ICYMI: Josh Turek Holds Democrats in the Senate Accountable for Blocking Farm Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 11, 2026

ICYMI: Josh Turek Holds Democrats in the Senate Accountable for Blocking Farm Bill

Josh puts Iowans first – always

Des Moines, IA – Last week, U.S. Senate candidate Josh Turek condemned Democrats in the Senate for stalling the passage of the Farm Bill. Josh has long said that Congress shouldn’t be allowed to adjourn until they pass a Farm Bill. Since then, Iowans have been hearing all about how Josh will always put Iowans first, even when it means breaking with his party.

Missed it? See below for the highlights.

The Des Moines Register: Josh Turek blasts Senate Democrats for blocking Farm Bill in committee

Josh Turek, Iowa’s Democratic U.S. Senate nominee, is blasting Senate Democrats for voting down a new Farm Bill in the Senate Agriculture Committee.
Senate Democrats blocked the legislation in an Aug. 6 vote as they sought to secure a two-year delay in state cost-sharing requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that will kick in as a result of Republicans’ One Big, Beautiful Bill.
Republicans offered a one-year delay, but lacked the votes to pass the measure without the support of at least one Democrat on the committee.
“Iowa farmers have been waiting three years for an overdue Farm Bill, and today Democrats in the Senate failed them by letting the perfect be the enemy of the good,” Turek said in a statement first provided to the Des Moines Register.
“To be clear: I would have voted in support of this Farm Bill,” Turek said. “This is just another example of a fundamentally broken Washington, and as Iowa’s next U.S. senator, I’ll work with anyone to pass a damn Farm Bill — and I’ll make it so Congress can’t recess without passing one. Our farmers deserve no less.”
The Agriculture Committee’s 10-11 vote on the Farm Bill means that the legislation, which hasn’t been updated since 2018, won’t be considered until the Senate returns after its August recess. The committee’s chair, Sen. John Boozman of Arkansas, said he will reconvene for a new vote in September.

The Gazette: Democrat Josh Turek slams Senate Democrats over stalled Farm Bill

Iowa’s Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Josh Turek joined Republicans in blasting Senate Democrats for voting down a new farm bill in the Senate Agriculture Committee.
Turek, a Democratic state representative from Council Bluffs, slammed members of his own party for blocking the long-delayed legislation that failed to advance out of committee after Democrats voted against the measure in a dispute over food assistance funding.
“Iowa farmers have been waiting three years for an overdue Farm Bill, and today Democrats in the Senate failed them by letting perfect be the enemy of the good,” Turek said in a statement.
“To be clear: I would have voted in support of this Farm Bill. This is just another example of a fundamentally broken Washington, and as Iowa’s next U.S. senator, I’ll work with anyone to pass a damn Farm Bill — and I’ll make it so Congress can’t recess without passing one. Our farmers deserve no less.”

KCRG: Iowa politicians blast failed Farm Bill vote in Senate Committee

Iowa Democrat candidate for Senate Josh Turek criticized his own party for failing to advance the farm bill.
“Iowa farmers have been waiting three years for an overdue Farm Bill, and today Democrats in the Senate failed them by letting perfect be the enemy of the good,” Turek wrote.
Turek did not specify any issues he had with the version of the bill but said he would “work with anyone to pass a damn Farm Bill.”

WOI Good Morning Iowa: Democratic Senate Candidate Josh Turek Wasn’t Happy The Farm Bill Stalled

Senate republicans were unable to pass a Farm Bill out of committee yesterday after no Democrat would support it.
The current Farm Bill from 2018 is set to expire at the end of September. This new one would have reauthorized ag and nutritional programs for the next five years. It also would have allowed for year round sales of E15.
Due to the unsuccessful vote, the committee went into recess until debate resumes in September.
Democratic Senate candidate Josh Turek also wasn’t happy with the outcome, saying in part, “Iowa farmers have been waiting three years for an overdue farm bill. And today, Democrats in the Senate failed.”

KTVO: Grassley and Turek on the Farm Bill

Democratic Iowa House representative and U.S. Senate candidate Josh Turek also criticized the delay after Senate Democrats voted against advancing the bill Thursday.
In a statement, Turek said Iowa farmers have been waiting three years for an overdue farm bill. He says he would work with anyone to help pass it and make it so Congress can’t recess without doing so.

The Hill: Iowa Democratic Senate nominee slams Democrats on Agriculture panel over farm bill failure

Iowa state Rep. Josh Turek, the Democratic nominee for Iowa’s Senate race, criticized Democratic lawmakers on a congressional panel who voted against the annual farm bill Thursday.
All of the Democrats on the Senate Agriculture Committee voted to block the funding package from advancing to the Senate floor over a dispute surrounding the bill’s food aid provisions.
Turek has championed his bipartisan voting record in the state House and promised to “tackle Washington’s rampant corruption” if elected this fall.
“Iowa farmers have been waiting three years for an overdue Farm Bill, and today Democrats in the Senate failed them by letting perfect be the enemy of the good,” Turek said in a statement shared on social media.
“To be clear: I would have voted in support of this Farm Bill,” he continued. “This is just another example of a fundamentally broken Washington, and as Iowa’s next U.S. Senator, I’ll work with anyone to pass a damn Farm Bill — and I’ll make it so Congress can’t recess without passing one. Our farmers deserve no less.”

Iowa Capital Dispatch: Farm bill proposal fails in US Senate ag committee over SNAP error rate issue

Democrat Josh Turek slammed fellow Democrats for blocking the Farm Bill.
Josh Turek, the Democratic candidate running for Ernst’s seat against U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, said Senate Democrats “failed” farmers by “letting perfect be the enemy of the good.”
“To be clear: I would have voted in support of this Farm Bill,” Turek said in a statement Thursday. “This is just another example of a fundamentally broken Washington, and as Iowa’s next U.S. Senator, I’ll work with anyone to pass a damn Farm Bill — and I’ll make it so Congress can’t recess without passing one. Our farmers deserve no less.”

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