COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (KMTV) — The Democratic Party primary for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Joni Ernst has narrowed with Sioux City lawmaker and former Husker baseball player J.D. Scholten stepping aside.
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"I'd rather join forces this early on to win this race rather than do a long, drawn out battle in a primary," Scholten said.
Turek, who often refers to former Senator Tom Harkin as his political hero, believes Democrats can reclaim Harkin's former seat despite Iowa's recent rightward political shift.
"Because we're a common sense state and I'm a common sense prairie populist," Turek said.
Born with spina bifida and using a wheelchair, Turek frequently highlights healthcare and income inequality as some of his priorities.
"Representing this community where I've got 65% of the people at or below the poverty line, hearing them over and over and over: 'I can't afford to take my medication, I can't afford to put food on the table or put a roof above my head,'" Turek said.
Currently, Turek and Scholten are the only two Democrats from western Iowa serving in the state House of Representatives.
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