Iowa Farmers Union

by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch
October 30, 2026

Iowa Farmers Union has not endorsed federal candidates for at least 14 years, but is urging farmers to vote for Josh Turek in the race for U.S. Senate, and the rest of the Democrats running to represent Iowa in Congress. 

Aaron Lehman, Iowa Farmers Union president said Friday “the time demands it” as farmers look at record high diesel prices, multiple years with rising input prices, “chaotic” trade deals and overall slim bottom lines. 

“The times demand that we step forward and say we need a loud voice standing up for farmers and for Iowa values,” Lehman said. 

Turek, a state representative from Council Bluffs, is running against U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson to fill the Senate seat left open by Sen. Joni Ernst’s decision to not run for reelection. 

Turek’s platform includes calls for right to repair legislation, mandatory country of origin labeling, cracking down on agribusiness consolidation that has driven up input costs and undoing Republican and Trump administration policies related to trade and healthcare cuts.