Prediction Edge
Democrat
Josh Turek

Overview

Current roleState Representative

PartyDemocratic

Political ideologyModerate Democrat

Age47 years old (Apr 12, 1979)

GenderMale

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LocationIowa

BackgroundPolitician

EducationAbraham Lincoln High School (Council Bluffs, Iowa)

Notable personal detailsJoshua Mark Turek is an American politician and Paralympic wheelchair basketball player serving in the Iowa House of Representatives (District 20). Born with spina bifida, he competed for Team USA in wheelchair basketball and won Paralympic gold medals (2016 and 2020) and a bronze medal (2012). He was first elected to the Iowa House in 2022 and later became a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Iowa's 2026 election cycle.

SourcesShow

Positions

LiberalConservative

Economy & Taxes

Supports protecting social safety-net programs and opposes tax cuts that primarily benefit billionaires and large corporations; emphasizes lowering costs for families, raising the minimum wage, and supporting farmers and small businesses. Advocates using government policy to preserve and expand programs such as Medicaid and ACA subsidies rather than pursuing tax cuts for the wealthy.

Healthcare

Supports affordable, accessible health care and protection of Affordable Care Act subsidies; describes health care as a human right and opposes policies that privatize or cut Medicaid and other safety-net programs. Focuses on preventing rural hospital closures and expanding government-backed assistance to lower costs and increase access.

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Immigration & Border

Supports protections for immigrant families and criticizes aggressive federal ICE actions while acknowledging the need for immigration laws targeting violent criminals. Emphasizes local control and community safety over expansive federal enforcement. Frames immigration policy with a humanitarian focus given personal family ties to immigrants.

Abortion & Reproductive Rights

Supports restoring broader abortion access in Iowa, has called for codifying Roe v. Wade at the federal level, and filed legislation to overturn the state’s six‑week abortion ban. Frames the six‑week ban as harmful to health care access and maternal care in Iowa.

Climate & Energy

States support for “meaningful and effective environmental protection,” with emphasis on air, food, and water, but public materials do not specify detailed climate or energy policies such as emissions targets, fossil-fuel phase-out, carbon pricing, or major clean-energy programs.

News

AINews Summary
Last updatedMar 12, 2026

Josh Turek is appearing in coverage tied to the run-up to Texas’s March 3, 2026 primary elections, with early voting running from Feb. 17 to 27. Early voting turnout has been notably high, with Democratic primary participation surpassing past cycles and outpacing Republican primary votes in unofficial state data. The primary could lead to May 26 runoffs if no candidate wins a majority.

en.wikipedia.org+35

Polls

Polling Average
50%40%30%20%10%0%
37.6%
35.4%
Josh Turek
J. Turek
Zach Wahls
Z. Wahls
Date (Start - End)SpreadTurekWahls
Polling Average
Turek+2.1
37.6%35.4%
Public Policy PollingMay 20 - 21
Turek+21.0
52.0%31.0%
Public Policy PollingMay 5 - 6
Turek+26.0
53.0%27.0%
FM3 ResearchApr 21 - 23
Turek+20.0
48.0%28.0%
Bedrock PollingMar 26 - 26
Wahls+18.0
38.0%56.0%
FM3 ResearchMar 11 - 14
Wahls+9.0
25.0%34.0%
GQRFeb 18 - 22
Wahls+18.0
24.0%42.0%
NRSCFeb 16 - 18
Wahls+7.0
23.0%30.0%

Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne

Endorsements

Iowa Democratic Senate nominee?

Endorsers of Josh Turek for Iowa Democratic Senate nominee?

Tom Harkin

Public figure

Tom Harkin endorsed Josh Turek for the 2026 Iowa U.S. Senate race.

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Fundraising

Latest report: Cycle 2026
Total raisedCash on hand
$3.5M
$2.6M
$1.7M
$865.8K
$0

2026

Latest
Year
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate

Cycle 2026

$3.5M
$726.4K
$2.7M
$161.0K

Source: FEC