Josh Turek Biography: Age, Height, Wife Jarolin, Paralympic Gold Medalist, Iowa Senate Candidate, Net Worth & Facts

Josh Turek is a two-time Paralympic gold medalist, a groundbreaking Iowa state legislator, and in 2026, the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in Iowa. Born with spina bifida and told he might never walk, he became a Hall of Fame wheelchair basketball player and the first permanently disabled member of the Iowa Legislature. Now, as he campaigns to flip a Senate seat in a state Trump won twice, his “only in America” story has made him one of the most compelling political figures of the 2026 election cycle.

Quick Facts

Related Names: Jarolin Turek, Zach Wahls, Ashley Hinson, Joni Ernst, Barack Obama, Ryan Neiswender, Tom Harkin, John Turek, Luellen Turek.

Early Life & Education

Joshua Mark Turek was born on April 12, 1979, in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He was born with spina bifida, a birth defect that he attributes to his father’s exposure to Agent Orange during his service in the Vietnam War. His father, John Turek, was a Vietnam veteran who suffered lifelong health issues from Agent Orange exposure before his death.

Turek’s early life was defined by medical challenges and financial hardship. He underwent his first surgery at just one day old and had 21 surgeries before his 12th birthday. His family grew up poor — the Tureks shared clothes from Goodwill, and Josh qualified for free lunch programs at school. He has spoken openly about the stigma of poverty, recalling that he had “the wrong color lunch ticket” as a child.

His mother, Luellen, was instrumental in introducing him to adaptive sports, a decision that would change the trajectory of his life. Turek grew up in a “basketball family” — all four of his siblings competed in collegiate or professional basketball. His brother John and sister Elisha both played college and professional basketball overseas.

He attended Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs, where he graduated and was later inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame. He earned his bachelor’s degree in History from Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall in 2002, attending with the financial support of Iowa’s vocational rehabilitation program. He later received his MBA from the Keller Graduate School of Management at DeVry University in Naperville, Illinois.

Career Journey

Paralympic Career: From Council Bluffs to Gold (1994–2021)

Turek’s wheelchair basketball journey began in his youth, and by his teenage years he was already a standout. He played professionally in Europe for 15 years, competing in Italy, France, and Spain.

His Paralympic career spanned nearly two decades. He was a four-time Paralympian, representing the United States in 2004, 2012, 2016, and 2020. He won two gold medals (2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo) and one bronze medal, making him a three-time Paralympic medalist.

His Tokyo 2020 gold medal performance was particularly memorable. In the final against Turkey, Turek was benched for most of the game but came in during the final quarter and sank both free throws to widen the U.S. lead, helping secure the gold. His teammate Ryan Neiswender called him a “consummate team player,” saying, “Josh never showed up unprepared.”

Turek was inducted into the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) Hall of Fame, the Southwest Minnesota State University Hall of Fame, and the Abraham Lincoln High School Hall of Fame.

Professional Career and Advocacy (2000s–2022)

Beyond athletics, Turek built a career in disability advocacy and mobility services. He worked for Numotion, a mobility equipment supplier, as an account manager, helping disabled individuals access the equipment they need. He also served as a volunteer director for the Ryan Martin Foundation and sat on the National Wheelchair Basketball Association’s High Performance Committee.

Political Career: Iowa House of Representatives (2022–Present)

Turek’s entry into politics came in 2022, when he ran for the Iowa House of Representatives in District 20 — a Republican-leaning district in western Iowa. He won by a margin of just six votes after a recount, a victory that stunned political observers.

When asked how he pulled off the upset, Turek pointed to his relentless work ethic. “I won that first race by dragging my wheelchair up stairs every single day to talk to voters, regardless of party,” he said.

Upon taking office in January 2023, Turek became the first permanently disabled member of the Iowa Legislature — a historic milestone. He was re-elected in 2024 and serves on the National Wheelchair Basketball Association’s High Performance Committee.

In the Legislature, Turek has championed access to healthcare, a living wage, affordable housing, and policies important to working families. “I wanted to be a voice for the voiceless, for the Iowans who cannot afford a lobbyist,” he has said.

2026 U.S. Senate Campaign

In August 2025, Turek announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Joni Ernst, who chose not to seek re-election. He ran as a self-described “prairie populist” and a moderate Democrat.

On June 2, 2026, Turek won the Democratic primary, defeating state Sen. Zach Wahls with 63.7% of the vote. His victory speech emphasized his extraordinary life story: “In no other country on earth could someone born into a working-class family from Council Bluffs, Iowa, who went to the Goodwill, shared clothes, had the wrong color lunch ticket, who was born with my disability of spina bifida due to my father’s exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam, who had 21 surgeries before the age of 12, be able to represent the United States in four Paralympic Games and bring home two gold medals.”

Turek’s campaign has attracted national attention and high-profile endorsements. Former President Barack Obama endorsed him in July 2026, appearing with him in a video where the two played basketball together. He has also been endorsed by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and other labor unions.

He faces Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson in the November 3, 2026 general election.

Career Stats

• Paralympic Games: 4 appearances (2004, 2012, 2016, 2020); 2 gold medals, 1 bronze medal
• Professional Basketball: 15 years in Europe (Italy, France, Spain)
• Iowa House: Elected 2022 (by 6 votes), re-elected 2024
• 2026 Senate Primary: Won with 63.7% of the vote
• Fundraising: Over $1.1 million in Q1 2026

Personal Life

Marriage and Family

Josh Turek is married to Jarolin Turek, an immigrant from Spain whom he met while playing professional basketball in Europe. Jarolin is now a U.S. citizen and works in healthcare. The couple has a bilingual, multi-cultural household and several children together.

