, host Tim Miller introduced Turek as a "Paralympic gold medalist and state legislator" who is now the "Democratic nominee for the US Senate in Iowa." Miller noted that this matchup "could be a key race for control of the Senate."
During his appearance on the show, Josh Turek shared his working-class roots in Council Bluffs and detailed his personal history. "I was born with my disability. I was born with a condition called spina bifida. It's due to my father's exposure to Agent Orange in, in Vietnam," Turek explained, describing how he underwent twenty-one surgeries before the age of twelve.
National Democrats are quickly rallying behind his campaign's unique appeal. On Pod Save America, host Tommy Vietor praised Turek’s background, calling his life story "incredibly gritty" and describing him as a "determined guy" who got cut from the Paralympic team six times before finally winning gold. With backing from national groups, Turek's campaign represents a major test of whether a high-profile, unconventional candidate can flip a red-leaning seat.