Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 1
Josh Turek Campaigns for Open Iowa Senate Seat as Joni Ernst's 1 Retirement Lifts Democrats
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 1

Josh Turek Campaigns for Open Iowa Senate Seat as Joni Ernst's 1 Retirement Lifts Democrats

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 1
  • Josh Turek, a U.S. Paralympic champion, is campaigning door-to-door for Iowa’s open Senate seat, pitching himself to voters as an outsider rather than an establishment Democrat.
  • Joni Ernst’s retirement created the opening, giving Democrats a rare chance to compete in a state that has voted for Donald Trump 3 times.
  • Iowa Democrats see a possible path because some voters are frustrated by tariffs, rising fertilizer costs and higher gas prices tied to the Iran war.
  • The race lacks the blockbuster fundraising and ideological clashes seen in other Senate primaries, but party officials still view Iowa as a long-shot pickup opportunity in a difficult cycle for Republicans.
With farm costs soaring, can one candidate's 'rural revival' plan reverse the economic tide for Iowans?
Can a celebrated Paralympian's personal story overcome a state's challenging political landscape?