Iowa Senate Candidate Josh Turek Faces Scrutiny Over Stance on Illegal Immigrant Welfare
Iowa Democratic Senate candidate Josh Turek is under pressure regarding his previous support for taxpayer welfare benefits for illegal immigrants. A campaign event featuring local farmers was recently canceled, and one of the speakers criticized Turek for his voting history during his time in the Iowa House.
Colt Holub, a farmer from Tama County, expressed concerns, stating, “We can’t have Josh Turek as our next senator because he’ll be in direct conflict with socialists who raise taxes, attack agriculture, and raise the cost of living,” as reported by KCRG-TV.
Although Turek’s campaign claims to oppose benefits for illegal immigrants, records show he voted in favor of such measures earlier this year. In fact, his voting history indicates support for taxpayer funding tied to initiatives benefiting illegal immigrants.
That’s not the only troubling aspect of Turek’s campaign. He also previously advocated for overturning tax cuts aimed at working families, which included important provisions like tax exemptions for tips, overtime pay, and Social Security. “We have to overturn this big, beautiful bill,” he remarked during a Democratic primary debate.
There seems to be a visible effort by Turek to downplay his progressive policies to appeal to Iowa voters. After years in Congress, he is attempting to present himself as more moderate by distancing himself from issues like taxpayer benefits for illegal immigrants, farmer assistance, and tax cuts.
Turek has also voiced support for the federal farm bill, which has yet to receive a vote, stressing the need for it to align with state laws while representing Iowans.
Moreover, reports indicate that Turek often failed to attend his responsibilities, missing a significant vote in 2024 regarding citizenship and public assistance eligibility, as well as a later vote on verifying the citizenship status of Iowa voters.
During the first half of 2026, he missed nearly 60 percent of votes yet still collected over $20,000 in per diem compensation.
As a two-time gold medalist and wheelchair basketball player, Turek has been part of the Iowa House of Representatives since 2023. He is set to compete against Republican Ashley Hinson, a former journalist and Iowa House representative who was elected to the Iowa House District 2 seat in 2020.
