U.S. Senate Candidate J.D. Scholten to Suspend Campaign and Endorse Josh Turek

Council Bluffs, IA – Today, U.S. Senate candidate J.D. Scholten will join State Rep. Josh Turek in Council Bluffs to announce he is suspending his campaign and endorsing Turek as the best hope to defeat Sen. Joni Ernst in 2026. As two athletes, and as the only two Democrats representing districts in western Iowa, Scholten and Turek have developed a close working relationship and friendship in the state legislature.

“There are so many issues facing Iowans today but we can’t sit idly by while healthcare is ripped from millions of Americans,” Scholten said. “Understanding this, I believe that there’s no better Democrat in Iowa to talk about healthcare issues than my friend, State Rep. Josh Turek. From the very beginning, I thought a prairie populist athlete from Western Iowa would be the best candidate to win in the General election. I still do, but instead of me, I have complete confidence that Josh Turek can take this on. That’s why I am suspending my campaign and endorsing him. As his friend, I’m proud to support him.”

“I am honored to have the support of J.D.,” Turek said. “Over the last several years, J.D. and I have fought alongside one another in the state legislature to lower costs for Iowa’s families, to make health care more affordable and accessible, to make housing more affordable, and to make life a little bit easier and a little bit better for Iowa’s families. We have an incredible opportunity to beat Joni Ernst in 2026, and I’m proud to join forces with J.D.”