Iowa Rep. Josh Turek, Sen. Zach Wahls Receive Union Endorsements in U.S. Senate Democratic Primary

Your contribution today guarantees Decorah News is asking the questions tomorrow. Act now. Local chapters of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators unions have endorsed state Rep. Josh Turek and Sen. Zach Wahls in the Democratic primary for Iowa's U.S. Senate seat. The Heat and Frost Insulators Local 39 in Council Bluffs and Omaha, Nebraska endorsed Turek, a Council Bluffs Democrat, saying he was a strong supporter of unions in the Legislature. Turek, a two-time Paralympic gold medalist, has served in the Iowa House since 2022. "We're proud to support Josh for U.S. Senate because we know he'll continue his record of supporting unions," John Hanson, business manager for Insulators Local 39 said in a statement. "He's been a fighter for the working class during his time in the state legislature and we know he'll take that same fight to Washington." Turek said in a statement he was "honored" to have his campaign endorsed the union, adding to a list of endorsements from Iowa Democratic leaders, including former Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, former Lt. Gov. Sally Pederson and Iowa Rep. J.D. Scholten, who was also previously running for the U.S. Senate seat in 2026 and endorsed Turek's campaign after dropping out. "In working class communities like mine, unions are essential to providing good-paying jobs and benefits that support families," Turek said. "At a time when Washington is more focused on billionaires, I'll continue fighting for the working class and the unions that make it strong." Turek is running against Wahls and Nathan Sage, former Knoxville chamber of commerce executive director, for the Democratic nomination in 2026. The winner of the Democratic primary is expected to face U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, who quickly became the frontrunner for the GOP nomination after U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst announced she would not seek reelection. Wahls, D-Coralville, announced on Tuesday he had also received an endorsement from an Iowa Insulators union in the race, coming from the Heat and Frost Insulators Local 81 union, serving the Quad-Cities area in eastern Iowa and western Illinois. Sean Nagle, business manager for the Insulators Local 81 union, said Wahls "fights for working people every single day." "He's been a consistent advocate for labor, someone we can count on to protect our right to organize, stand up for safe jobs, and defend fair wages and benefits," Nagle said in a statement. "Our members are worried about rising costs and shrinking paychecks, and Zach is laser-focused on exactly that — boosting workers' pay, lowering costs for families, and taking on the corporate special interests that are squeezing our members. Insulators Local 81 is proud to stand with Zach Wahls in this race." Wahls has received endorsements from several other Iowa labor unions, including Teamsters Local 90, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1846, Communications Workers of America Local 7110 and Ironworkers Locals 67, 89, and 111. He has also been endorsed by officials like former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander and Council Bluffs Mayor-elect Jill Shudak. The state senator said if elected to the U.S. Senate, he would work to support Iowa unions and the workers they represent, which he said "are the backbone of Iowa's middle class." "I know what it means when a good union job keeps a family above water," Wahls said. "In the Senate, I'll fight to raise wages, pass the PRO Act, protect pensions, and make sure every Iowan who works hard can actually get ahead — not just scrape by while billionaires and big corporations write the rules." Without local news, all we have are rumors. Keep facts alive — give now.