Well, that was unexpected.

In a surprising turn in Iowa’s Democratic U.S. Senate primary, political outsider Nathan Sage suspended his campaign and endorsed Josh Turek.

This is the same Josh Turek that Sage repeatedly criticized as Chuck Schumer’s “handpicked candidate.” The same Turek that Sage tied directly to the D.C. Democrat establishment. At one point, Sage even said he would not support Schumer if elected to the U.S. Senate and called for new leadership in Washington. 

Now he’s backing Schumer’s preferred candidate. So what changed?

Sage didn’t have to endorse anyone. He could have stepped aside and allowed primary voters to decide. Instead he made the deliberate choice to support the very candidate he framed as a symbol of everything wrong with Washington politics.

Iowans, especially Democrat primary voters, deserve answers:

• What conversations took place between Sage and national Democrats

• Were promises made?

• Was pressure applied?

• Why does Sage now support the candidate he previously portrayed as the D.C. establishment’s puppet?

At the same time, Turek’s campaign is struggling to gain traction in a competitive primary, reportedly burning through cash while trying to consolidate support as Zach Wahls establishes himself as the frontrunner. His campaign has largely downplayed its national backing, despite months of coverage tying him to Schumer and Washington insiders.

This sudden endorsement only raises more questions.

Democrat primary voters now have to decide whether they’re comfortable with what appears to be backroom maneuvering in a race that was framed as a choice between grassroots voices and the Washington establishment.

“Iowans watched Nathan Sage build an entire campaign around opposing the D.C. Democrat machine and Chuck Schumer’s influence. Now he’s endorsing Schumer’s handpicked candidate. That’s a stunning reversal, and voters deserve to know why. What changed?” - Iowa GOP Spokesperson Jade Cichy

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