Two Democratic candidates for Iowa’s U.S. Senate seat, Zach Wahls and Josh Turek, clashed during a forum on Wednesday over campaign finance and political alliances. Wahls, a state senator, accused Turek, a state representative, of receiving support from a "dark money" super PAC, VoteVets, despite both candidates pledging to reject corporate PAC donations.
The forum, hosted by Progress Iowa and End Citizens United, addressed issues like affordability, healthcare, and immigration. Wahls highlighted the influence of Citizens United v. FEC, a 2010 Supreme Court decision that loosened campaign finance restrictions, and criticized Turek for accepting outside spending. "There is a dark money super PAC currently spending millions of dollars bolstering Rep. Turek’s campaign," Wahls said, linking Turek to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who has signaled a preference for Turek.
Turek, who was born with spina bifida attributed to his father’s exposure to Agent Orange, has not publicly responded to Wahls’ allegations. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, controlled by Schumer, also did not comment. VoteVets, a group that typically backs military veterans, has supported Turek’s campaign.
Wahls emphasized his commitment to rejecting corporate influence, stating, "I am running for the United States Senate because Iowans deserve a senator who works for us." The June 2 Democratic primary will determine which candidate advances to the general election.