Democratic · Iowa
Josh Turek
U.S. Senator-elect from Iowa; Iowa state representative
WonJosh Turek, a Democratic state representative and two-time Paralympic gold medalist, is Iowa's U.S. Senator-elect. He beat Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson 50.5% to 46.4% on Nov. 3, 2026 (AP data via NBC News, 98.7% in), flipping the seat Sen. Joni Ernst left open.
2026 race
U.S. Senate, Iowa
Result Won Won (flip): Turek 50.5%, Hinson 46.4%
Biography
Turek, 47, of Council Bluffs, played professional wheelchair basketball in Europe and won Paralympic bronze in 2012 and gold in 2016 and 2020. Elected to the Iowa House in 2022, he became the legislature's first permanently disabled lawmaker. CBS News reported he campaigned on his record of working across the aisle. Iowa had not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 2008.
Positions
- Bipartisan record; pledged to work with the president (CBS News)
Record
- Iowa House of Representatives since 2023
- Four-time Paralympian; gold medals 2016 and 2020
Life & background
- A four-time Paralympian in wheelchair basketball, he won bronze in 2012 and gold in 2016 and 2020. [Source]
- He became the Iowa Legislature's first permanently disabled lawmaker. [Source]
Coverage
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