MAYA MARCHEL HOFF

DES MOINES — State Rep. Josh Turek said the best thing for Iowans is for lawmakers to “move away from this party over country mentality,” as he announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate on Tuesday.

Turek, a 46-year-old Democrat from Council Bluffs, in an interview ahead of Tuesday’s announcement, said he is joining the expanding field for Iowa’s Senate race out of “patriotic duty” as he continues to see Iowans struggle to make ends meet.

“I love this country. I love Iowa,” Turek said. “I'm seeing an enormous amount of Iowans struggle … with kitchen table issues. That's with being able to keep food on the table and a roof above their head.”

Iowa’s 2026 U.S. Senate election is for the seat held since 2015 by Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst. Ernst has not yet declared whet

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