On a sweltering July Sunday in western Iowa, Democratic Senate candidate Josh Turek navigated a nearly 60-mile stretch of rolling hills and cornfields on a handcycle as part of the state’s annual weeklong biking event. The ride traversed conservative towns near the Nebraska border, offering Turek an opportunity to engage with rural voters ahead of the November midterm elections.

Turek, a state legislator who uses a wheelchair due to spina bifida, has positioned his physical resilience and personal story at the center of his campaign to succeed retiring Republican Senator Joni Ernst. The 47-year-old Paralympic gold medalist, born with a condition he attributes to his father’s exposure to the chemical Agent Orange during the Vietnam War, described the campaign as a challenging uphill battle through rural areas grappling with economic pressures.

As he pedaled between towns like Onawa and Harlan, Turek stopped to meet residents, share his platform, and discuss Iowa’s economic concerns, including the impact of rising fuel and fertilizer costs on farmers. Some locals responded positively, requesting campaign materials and photos, while others remained undecided.

Turek faces a steep contest against Republican Representative Ashley Hinson, who secured the GOP nomination with support from former President Donald Trump and prominent Iowa Republicans. Hinson, a former television news anchor first elected to Congress in 2020, has sought to present herself as both a staunch ally of Trump and a pragmatic figure willing to work across party lines on cost-of-living issues. Political analysts classify the race as leaning Republican, reflecting Iowa’s recent election history in which Democrats have not secured a Senate seat since 2014, and Trump has consistently won the state in presidential contests.

Campaign finance reports reveal a significant advantage for Hinson, who has raised over $10 million compared to Turek’s $6.3 million. Additionally, the Republican-aligned Senate Leadership Fund has committed nearly $29 million to the race, closely matched by the Democratic-aligned Senate Majority PAC’s $30.5 million investment. The race has already drawn sharp partisan attacks; the Republican PAC has criticized Turek for missing a state agriculture spending vote despite his public support for related federal legislation.

Turek, who won reelection to the state legislature by a five-point margin in 2024 despite President Trump’s eight-point victory in his district, identifies as a “common-sense prairie populist” focused on policies to benefit the middle class and workers. He acknowledged the difficulty of persuading long-time Republicans in deeply conservative counties but expressed hope that retail campaigning and personal connection could narrow margins or even sway some voters.

During the bike ride, onlookers expressed curiosity about Turek’s handcycle, and some offered encouragement. The candidate recounted an interaction with a staunch Republican who admired his story but was unwilling to give him a vote—an outcome Turek remained optimistic about changing in the final months before the election.

With the race seen as pivotal in determining Senate control, Turek’s campaign underscores the challenges Democrats face in appealing to rural voters in a state that remains a Republican stronghold amid rising economic uncertainties.