U.S. Senate candidate Josh Turek of Council Bluffs says he is battle-tested and ready to campaign after submitting nearly 10,000 signatures on nominating petitions to secure a spot on the Democratic Party’s 2026 primary ballot.
Turek, a current member of the Iowa House, is running against State Sen. Zach Wahls, a Democrat from Coralville. Turek says he is the only candidate in the race who has run against and defeated a Republican, noting he won in a district that President Donald Trump carried by double digits in 2024.
Meanwhile, Julie Stauch — a political operative who has worked on presidential and U.S. Senate campaigns — has also submitted paperwork to place her name on the Democratic primary ballot. Stauch is running for governor and will face fellow Democrat Rob Sand in the June 2 primary.
