Turek Accused of Flip-Flop on Welfare for Illegal Immigrants After Vote Record Surfaces

Iowa Democrat Senate nominee Josh Turek is facing fresh scrutiny over his shifting stance on taxpayer-funded welfare for illegal immigrants, with a new report highlighting a potential flip-flop that could complicate his bid to unseat Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson.

At a recent campaign event featuring Iowa farm families, speakers took aim at Turek’s voting record in the state legislature, warning that he would not represent their interests if elected to the U.S. Senate.

“We can’t have Josh Turek as our next senator because he will fall directly in line with the socialists raising our taxes, attacking agriculture, and making life more expensive,” said Cordt Holub, a Tama County farmer, according to KCRG-TV.

The criticism comes as Turek’s campaign publicly states he “opposes benefits for illegal immigrants.” However, a review of legislative records reveals that Turek voted earlier this year in favor of taxpayer funding for initiatives related to welfare for illegal immigrants, according to a vote transcript obtained by Breitbart News.

That apparent contradiction has fueled accusations that Turek is trying to rebrand himself as a moderate in a closely watched race.

Voting Record Under Scrutiny

Turek, a two-time gold medalist wheelchair basketball player who has served in the Iowa House of Representatives since 2023, has drawn attention for his absence on key votes. Breitbart News previously reported on his habitual missing from legislative duties.

He was absent from votes involving citizenship and residency requirements for public assistance eligibility and verification of voters’ citizenship in 2024. He later missed a March 2025 vote to verify the citizenship status of Iowa voters.

According to Breitbart’s reporting, Turek missed nearly 60 percent of votes in the first half of 2026—yet still collected over $20,000 in per diem payments.

Tax Cut Reversal and Farm Bill Stance

Beyond the welfare issue, Turek has also faced criticism for his position on tax cuts. He previously called for repealing the Working Families Tax Cuts, which included provisions such as no taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security.

“We’ve got to overturn the big beautiful bill,” Turek said during a Democratic primary debate, referencing the tax package.

That stance stands in contrast to his recent efforts to project a more centrist image, with opponents arguing that his record tells a different story.

Turek has also voiced support for a federal Farm Bill but failed to vote on similar state legislation while serving in the Iowa House, a gap that farm families at the recent event highlighted as evidence of his priorities.

“After years in the legislature, he is trying to paint himself as a moderate by flip-flopping on issues including giving taxpayer benefits for illegal aliens, support for farmers, and lowering taxes,” the criticism went, according to the report.

Race Against Ashley Hinson

Turek faces Republican nominee Rep. Ashley Hinson, a former journalist who previously served in the Iowa House before being elected to the state’s 2nd Congressional District seat in 2020. The race is expected to be one of the most contested in the country as both parties vie for control of the Senate.

Hinson’s campaign has not directly commented on Turek’s latest controversy, but the issue is likely to feature prominently in the coming weeks as both candidates court Iowa voters.

For his part, Turek’s campaign has not responded to requests for clarification on his voting record beyond the statement that he “opposes benefits for illegal immigrants.”

The discrepancy between that claim and his actual votes, as documented in the transcript, raises questions about Turek’s reliability as a candidate, particularly as he seeks to appeal to independent and rural voters who may be wary of progressive policies.

As the election approaches, the Turek campaign will need to address these contradictions head-on or risk ceding ground to an opponent who can point to a consistent conservative record.

Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/14/democrat-josh-turek-flip-flops-on-welfare-for-illegals/