Josh Turek absentee votes are at the center of a new attack in the crowded Iowa Senate race: Fox News Digital reported that state Rep. Josh Turek missed 261 roll-call votes — roughly 58% of the chamber’s votes — between Jan. 12 and May 3, and that he received $20,100 in state per diem during the session.
Top lines: 261 missed votes and $20,100 per diem
The key figures reported: 261 missed roll-call votes, a 58% absence rate as presented by Fox News Digital, and $20,100 in per diem calculated from a $201 tax-free per diem paid for 100 legislative days. Those three numbers (261 missed votes, 58%, $20,100) are the focus of campaign messaging and this article’s reporting.
Josh Turek absentee votes
How that 58% share is described in reporting: Fox News Digital cites roll-call totals between Jan. 12 and May 3 and presents Turek’s 261 missed votes as about 58% of the votes recorded while the legislature was in session. Framed this way, the number communicates a high absence rate during the stated period.
How many votes did Josh Turek miss?
Fox News Digital reports the raw missed-vote total of 261 and the Jan. 12–May 3 timeline. The outlet frames the 261 figure as roughly 58% of roll-call votes during those session days; that percentage is the outlet’s characterization based on available roll-call data.
The reporting does not, in the same piece, break down every missed vote by issue or indicate whether absences were excused under chamber rules. Outside groups and campaigns have highlighted specific missed votes in ads and statements; those itemized examples should be checked against official roll-call entries for independent confirmation.
Per diem and state law explained
Published reporting on this story states the state per diem for legislators this session was $201 per legislative day and that per diems were paid for 100 days, producing the $20,100 total (100 days × $201 = $20,100). The per diem is described as tax-free under state rules in the reporting.
Per diem payments cover expenses while the legislature is in session but do not, by themselves, indicate whether a lawmaker’s absences were excused or how a lawmaker spent the money. Payroll and per diem records maintained by the Iowa Legislature can be consulted to verify payments to any individual member for a given session.
Campaign claims and public responses
Republican nominee Ashley Hinson has used the numbers in campaign messaging, calling Turek “an absentee legislator” and saying he accepted more than $20,000 in per diem while “hardly showing up,” as reported by Fox News Digital. Those quotes and characterizations are attributed to Hinson’s campaign and related statements in media interviews.
The Turek campaign disputed the attack, responding with counterclaims about Hinson’s own voting record and conduct. The campaign has alleged Hinson missed certain votes and questioned reimbursements tied to her work in Washington. Those assertions come from campaign statements and are presented here as partisan claims, not independently verified facts.
Both campaigns have used attendance and per diem figures to craft contrasting narratives: Hinson points to a high voting percentage she cites for her congressional record (98.8% in materials she has released), while Turek’s team highlights examples of missed votes by Hinson and alleged spending on living expenses. Readers should treat those numbers as campaign-supplied and verify them via primary records when possible.
Why this matters for the Iowa Senate race
The story arrives amid a competitive contest for the open seat to succeed Sen. Joni Ernst. A recent Fox News poll cited in reporting showed a close race, and the Cook Political Report’s rating of the contest as Lean Republican underscores the attention national groups are paying to turnout and messaging.
In tight races, attendance narratives and questions about use of taxpayer-funded per diems can shape perceptions of who will “show up” for Iowa. Campaigns often use such stories to press arguments about accountability and stewardship of public funds; how voters weigh those arguments can affect outcomes in closely divided districts.
Verification and sources
The missed-vote total (261) and the Jan. 12–May 3 timeframe are reported by Fox News Digital: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dem-senate-hopeful-ripped-absentee-legislator-after-missing-nearly-60-votes.
For independent verification, official roll-call records and payroll/per diem records are publicly available from the Iowa Legislature’s website and can be used to confirm the number of roll-call votes, individual attendance records, and per diem payments for the session: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/.
Where this piece cites campaign statements (for example, Hinson’s characterization of Turek or Turek’s rebuttals), those are labeled as campaign assertions. Specific allegations about particular missed votes, reimbursements or endorsements should be checked against primary sources — roll-call logs and payroll/per diem entries — before being treated as established facts.
Source attribution and methods: primary numeric claims on missed votes and per diem totals in this article come from Fox News Digital reporting and may be cross-checked against official Iowa legislative records available at the Iowa Legislature website. Campaign quotes and accusations are identified as such and are not independently corroborated here.
FAQ
How many votes did Josh Turek miss?
Fox News Digital reported that Turek missed 261 roll-call votes between Jan. 12 and May 3, a figure the outlet frames as about 58% of recorded votes during that period.
Did Turek collect per diem while missing votes?
Published reporting says a $201 tax-free per diem was paid for 100 legislative days this year, producing a $20,100 total. Official payroll and per diem records from the Iowa Legislature can confirm which members received payments and for which days.
Are these attendance claims independently verified?
The numeric totals cited here derive from Fox News Digital’s reporting. Independent verification is possible via the Iowa Legislature’s roll-call records and payroll/per diem statements; those primary sources are the basis for confirming attendance and payment details.
