Josh Turek Launches “Veterans for Turek” Coalition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 6, 2026

Josh Turek Launches “Veterans for Turek” Coalition

Group consists of Iowa veterans who are committed to sending Josh, a proven fighter for Iowa’s veterans, to the U.S. Senate

Des Moines, IA – Today, Josh Turek launched “Veterans for Turek,” a coalition of Iowa veterans who are committed to sending Josh to the U.S. Senate. The group is chaired by United States Marine and Army Veteran Nathan Sage, a former primary opponent who ended his campaign and promptly endorsed Josh.

You can read Josh’s policy priorities to support our military heroes and their families while they serve and when they come home HERE.

“Veterans for Turek” includes Iowans from across the state who have served in various branches of the United States Military*:

Nathan Sage, Marines and Army (Warren County)
Desi McDonough, Army Reserve (Wapello County)
State Rep. Ross Wilburn, Iowa Army National Guard (Story County)
Penni Guyler, Air Force (Polk County)
State Rep. Larry McBurney, Iowa Air National Guard (Polk County)
Melvin Bobo, Air Force (Polk County)
Kevin Techau, Air Force and Iowa Air National Guard (Linn County)
Darrell Anderson, Army (Linn County)
Rich Running, Navy (Marshall County)
Melisa Dohl, Air Force (Polk County)
Jill Alesch, Iowa Army National Guard (Polk County)
Rodney Heisterkamp, Army and Navy (Story County)
Terry Johnson, Army (Linn County)
Gerald Weiand, Army (Winneshiek County)
Ray Walton, Army (Warren County)
Justin Limke, Army (Polk County)
Jordan True-Canales, Navy (Polk County)
Mark Allen Thompsen, Air Force (Polk County)

“I’m tired of people in Washington who don’t think about the consequences of sending working class kids to fight in reckless wars. Josh does, because he’s lived the generational consequences. I know that he’ll fight for our service members both while they serve and when they come home – and we need a lot more of that, now more than ever,” said Nathan Sage, Marine and Army Veteran, Chair of Veterans for Turek.

Josh comes from a long line of veterans. He is the grandson of WWII Navy veterans, and his dad, John, enlisted on his 18th birthday and spent 22 months in Vietnam. Josh was born with spina bifida as a result of John’s exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam and has relied on the VA for his health care for most of his life.

Josh has been a champion for veterans in the Iowa House. He passed legislation to strengthen the veteran homestead tax credit. He has also sponsored legislation to increase state funding for the veterans trust and strengthen the homeowner assistance program for servicemembers. This session, he is the lead Democratic sponsor on bipartisan legislation to protect Iowa National Guardsmen from being sent into active combat unless Congress has declared war and from being sent into another state without the permission of the governor of that state.

ICYMI: Josh hosted a roundtable with many Veterans for Turek, where they discussed key issues facing veterans, including cuts to VA health care, mental health, and homelessness.

*Individuals on this list are endorsing in their personal capacity.

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