MARSHALL, Minn. — Former Southwest Minnesota State University wheelchair basketball standout Josh Turek has won a seat in the U.S. Senate, flipping Iowa’s seat to the Democratic Party.
The Associated Press called the race Tuesday night, with Turek defeating Republican Ashley Hinson. With 98% of the vote reported, Turek received 686,487 votes, or 50.51%, compared to Hinson’s 630,615 votes, or 46.40%. Libertarian candidate Thomas Laehn received 42,052 votes.
Turek has a connection to the Marshall area, having played wheelchair basketball at SMSU from 1997 to 2002. During his time with the Mustangs, he set school career records with 4,024 points and 1,213 rebounds. He was a four-time All-American and was inducted into the National Wheelchair Basketball Association Hall of Fame in 2023.
Turek also competed in four Paralympic Games with the U.S. men’s wheelchair basketball team, winning a bronze medal in 2012 and gold medals in 2016 and 2020.
After retiring from basketball, Turek entered politics and was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in 2022. He will now move from the state legislature to the U.S. Senate.
