Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Josh Turek met with residents and two Lyon County mayors Tuesday during a campaign stop at Rosie’s in Rock Rapids.
The appearance was one of five events Turek held that day across northwest Iowa, with other stops including Osceola and Ida counties.
Turek spoke with Inwood Mayor Becca Bixler, Larchwood Mayor Ken Kerkvliet and residents about municipal funding, housing, tariffs, agriculture, education and other issues affecting rural communities.
Turek faces Republican U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson in the U.S. Senate race. Former President Barack Obama recently endorsed Turek.
Mayors Discuss Funding and Housing
Bixler said Inwood is growing but needs additional resources to support that growth.
“I think in Inwood, our biggest struggle is the lack of money to do what we need to do,” Bixler said. “We’re always short, and you’re planning years out to be able to manage your infrastructure, to be able to manage your housing needs, to be able to manage your commercial business, economic development. And our town is growing, which is a wonderful problem to have.”
Bixler said Inwood has grown by approximately 14 percent since the 2020 census. She credited the area’s schools, affordability, safety and proximity to larger communities for helping attract families.
Kerkvliet said Larchwood faces similar challenges, particularly with housing affordability. He also discussed the city’s proximity to Sioux Falls and the limited amount of industry and manufacturing within the community.
Tariffs Affect Agriculture and Rural Businesses
A Rock Rapids small-business owner told Turek that tariffs have increased the cost of lawn mower, automotive and agricultural equipment parts. She said suppliers sometimes raise prices without warning, creating problems for businesses that have already established their selling prices.
“The vendors don’t tell you that they’re raising their prices,” she said. “And then, next thing you know, you’re paying more for that part than what you’re selling it for.”
The business owner said rural retailers also experience the downstream effects of financial difficulties within agriculture because their sales depend heavily on farm income. She questioned why farmers have sometimes received direct federal assistance while similarly affected small businesses have primarily been offered loans.
Turek agreed that agricultural conditions affect the entire rural economy but said he does not view the issue as farmers against small businesses. He said both are struggling.
Turek attributed pressure on farm finances to tariffs and rising diesel and fertilizer costs. He said farmers he has met across Iowa are concerned about the next planting season.
“My fear is that we’re headed toward a ‘farmageddon,’ a second farm crisis,” Turek said. “And that’s going to, again, disproportionately affect these rural communities where most of them have already lost half of their population and already lost half of their small family farmers.”
Turek Responds to Trump Post
During the media question-and-answer session, Turek was asked about a Truth Social post made by President Donald Trump.
Trump shared a report saying Turek, who represents Iowa’s 20th district in the state house, missed 261 Iowa House votes, about 58 percent, between January 12 and May 3. Trump wrote, “This is big news! Lazy Senators don’t play well in Iowa.”
Turek was asked to respond to the post and the voting figures.
“I was going around and meeting Iowans everywhere—every single place that they were. And I think that’s what Iowans demand,” Turek said. “I’m very proud of my time in the Legislature. I’ve been ranked as one of the most bipartisan and one of the most effective. Very proud of my four years in the Legislature and my record there. And that’s exactly what people will get from me in D.C.”
Immigration and the Save Our Bacon Act
The event’s location also provided a connection to Haiti. Rosie’s operates under the Grooters family’s nonprofit,
Touch of Hope, which supports a school and other ministries in Haiti. Rosie’s also promotes Haitian-made products and employment.
During the media session, Turek was asked about the removal of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians.
“We need to have safe and secure borders, and we also need an easier pathway to earn citizenship for individuals,” Turek said. “But if somebody wants to work hard, make their community better, pay taxes, follow the law, there should be an easier pathway to citizenship for these folks.”
Turek was also asked about the Save Our Bacon Act introduced by his Republican opponent, U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson.
The legislation would prevent states such as California from applying their livestock-production standards to products raised elsewhere. Hinson has said the measure would protect Iowa producers from costly regulations imposed by other states.
Turek offered a different view of who would benefit.
“I think the Save Our Bacon Act will only end up benefiting the foreign ownership—JBS, Smithfield,” Turek said. “It’s not going to help any Iowa farmers.”
Turek’s trip around the state this week will end with time spent at the Iowa State Fair, which opens Thursday. Turek and Hinson are both seeking to fill the soon-to-be-empty U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican Joni Ernst, who is retiring.
