Op-Ed: Josh Turek was absent from the Capitol this year
State Rep. Taylor Collins
The Gazette
July 31, 2026
Just like past legislative sessions, from January to May, I made the weekly drive from Mediapolis to Des Moines to advocate for my constituents and deliver on the priorities important to Iowans.
Republicans delivered meaningful property tax relief, passed the first-ever Iowa Farm Bill, and invested millions in water quality projects that will support Iowa’s nutrient reduction strategy.
Some Democrats even joined us in these efforts to lower costs for Iowa families, supporting farmers, and ensuring safe drinking water for our communities.
One Democrat who didn’t help us deliver any of these wins for Iowa was Rep. Josh Turek. To call him “representative” would be a stretch to say the least because he did anything but represent his constituents. He skipped more than half of all the votes in the Iowa House this year, including votes on critical issues.
Spending nearly half the year at the Iowa Capitol, I cannot recall many occasions where I interacted, or even saw, Rep. Turek. It appears now that he was too busy campaigning for U.S. Senate while refusing to do the job Iowans already elected him to do. The good people whom I represent in Southeast Iowa do not have the luxury to miss half their days at work and still collect a paycheck like Turek. In fact, Turek raked in more than $20,000 in taxpayer cash even though he did not show up for work. That’s not someone who I want representing Iowa in Washington, D.C.
I’m backing Ashley Hinson for the United States Senate because she will always show up for Iowa and put our families, farmers and rural communities first. She has delivered results in the U.S. House of Representatives, and I know that she will take that workhorse mentality to the Senate.
This November, Iowa will send a proven conservative with a track record of getting things done to the Senate and put an end to Josh Turek’s taxpayer-funded vacation for good.
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