Turek Campaign Touts Best Fundraising Day of the Year and New Endorsements

Turek Campaign Touts Best Fundraising Day of the Year and New Endorsements

Campaign saw the second best day of fundraising since launch and rolled out endorsements from former U.S. Representative Tony Coelho and State Rep. Jennifer Konfrst

Des Moines, IA – Today, the Josh Turek for U.S. Senate Campaign announced it had its best day of fundraising in 2026 and second best day since launching in August 2025. The day after Nathan Sage exited the race and backed Turek, the Turek Campaign saw a significant groundswell of financial support. Last year, Turek raised $1.67M in 141 days and set an opening quarter fundraising record for a first time Democratic Senate Candidate in Iowa. Sage is the second former candidate to exit the race and endorse Turek, joining State Rep. J.D. Scholten, evidence of mounting support for Turek’s campaign. 

A recent poll shows Turek as the only candidate tied with Ashley Hinson at 46%, while Zach Wahls trails Hinson. 

Here’s what they’re saying: 

PUCK: Dems’ Fightin Words

In Iowa, wheelchair-basketball Paralympian Josh Turek told voters that “Iowans deserve to have someone fighting for people, fighting for social and economic justice, fighting for the most vulnerable.”

On Tuesday, I talked to Turek, the Iowa Senate candidate, who is locked in a primary contest with fellow Democrat Zach Wahls. Turek said that campaigning as an economic fighter is just common sense that Democrats somehow lost sight of in the Trump era. “John Edwards said it back in 2008,” he told me. “We are living in two Americas. We were always the party of the working and middle class, but I don’t think that message has resonated enough. We can’t talk over people’s heads. We have to be genuine.”

“We have to get back to being the party of the people,” Turek told me. “Iowans see a system that is unfair, only looking out for billionaires and donors and large corporations and a system that is bought and paid for. Working-class people and middle-class people are being left behind.”

Turek also secured endorsements from former U.S. Representative Tony Coelho and State Representative and former House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst.

Former Rep. Coelho served in the House for more than a decade, including as Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and House Majority Whip, and was the primary sponsor for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the House of Representatives. 

“I am thrilled to support Josh Turek for Senate. Josh is one of millions of Americans with disabilities who have had a better life because of good representation in Washington, and now, he’s ready to be that representation. I worked closely with Sen. Tom Harkin to pass our landmark legislation, and I know that Josh is the best person to continue our legacy of fighting for the people,” said Former Congressman Tony Coelho.

“I am deeply honored to have Rep. Coelho’s support. His work on the ADA provided me and so many other disabled individuals an on-ramp to society, and it’s because of him and Sen. Harkin that I have been able to accomplish everything from winning gold medals to winning tough elections. I’m running for Senate because I know firsthand what good public policy can do for an individual, and I’m ready to deliver for Iowans,” said Josh Turek.  

Rep. Konfrst joins more than 50 former and current elected officials backing Turek, including the majority of his Democratic colleagues in the Iowa House. 

“I’m proud to have been with Josh from the early days of his first statehouse race and his character, grit, and integrity have impressed me since day one. My admiration for him has only grown during our service together in the legislature. He is in this work for the right reasons – to make life better for Iowans. His authentic, common sense approach is what Iowans in all parts of the state respond to because he delivers real results. Josh is the real deal and he won’t change when he gets to Washington. He’ll always remember where he came from and he will always put Iowans first. I can’t wait to call him my U.S. Senator,” said Rep. Jennifer Konfrst. 

“Rep. Konfrst is a great representative who delivers for her constituents every single day, and I am grateful for her endorsement. Having the support of my House colleagues is something I am deeply grateful for – these are the folks who know me best, and their vote of confidence in this race means a lot,” said Rep. Josh Turek. 

Now in a head-to-head competition, Turek has all the momentum behind him going into the June primary and is ready to fight for working class Iowans. 

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