Scholten suspends US Senate campaign, endorses Turek

The Democratic primary to take on Republican US Sen. Joni Ernst in 2026 has narrowed. 

Just one week after announcing his bid, State Rep. Josh Turek got a big endorsement Monday morning. State Rep. J.D Scholten said he was suspending his own campaign to defeat Republican US Sen. Joni Ernst and instead vouched for Turek.

“[W]e can’t sit idly by while healthcare is ripped from millions of Americans,” Scholten said in a statement. “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.”

Scholten was among the first Democrats to announce his bid to unseat Ernst next year. Scholten represents parts of Sioux City and pitches for the Sioux City Explorers. He gained national attention for his competitive campaigns against former Republican US Rep. Steve King and making significant inroads in a traditionally conservative district despite losing in 2018 and 2020. 

While Scholten’s Congressional race experience and crossover appeal was prized by some, his fundraising report from last quarter showed his campaign significantly underperforming even among lesser-known candidates:

• US Sen. Joni Ernst (R – incumbent) – $720,000 raised. $344,000 spent. $3.4 million on hand.
• Nathan Sage (D) – $709,000 raised. $375,000 spent. $334,000 on hand.
• State Sen. Zach Wahls (D) – $657,000 raised; $30,000 spent. $626,000 on hand.
• State Sen. J.D. Scholten (D) – $176,000 raised. $19,000 spent. $157,000 on hand.
• Jim Carlin (R) – $8,000 raised. $84,000 spent. $1,000 on hand. (NOTE – $78,000 spent was from his personal money.)

Now, he’s backing Turek, who announced his campaign last Tuesday. Born with spina bifida, Turek went on to be a Paralympic gold medalist in wheelchair basketball for Team USA. In his two Iowa House elections, he outperformed other Democrats on the same ticket. 

“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,” Turek said in a statement. “We have an incredible opportunity to beat Joni Ernst in 2026, and I’m proud to join forces with J.D.”

Turek’s campaign focuses heavily on healthcare issues and disability rights, drawing from his personal experience navigating the healthcare system, and he positions himself as a “common sense prairie populist” who can appeal to Iowa voters across party lines.

Ernst, meanwhile, has served in the Senate since 2015. A veteran of the National Guard and Army Reserve, she was the first woman elected to Congress from Iowa. When Ernst made her “Make ‘em Squeal” pledge, the national debt was $17.5 trillion. On Monday, the US Treasury announced that the national debt had passed $37 trillion—that’s $1.54 trillion higher than it was in October. Under President Donald Trump’s tax legislation, which Ernst supported, the debt is expected to grow by another $4.1 trillion over the next decade. 

With Scholten out, three other Democrats remain in the race: State. Sen. Zach Wahls of Coralville, Michelle Obama chief of staff and Des Moines School Board member Jackie Norris, and Marine veteran and former Knoxville Chamber of Commerce director Nathan Sage. The primary election is scheduled for June 2, 2026.