RECAP: Josh Turek Hosts Town Hall on Issues Facing Iowa’s Seniors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 10, 2026

RECAP: Josh Turek Hosts Town Hall on Issues Facing Iowa’s Seniors

Josh answered questions from Iowa seniors about protecting Social Security and Medicare, lowering prescription drugs costs, and more

Des Moines, IA – Today, U.S. Senate candidate Josh Turek hosted a Des Moines town hall focused on the issues facing Iowa seniors, answering questions directly from Iowa seniors about the issues that matter most to them.

In the U.S. Senate, Josh will fight to protect Social Security and Medicare, lower the cost of life-saving prescription drugs, and make health care more affordable for all Iowans.

“Make no mistake about it, especially when it comes to your choice for the United States Senate, Social Security is on the ballot,” said Martin O’Malley, Former Commissioner of the Social Security Administration. “This is a solvable problem, and with the right people in the U.S. Senate, like Josh, we can keep Social Security for years to come, make it stronger, and increase benefits.”

“The fact is that Social Security and Medicare, along with Medicaid, are the most successful domestic programs in the entire history of the United States of America, and we need to keep them that way,” said Jon “Bowzer” Bauman, President of Social Security Works and former Sha Na Na band member.

“Social Security is an earned benefit. Before Social Security, we had nearly 70% of our seniors in this country living in abject poverty and we have to protect it,” said Josh Turek. “I really believe that one of the best ways to keep Social Security solvent is we have to remove the cap. I think that it is absolutely ridiculous that individuals like Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos pay Social Security tax for the first few minutes of the year, but we have teachers and police officers and nurses that are paying year round. In the U.S. Senate, I give you my pledge: I’m going to do everything I can to protect health care, to protect our seniors, to protect Social Security.”

Josh was also endorsed by The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM). Max Richtman, President of NCPSSM, presented Josh with boxing gloves to go to Washington to fight for Social Security and Medicare.

In the Iowa legislature, Josh voted for a bipartisan $100 million property tax cut for Iowans, including additional tax cuts for seniors and veterans, voted in support of legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs for Iowans, regulate PBMs, and help keep local pharmacies afloat, and introduced legislation to cap the cost of insulin to $25 a month.

Meanwhile, Ashley Hinson voted against capping the cost of prescription drugs for Iowa seniors while accepting more than $600,000 dollars from the Big Pharma and healthcare industries. She also said she’s “open to raising the Social Security retirement age” and supported cuts that forced Iowa seniors to cross state lines to get help with their benefits.

From now until Election Day, Josh will continue his “go everywhere” approach to meet Iowans from across the political spectrum, taking the time to listen to folks from all backgrounds about how corrupt politicians like Ashley Hinson have failed them and their communities.

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