Turek Targets Hinson Over Healthcare Vote, Pushes Public Option
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Josh Turek used a Des Moines roundtable Monday to attack Rep. Ashley Hinson's vote on the 2025 tax and spending law, blaming Republican-backed Medicaid changes for rural hospital closures and rising premiums across Iowa.
What Did Turek Say About Hinson's Record?
Turek, a state representative from Council Bluffs, claimed Hinson voted for the largest Medicaid cut in history when she supported the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act last year. He said two in five Iowans who rely on Medicaid in rural communities are already feeling the effects, pointing to five Iowa healthcare centers that announced closures or service reductions since the law passed.
She has voted to see 110,000 Iowans lose their healthcare, thousands more lose their basic food assistance, just to give tax breaks to billionaires, Turek said. She's not looked out for Iowans, she has just looked out for billionaires, large corporations, lobbyists, and donors.
Turek also criticized Hinson for voting against extending Affordable Care Act tax subsidies, which expired in 2025 and led to higher premiums for Iowans on ACA Marketplace plans. Rep. Zach Nunn was the only Republican in Iowa's federal delegation to support extending those credits.
How Did Hinson's Campaign Respond?
Hinson campaign communications director Billy Fuerst pushed back, saying the congresswoman has worked across the aisle to lower costs and expand access.
Ashley understands that healthcare is too expensive for Iowa families. That's why she's working across the aisle to lower costs by taking on Big Pharma and Big health insurance, Fuerst said.
Fuerst pointed to Hinson's support for regulating Pharmacy Benefit Managers, her work to deliver $209 million to Iowa healthcare facilities through the Rural Health Transformation Program, and bipartisan legislation on stillbirth prevention and over-the-counter birth control access.
While Josh Turek plays politics with Iowans' healthcare, Ashley will keep working to expand access and lower costs for Iowa families, Fuerst said.
What Solutions Did Providers and Patients Propose?
Roundtable participants, including nurses, doctors, a pharmacist, and a patient, shared ideas they want Turek to pursue if elected. Proposals included a public option for healthcare coverage, new rules for Pharmacy Benefit Managers, and union protections for healthcare workers.
State Rep. Austin Baeth, a Des Moines physician, said he has patients who are losing coverage and asking him to front load prescriptions and tests before their insurance disappears.
Not only does this put patients in potentially dangerous situations, but it will also cost more for the healthcare provider when an individual must seek emergency care for a problem that could have been addressed through available medicine and treatment, said Amy Hennings, a critical care nurse at UnityPoint.
Turek, who was born with spina bifida and uses a wheelchair, spoke about his personal struggles with access to preventative care, calling the system totally backwards.
Would Turek Support a Government-Run Healthcare System?
When asked what solutions providers want, Broadlawns Medical Center physician Larry Severidt said, we need some kind of nationalized health care system, pointing to Senator Bernie Sanders' Medicare for All proposal.
Turek said he supports a public option that would create a baseline level of government-backed coverage for every American, similar to VA hospitals or Medicare. He said people could keep private insurance if they choose, but emphasized that healthcare is a human right.
If I could only get one thing done in the United States Senate, this would be the thing that I would like to get done, to ensure that every single American has access to a baseline level of healthcare coverage, Turek said.
Turek also pledged not to take corporate PAC money, saying he would fight for children, the elderly, and the disabled.
What Is at Stake for Iowa Voters in 2026?
The debate over Medicaid cuts and healthcare access is shaping up to be a central issue in Iowa's 2026 U.S. Senate race. Republicans argue the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act was necessary to rein in federal spending and provide tax relief, while Democrats say the law's reductions to Medicaid and SNAP will devastate rural communities that already face healthcare shortages.
For Iowa voters, the choice may come down to whether they believe Hinson's approach of targeted funding and bipartisan reform can address healthcare costs, or whether Turek's push for a public option and expanded government coverage is the answer.
FAQ
What Is the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act?
It is a 2025 Republican-backed tax and spending law that included reductions to Medicaid and changes to SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Supporters say it was needed to control federal spending and deliver tax relief.
How Much Funding Did Iowa Receive Through the Rural Health Transformation Program?
Iowa was allocated $209 million through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, which Hinson's campaign cites as evidence she is working to offset expected reductions in rural Medicaid spending.
Where Does Josh Turek Stand on Healthcare?
Turek supports a public option that would provide a baseline level of government-backed healthcare coverage for all Americans, while allowing people to keep private insurance if they choose. He has also called healthcare a human right.