Paralympic Champion With Spina Bifida Heading To Senate

A former Paralympian with spina bifida will fill a U.S. Senate seat that was once held by a key architect of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Josh Turek defeated Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, last week in a race to represent Iowa in Congress’ upper chamber.

“We have proven that the impossible was possible,” Turek said after securing the win. “But I’ve heard the impossible my whole life. Doctors told me and my parents it was impossible for me to live a fulfilled life after I was born with spina bifida. Proved them wrong then. They told me it was impossible to win gold medals after I was cut from the U.S. national team six straight times. Proved them wrong then.”

A state representative in Iowa, Turek competed at four Paralympic Games and won two gold medals in wheelchair basketball. He has said that his spina bifida stems from his father’s exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.

Turek will replace Republican Sen. Joni Ernst, who is retiring, when he is sworn in Jan. 3. The seat was previously held for three decades by Tom Harkin, a Democrat who was the chief sponsor of the ADA.

“Since I began this, I’ve been saying that it’s going to be something beautifully poetic that the man that is coming to get Sen. Harkin’s seat back is only there because of the work that he did in the United States Senate,” Turek said. “The great Tom Harkin changed my life and gave me and so many other disabled Americans an on-ramp on society. Had it not been for this man who represents the epitome of what is good and what is good in public service, my life would have looked very very different.”

Turek, who campaigned as a moderate, is known for dragging his wheelchair up stairs to reach voters. He has pledged to fight for affordable housing and accessible health care, among other priorities.