Josh Turek
Josh Turek | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Iowa House of Representatives from the 20th district | |
| Assumed office January 9, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Charlie McConkey |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joshua Mark Turek April 12, 1979 Council Bluffs, Iowa, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Jarolin |
| Relatives | John (brother) |
| Education | Southwest Minnesota State University (BA) DeVry University (MBA) |
| Sports career | |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Sport | Wheelchair basketball |
| Disability | Spina bifida |
| Disability class | 3.5 |
| Coached by | Ron Lykins |
Medal record | |
Joshua Mark Turek[1] (born April 12, 1979) is an American politician and wheelchair basketball player serving as a member of the Iowa House of Representatives from the 20th district. Turek played for the U.S. men's national wheelchair basketball team. A moderate Democrat,[2] he is a candidate in the 2026 United States Senate election in Iowa.
Early life, family and education
[edit]![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2025) |
Turek was born with spina bifida and has been a wheelchair user since childhood.[3] He has a brother brother, John, and sister, Elisha.[4]
Athletic career
[edit] | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2025) |
Turek has represented the US in wheelchair basketball at the Summer Paralympics four times. His team won the bronze medal in 2012 and gold medals in 2016 and 2020.[5]
His brother John and sister Elisha were professional basketball players.[4]
Political career
[edit]Turek announced he was running for Iowa's 20th House of Representatives district in March 2022.[6] After a recount requested by his Republican opponent Sarah Abdouch, it was confirmed Turek won the election by six votes.[7][8] He took office on January 9, 2023. Turek has worked extensively as an advocate for disabled people. He is the Iowa legislature's first permanently disabled member.[9]
In August 2025, Turek announced his candidacy in Iowa's 2026 U.S. Senate election.[10]
Political views
[edit]Turek has called himself a "common-sense" moderate Democrat and "prairie populist".[11][12]
He opposes school vouchers and cuts to Medicaid.[1]
Israel–Palestine conflict
[edit]On August 18, 2025, Turek was asked about his views on the Gaza war, starvation in Gaza, and the humanitarian crisis. He said that Israel remains a U.S. ally but that there should be limits to U.S. aid to Israel, adding, "The response at this point has been disproportionate, and I don't think that taxpayer dollars or United States support should be going toward the hurting or killing of children or civilians or certainly not impeding aid going into these areas."[11]
References
[edit]- ^ a b https://www.turek4iowa.com/meet-josh
- ^ "Turek, in announcing U.S. Senate run, says Iowans want a moderate Democrat". Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ^ Simmons, Taj (October 2, 2022). "Champion Paralympian from Iowa shares spina bifida story". who13.com. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
- ^ a b "Josh Turek". TeamUSA.org. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
- ^ "Wheelchair Basketball - Joshua Turek". olympics.com. Tokyo 2020 Paralympics,Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
- ^ Brownlee, Mike (March 10, 2022). "Turek announces run for Iowa House District 20". The Daily Nonpareil. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
- ^ Golbitz, David (November 24, 2022). "District 20 recount confirms Turek victory by miniscule margin". The Daily Nonpareil. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
- ^ "2022 Iowa State House - District 20 Election Results". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. January 6, 2023. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ "Meet Iowa Legislature's new, diverse lawmakers". The Des Moines Register. January 8, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
- ^ Opsahl, Robin (August 12, 2025). "Iowa Rep. Josh Turek, two-time Paralympian, launches campaign for U.S. Senate". KCCI. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
- ^ a b "Democrats Turek, Scholten team up to build campaign momentum". Retrieved 2025-08-27.
- ^ "Turek, in announcing U.S. Senate run, says Iowans want a moderate Democrat". Retrieved 2025-08-28.