Buttigieg Endorses Josh Turek in 2026 Iowa Senate Primary, Reversing March Stance
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · May 13
Buttigieg Endorses Josh Turek in 2026 Iowa Senate Primary, Reversing March Stance
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · May 13
Pete Buttigieg backed Josh Turek in Iowa’s heated 2026 Democratic Senate primary, giving Turek a high-profile endorsement in a race that could shape the party’s standing in the state.
Buttigieg said Turek is running the same broad coalition strategy that powered his 2020 Iowa caucus win, reaching rural towns and cities while appealing to Democrats, independents and some Republicans.
The move marks a reversal from March, when Buttigieg said endorsing in contested primaries in Iowa or Michigan was "not in my plans," and it risks alienating supporters of rival candidate Zach Wahls.
Turek already has support from Sens. Tammy Duckworth, Catherine Cortez Masto and Maggie Hassan, as well as former Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin, the last Democrat to hold the seat.
The endorsement also lands as Iowa Democrats push to regain an early presidential nominating slot after the state lost its front-of-the-line status following the 2020 caucus reporting debacle.
Can a campaign playbook from a past presidential caucus really secure a victory in Iowa's current political climate?
How does a Paralympic champion's discipline translate into a winning strategy for a statewide campaign in Iowa?