Iowa Democrat Senate hopeful Josh Turek is touting support from two county sheriffs in a new campaign ad, even though both lawmen have long records of backing sanctuary-style policies and opposing cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
The spot, released by Tureks campaign, features Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner and Story County Sheriff Paul Fitzgerald, both Democrats, presenting the candidate as an ally of law enforcement. According to Breitbart, Fitzgerald declares in the ad, As a law enforcement officer, I know Josh Turek has our back, and yours, despite his own history of resisting federal immigration enforcement tools.
Tureks record in the Iowa state Senate further complicates his law-and-order messaging, as he voted to use taxpayer dollars to extend welfare benefits to illegal immigrants. He has since launched his U.S. Senate bid claiming he opposes benefits for illegal immigrants, a shift that raises questions for voters who expect consistency on border security and fiscal responsibility.
Fitzgerald, who serves as sheriff in Story County, ordered his jurisdiction in 2014 to stop honoring ICE detainers, effectively limiting cooperation with federal authorities. We cannot deprive somebody of their freedom without a criminal charge or a warrant for their arrest, and a detainer is neither of those, he told the Ames Tribune, aligning himself with policies that critics say prioritize the rights of illegal immigrants over public safety.
In January 2021, Fitzgerald signed a letter backing Alejandro Mayorkas confirmation as Department of Homeland Security Secretary under Joe Biden, praising him as a proven leader who has worked to keep the nation secure. Under Mayorkas, DHS presided over four years of open-border policies that allowed millions of illegal immigrants to enter the United States, culminating in his impeachment by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2024.
Gardner, the Linn County sheriff, likewise rejected participation in the 287(g) program, which allows local law enforcement to partner with ICE to identify and remove criminal aliens. He told the Gazette in 2014, We will no longer hold any inmates past their release time merely on an ICE hold, a policy the paper noted was quietly implemented, and which conservatives argue undermines the rule of law.
Linn County has since been listed as a sanctuary jurisdiction as recently as 2025 by the Federation for American Immigration Reform in its 2025 Sanctuary Jurisdiction report, underscoring the countys resistance to federal immigration enforcement. That designation stands in stark contrast to the tough-on-border-security agenda championed by President Donald Trump and many Republicans who favor robust cooperation with ICE.
Immigration has become a defining fault line in the contest between Turek and Republican nominee Ashley Hinson, offering voters a clear ideological choice. In a recent debate, Turek promoted pathways to citizenship, while Hinson highlighted her endorsement from the National Border Patrol Council, signaling her alignment with frontline agents who have repeatedly condemned the Biden-Mayorkas border regime.
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