ICYMI: Josh Turek Hosts Roundtable with Iowans Struggling from Rising Costs, Vows to Work with Anyone to Make Life More Affordable

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August 3, 2026

ICYMI: Josh Turek Hosts Roundtable with Iowans Struggling from Rising Costs, Vows to Work with Anyone to Make Life More Affordable

Meanwhile Ashley Hinson has repeatedly voted to make life more expensive for Iowans — all while getting up to 10x richer

Des Moines, IA – On Friday, Josh Turek hosted a roundtable with small business owners, community leaders, and working class Iowans to discuss rising costs and corruption as part of the “Team Iowa Tour.” Ever since, Iowans have heard all about how Iowans are struggling, how multi-millionaire Ashley Hinson is doing nothing to help, and how Josh will work with anyone to lower the cost of everything from healthcare and housing to gas and groceries.

Ashley Hinson has repeatedly sold out Iowans to make herself richer. She has voted to make healthcare more expensive, continue a war that is driving up the price of gas, and support tariffs that are hurting Iowa farmers and making everything more expensive – all while increasing her wealth by up to ten times since she got to Washington.

Missed it? See below for the highlights.

Iowa Capital Dispatch: Rep. Josh Turek holds affordability roundtable, criticizes Hinson for finances

Democrat Josh Turek said Friday he understands Iowans’ struggles with high costs of living more personally than his opponent for the U.S. Senate seat in November, U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson.
“Washington is broken because people like Ashley Hinson are using their position to enrich themselves and their donors, not to fight for Iowans,” Turek said. “Since she got to Washington, D.C., Ashley Hinson has become up to 10 times more wealthy … She’s voted four times in favor of the tariffs that are absolutely decimating our rural communities and our farmers. Six times voted in favor of this war, to continue the war in Iran, which is leading to increased cost of gas, diesel, and fertilizer. The bottom line is, I know that costs are way too damn high, and as your next senator, I am absolutely committed, laser-focused, on bringing costs down.”
“You keep seeing our leaders tell us, ‘a little bit of pain, for a little bit of pleasure, basically,” Sage said. “Like, we just got to deal with it. Well, it’s easy to do when you’re seated in power. It’s easy to do when you’re looking down at people and you don’t have to be on the ground with them. … But for people who are just trying to figure out how they’re going to pay their rent, how they’re going to pay for food on the table, how they’re going to buy school supplies, or how they’re just going to be able to live their life, extremely, it’s a major slap in the face.”
Evan Davis, co-owner of Dough Co. Pizza, said businesses are also struggling under the recent impacts of tariffs and rising costs. In addition to facing higher costs to run a business, Davis said affordability struggles are also hurting businesses like his because there are fewer people who have the resources to eat out at restaurants.
Others at the table said these are not issues Hinson understands, pointing to a Daily Mail report that found she spends $50,000 on a luxury apartment in Washington, D.C., and reports that her wealth has increased during her time serving in Congress in part because her husband did not divest from stock in his former company.
State Rep. Jennifer Konfrst, the former House minority leader, said Hinson’s campaign ads were “offensive,” as she was falsely presenting herself as a working-class Iowan, and as a candidate who opposes members of Congress from stock trading while in office.
“The affordability cosplay that Ashley Hinson is putting on in that commercial and others is offensive,” Konfrst said. “It is offensive, because — don’t pretend to get our lives. Don’t pretend to be coming back here and living this life when we know you aren’t.”
“You couldn’t have more of a distinction: A multimillionaire that is just up there, looking out for herself, for billionaires, for large corporations, for donors and lobbyists,” Turek said. “I’m running for the people of Iowa because I felt the same struggle that they have felt, and they deserve somebody, to have somebody go up there to work in a bipartisan way to solve people’s problems.”

WHO 13: U.S. Senate candidate Josh Turek hosts roundtable in Des Moines

U.S. Senate candidate Josh Turek held a roundtable discussion in Des Moines Friday to address rising costs and healthcare affordability for Iowa families
He agreed with President Trump regarding the removal of private equity firms from the housing and healthcare sectors. “I think that’s something that we can agree upon,” Turek said. “I think we can help a lot of people.” He also stated support for eliminating taxes on tips and overtime pay as a potential area for common ground.
If elected, Turek said he intends to introduce a “dignity in work bill” that would increase the federal minimum wage. “Raise the federal minimum wage,” Turek said. “You heard it here today. $7.25 is not a livable wage enough for anybody.”
He also called for ethics reforms, including a ban on members of Congress owning or trading stocks and the implementation of term limits. Turek proposed a requirement for members of Congress to host at least one annual town hall meeting.
“I’m running for the people of Iowa because I felt the same struggle that they have felt, and they deserve to have somebody go up there to work in a bipartisan way to solve people’s problems,” Turek said. He stated he is focused on issues such as drinkable water, functioning public schools, and addressing government corruption.
“I’m not a millionaire. I don’t own any stock,” Turek said. “I come from a working-class family, a working-class community, going through a lot of struggle, both economically and health care.” Turek further claimed that Hinson has not held a single town hall meeting during her tenure.

KCAU: Turek addresses affordability at roundtable

Democrat Josh Turek, a state representative from Council Bluffs, gathered with political leaders, business owners, and others for a campaign roundtable discussion in Ankeny today. Rising costs and health care affordability for Iowa families was a focus at that event.
The Democrat said that there are plenty of ways to address affordability. That includes working to make houses more affordable, something Congress is currently working on.
Turek also said that one of the first things that he would like to do if elected is make sure Americans have a livable wage.
Turek also said that he would like to see a stock trading ban for people serving in Congress, saying too many lawmakers go to Washington to enrich themselves.

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