Overview

• Josh Turek, a two-time Paralympic gold medalist and Iowa state representative, launched his U.S. Senate campaign on August 12 with an ad built around Sen. Joni Ernst’s notorious “we’re all going to die” comment.
• The campaign spot contrasts Turek’s personal journey overcoming spina bifida and reliance on Medicaid-supported services with Ernst’s defense of Republican budget proposals to cut Medicaid.
• Turek’s entry expands the Democratic primary field to five candidates, joining state Sen. Zach Wahls, former Michelle Obama aide Jackie Norris, state Rep. J.D. Scholten and veteran Nathan Sage.
• Sen. Ernst has not formally declared her 2026 reelection bid but has hired a campaign manager, scheduled fundraisers and faces GOP primary challenges from Jim Carlin and Joshua Smith.
• National attention is growing on whether Democratic criticism of Ernst’s remarks and health-care stance can make a Trump-leaning Iowa competitive in next year’s midterm election.