Josh Turek, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Iowa and two-time Paralympic gold medalist, collected more than $20,000 in taxpayer-funded per diem payments while missing 261 votes in the state legislature between January 12 and May 3, 2026, records show.
Turek is running to succeed Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, who is retiring from the seat. The race is considered a key opportunity for Democrats to flip a Republican-held Senate seat in November. Turek defeated Iowa Democratic Sen. Zach Wahls in the party primary earlier this month and will face Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, in the general election.
What the Right Is Saying
Hinson's campaign sharply criticized Turek's attendance record, arguing it demonstrates he is unfit for federal office. Billy Fuerst, Hinson's communications director, said Turek skipped votes on several significant measures.
"Not only did Josh Turek skip the vote to fund the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs while fundraising with a Schumer-aligned Super PAC, he also skipped votes on the Iowa Farm Bill, rural health funding, child abuse investigations, and, in 2023, gender transition procedures for minors," Fuerst said in a statement. "Josh Turek is an absentee legislator who doesn't deserve the promotion he's trying to get."
Hinson's campaign highlighted her own voting record as evidence of reliability. According to data cited by her campaign, Hinson has maintained a 98.8% lifetime voting record since being elected to the U.S. House in 2020.
The Republican National Committee and National Republican Senatorial Committee have both backed Hinson's candidacy, viewing the Iowa seat as essential to maintaining their Senate majority.
What the Left Is Saying
Turek's campaign defended his record, arguing that missed votes are common among candidates running statewide campaigns. A spokesperson pointed to instances where Republican challenger Ashley Hinson also skipped legislative duties for fundraising events.
"Just last week, Ashley Hinson skipped votes on the annual defense funding bill to attend a ritzy D.C. fundraiser," Turek's campaign said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Meanwhile, Josh Turek is ranked one of Iowa's most bipartisan and effective lawmakers and has regularly worked with Republicans to cut taxes for Iowa families and keep dangerous criminals off the streets."
The campaign emphasized that Turek continues an active outreach strategy across Iowa while Hinson has not held a single town hall since launching her campaign. "While Josh continues his 'go everywhere' approach to meet directly with Iowans, Ashley Hinson has not held a single town hall since launching her campaign," the spokesperson said.
Turek himself has framed his candidacy on his personal story of overcoming paralysis from the waist down to compete in the Paralympic Games and his commitment to government programs that supported his journey. "I wouldn't have gotten that far without VA health coverage from my dad's service, free summer lunch programs when my parents were struggling," he said in a campaign video.
What the Numbers Show
According to records from the Chief Clerk of the Iowa House of Representatives analyzed by Fox News Digital, Turek received $20,100 in per diem payments during the period in question. Iowa state law permits legislators to collect per diem up to 100 times per legislative session at a rate of $201 per day.
Turek missed 261 of approximately 435 total votes cast between January 12 and May 3, representing 59.9% of the chamber's votes during that period. The absences included clusters around fundraising trips.
Records show Turek raised $43,000 from donors in Southern California between March 25 and March 31 while missing 12 votes during that time. He also collected $36,500 in donations from Washington, D.C., area residents between February 17 and March 23 while absent for 16 votes, including consideration of an educational standards bill.
Campaign finance disclosures filed with the Federal Election Commission show Turek raised approximately $3.4 million from July 2025 through the end of May 2026. By comparison, Sherrod Brown, a former Democratic senator in Ohio running to reclaim his seat, has raised nearly $26 million since November 2025.
Hinson was absent for part of the 2027 defense bill markup on June 24 while attending a fundraiser, according to her campaign's acknowledgment.
The Bottom Line
The controversy highlights the tension between legislative duties and campaign demands that candidates running for federal office often face. Turek will need to address voter questions about his availability to serve if elected while continuing to run a competitive statewide campaign.
Both campaigns have sought to turn the other's attendance record into a campaign issue, with each side arguing their candidate is more committed to public service. The general election matchup in November will test whether Iowa voters view Turek's Paralympic achievements and bipartisan work as outweighing his missed votes, or whether Hinson's reliable voting record proves decisive in a state that backed Trump in 2024.