Turek is the son of John and Luellen Turek. His father was a Vietnam War veteran whose exposure to Agent Orange led to lifelong health issues before his death. His mother was instrumental in introducing him to adaptive sports. He has four siblings, including brother John and sister Elisha, both of whom played college and professional basketball overseas.

Dating History and Affairs

Josh Turek has been married to Jarolin Turek for many years. There have been no public reports of affairs, scandals, or marital difficulties. The couple met during his professional basketball career in Europe and have built a life together in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Controversies

Missed Votes in the Iowa House

During the 2026 legislative session, Turek missed 261 of 445 floor votes — approximately 58% — as he campaigned full-time for the U.S. Senate. He also collected over $20,000 in per diem payments during that period, drawing criticism from Republicans and some media outlets. Turek’s campaign has defended the absences, arguing that he was focused on winning a Senate seat that could flip control of Congress.

Political Attacks

The Republican Party of Iowa has accused Turek of “flip-flopping” on issues to hide a “radical agenda” from voters. His opponent’s campaign has labeled him “Schumer’s Pick,” pointing to $10 million in support from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer during the primary. Turek has largely brushed off these attacks, focusing instead on his working-class roots and his record of winning in a Republican district.

Awards & Achievements

• Two-time Paralympic Gold Medalist — 2016 Rio, 2020 Tokyo (wheelchair basketball)
• Paralympic Bronze Medalist — 2004 Athens
• NWBA Hall of Fame — Inducted for wheelchair basketball excellence
• Southwest Minnesota State University Hall of Fame
• Abraham Lincoln High School Hall of Fame
• First Permanently Disabled Member of the Iowa Legislature — Historic milestone
• Endorsed by Former President Barack Obama — 2026

Physical Statistics

• Height: 5′ 11″ (180 cm)
• Hair Color: Brown
• Eye Color: Brown
• Build: Athletic upper body, uses a wheelchair due to spina bifida

Quotes

“In no other country on earth could someone born into a working-class family from Council Bluffs, Iowa, who went to the Goodwill, shared clothes, had the wrong color lunch ticket, who was born with my disability of spina bifida due to my father’s exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam, who had 21 surgeries before the age of 12, be able to represent the United States in four Paralympic Games and bring home two gold medals.” — Victory speech, June 2, 2026

“I won that first race by dragging my wheelchair up stairs every single day to talk to voters, regardless of party.” — On his 2022 upset victory

“I certainly didn’t win the genetic lottery. Didn’t win it economically, but I worked incredibly hard to get a bachelor’s degree, to get a master’s degree, to be able to represent my country on the highest level.” — Interview with Mother Jones, May 2026

Favorites

• Favorite Sport: Wheelchair basketball
• Favorite Role: Being a voice for working-class Iowans
• Favorite Achievement: Winning two Paralympic gold medals for Team USA
• Favorite Place: Council Bluffs, Iowa — his lifelong home

Earnings

Josh Turek’s estimated net worth is approximately $91,000 as of his 2025 financial disclosure, down from $106,000 in 2024. His assets include a Wells Fargo bank account and an American National Bank account, totaling between $51,000 and $115,000. He has no liabilities and has disclosed zero stock trades under the STOCK Act.

As a state legislator, Turek earns a modest salary. His Senate campaign raised over $1.1 million in the first quarter of 2026 alone. If elected to the Senate, his salary would increase substantially to $174,000 per year, though he has emphasized that he is “the only candidate in this race — Democrat or Republican — who isn’t a millionaire.”

Interesting Facts

• Six-Vote Victory: Turek won his first Iowa House race by just six votes after a recount — one of the closest legislative elections in Iowa history.
• 21 Surgeries: He had 21 surgeries before his 12th birthday due to spina bifida.
• Agent Orange Connection: His spina bifida is linked to his father’s exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.
• Obama Basketball: Former President Barack Obama endorsed Turek in a video where the two played basketball together.
• Family of Athletes: All four of his siblings competed in collegiate or professional basketball, and his brother John and sister Elisha played professionally overseas.
• Dragging His Wheelchair Up Stairs: He famously won his first election by physically dragging his wheelchair up stairs to knock on doors and meet voters face-to-face.

Did You Know Already?

• Josh Turek is the first permanently disabled person ever elected to the Iowa Legislature.
• He played professional wheelchair basketball in three European countries — Italy, France, and Spain — for 15 years.
• He was inducted into the NWBA Hall of Fame for his contributions to wheelchair basketball.
• His 2026 Senate campaign was endorsed by former President Barack Obama, who appeared with him in a viral video.
• He attended college with the help of Iowa’s vocational rehabilitation program, a detail he often shares on the campaign trail to highlight the importance of public support for working families.

Social Media Links

• X (Twitter): @Turek4Iowa
• Instagram: @josh.turek
• Official Campaign Website: turek4iowa.com
• Iowa Legislature Profile: legis.iowa.gov

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Josh Turek’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance. From 21 surgeries before age 12 to Paralympic gold, from a six-vote legislative victory to a historic Senate campaign, he has defied expectations at every turn. Whether he wins or loses in November 2026, his journey has already made history — and his message that “only in America” could a kid from Council Bluffs with spina bifida rise this far continues to resonate with voters across the political spectrum.

If you found this biography helpful, please share it with fellow voters and anyone interested in the 2026 midterm elections!