Josh Turek

I think that's my message is that you can ultimately be what you want to, and you can do what you want.

here in America and do not let anyone stop you or make you feel like you are less, including the president of the United States.

And unfortunately, I will say that, you know, one of the reasons why I got into politics initially, I got involved in politics for two reasons.

One is because of the privatization of Medicaid in Iowa.

It was driving up rates, denials and delays a thousand percent since we privatized.

That was hurting the disabled population the most.

Second reason why I ran is because there had never been a permanently disabled member in the Iowa legislature.

We're a state of 150 years, governing body of 150 members.

We didn't even have a ramp in the Capitol.

It's the people's house.

It should be open to the people.

And the disabled population, one in five Iowans, blind, deaf, intellectually disabled, physically disabled, and yet almost no representation.

One of the reasons why I'm doing this as well, running for the U.S.

Senate,

is I don't think we have enough individuals up in the U.S.

Senate that are disabled that come from my minority group.

I think you could make the argument that out of any minority group, we are the most underrepresented at every single level of government.

And then additionally, I think we need more people in D.C.

from places like Council Bless Iowa with real lived experience, both on the economics and on the healthcare side.

Because when you have lived it firsthand, you'll have a different level of fight and you'll have a different level of empathy.