Paralympian Josh Turek Joins Democratic Field to Challenge Iowa’s Ernst

Iowa state representative Josh Turek said Tuesday he will seek the Democratic nomination for the state’s 2026 U.S. Senate contest, setting up a potential challenge to two-term Republican Sen. Joni Ernst. Turek, 46, is a former wheelchair-basketball star who won two Paralympic gold medals for the United States. His entry makes him the fifth prominent Democrat in the race, joining State Sen. Zach Wahls, Des Moines School Board Chair Jackie Norris, former professional baseball player and State Rep. J.D. Scholten, and Iraq War veteran Nathan Sage. The size of the Democratic field underscores the party’s belief that Iowa could be its third-strongest pickup opportunity in 2026, behind North Carolina and Maine. Democrats must gain four seats to retake control of a Senate now split 53–47 in favor of Republicans. Ernst has hired campaign staff but has not formally announced whether she will seek a third term. Her decision will shape what is already emerging as one of the more competitive races in a cycle that will determine control of the chamber.