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Since her callous reaction at a town hall to the contention that cuts In Medicaid health coverage will lead to deaths — “we’re all going to die” — there’s been speculation Ernst wouldn’t seek a third term. The rumor mill turned out to be accurate.

But it didn’t surprise state Rep. Josh Turek, D-Council Bluffs.

“Yeah, honestly, I wasn't surprised she didn't have the courage to stand up for the one in five Iowans that are on Medicaid, and for the thousands of Iowans that are on SNAP benefits and food assistance,” Turek told me in an interview. “And so, I'm honestly, I'm not surprised that she doesn't have the stomach to face the Iowa voters now.”

...

“I don't think the Democratic brand is broken,” Turek said. “I will say this, I think that Trump accurately stated and realized that the status quo was not working for the average Iowan, the average American, for working class families. But all of his policies are just making that situation even worse. It's faux populism.

Turek considers himself a “prairie populist.”

“And that's to go out there and talk about lowering costs and talking about having a livable wage, talk about having legitimately affordable housing, and to make sure that, you know, people have access to quality, affordable health care, that health care is a human right, to have affordable pharmaceuticals to actually do something to help the individuals, to help Iowa and Iowans and working families. And that's how I've been able to be successful out here in red Iowa,” Turek said.

...https://www.thegazette.com/staff-columnists/turek-is-inspiring-and-knows-how-to-win-in-red-iowa/