BS BULLETIN:
- Iowa Democratic Senate nominee Josh Turek is campaigning as a “common sense prairie populist” capable of winning Trump voters in November.
- But an official legislative newsletter directed immigrants to ACLU guidance on dealing with ICE amid Trump’s immigration crackdown.
- Turek has also called for an “easier pathway to citizenship” for illegal immigrants — potentially useful ammunition for Republican Ashley Hinson in a Senate contest that has tightened into a toss-up.
Iowa Democrat Josh Turek has a pretty straightforward sales pitch for voters in a state Donald Trump won by 13 points: I’m the normal Democrat.
Turek calls himself a “common sense prairie populist,” talks constantly about kitchen-table issues and argues that he can appeal to voters across the political spectrum.
It’s working well enough that the race for retiring Republican Sen. Joni Ernst’s seat has become one of the most competitive Senate contests in America. The Cook Political Report has moved the race between Turek and Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson into toss-up territory.
Which makes something buried in Turek’s legislative newsletter suddenly rather interesting.
Under the heading “Know Your Rights as an Immigrant,” Turek told constituents that because of Trump administration changes affecting legal and illegal immigrants, he wanted to provide information about their rights in encounters with immigration authorities.
Then he directed them to the ACLU. “The ACLU is a great resource that provides tips on what to do in various situations,” Turek’s newsletter said.
Those materials include guidance about encounters with immigration officers, including remaining silent when questioned and circumstances under which ICE agents may enter a home.
Breitbart surfaced the newsletter Wednesday while examining Turek’s record against the moderate image he is presenting to Iowa voters.
And the newsletter isn’t the only immigration issue Republicans can throw at him. Turek called in April for an “easier pathway to citizenship” for illegal immigrants and repeated that position this month in an interview with the Cedar Rapids Gazette.
His legislative voting record could create more headaches.
Breitbart reports that Turek voted against legislation involving Iowa law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities and supported legislation that would have allowed certain state benefits regardless of immigration status. His campaign has subsequently said that he “opposes benefits for illegal immigrants.”
Then there’s another little problem: Showing up.
Turek missed 261 Iowa House votes between January 12 and May 3 — nearly 60 percent of votes during that period, according to the voting-record analysis cited by Breitbart. Those missed votes reportedly included measures involving rural health, medical licensing and education.
His record on DEI has already drawn similar scrutiny. The Washington Free Beacon reported last month that Turek voted against three Republican-backed measures restricting DEI programs or requirements in Iowa schools and universities, including legislation prohibiting DEI offices at public universities.
None of this means Turek isn’t politically moderate compared with other Democrats.
He represents a Republican-leaning Council Bluffs-area district, first won his Iowa House seat by just six votes in 2022 and increased his margin in 2024. His biography as a two-time Paralympic gold medalist and his focus on health care, agriculture and affordability give him an unusually strong profile for a Democrat trying to win Iowa statewide.
And Democrats increasingly think Iowa is winnable. But Turek isn’t running for the legislature anymore. He’s running statewide against Hinson in a race that could help decide control of the United States Senate. That means every old vote, newsletter and quote is about to get another look.
Especially when your campaign pitch contains the words: “Common sense.”
MY QUICK TAKE
This is why “moderate” is one of my favorite words in election season. Everybody is a moderate when they need independent voters.
But Iowa voters now get to decide what their definition of “common sense” includes.
Sending constituents to ACLU advice about dealing with ICE? An “easier pathway to citizenship” for illegal immigrants? Voting against Republican DEI restrictions? Missing nearly 60 percent of your state House votes over several months?
Maybe Iowa voters think that’s perfectly reasonable. But in a state Trump won by 13 points, Ashley Hinson is going to make damn sure they know about it before answering.
DBS WIRE SOURCES
- Josh Turek advised immigrants on dealing with ICE in official newsletter — Breitbart
- Iowa Senate candidates make their case at the State Fair — Iowa Public Radio
- Josh Turek’s DEI voting record draws scrutiny — Washington Free Beacon
- Iowa Democrats see an opening in 2026 — Roll Call
