Josh Turek is a Democratic senator-elect from Iowa and a wheelchair basketball athlete. He was born with spina bifida, a birth defect involving improper formation of the spinal column. He played wheelchair basketball for Southwest Minnesota State University before playing overseas and ultimately winning two gold medals for the U.S. team in the 2016 and 2021 Paralympic Games. After retiring from basketball, he became a state legislator before defeating Ashley Hinson in the 2026 midterm elections to claim the seat of Republican Sen. Joni Ernst, who did not seek reelection.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style