In a newly released campaign video, former President Barack Obama laces up a basketball and joins Iowa state representative and Paralympian Josh Turek for a friendly game, openly endorsing Turek's bid for a U.S. Senate seat.
A Game of Politics and Policy
Turek, a Democrat who lost his right leg in a motorcycle accident and later excelled in wheelchair basketball, is challenging Republican U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson, a rising star in the party.
The matchup is more than a publicity stunt; it underscores Obama's pattern of using his basketball pedigree to rally candidates ahead of the midterm elections, a strategy that has already seen him meet with WNBA standout Caitlin Clark at his Presidential Center.
Obama's Courtside Legacy
Beyond the Senate race, Obama has overseen the conversion of the White House tennis court into a basketball venue and commissioned a professional‑grade court at his Presidential Center, where he has hosted athletes from across the sporting spectrum.
The former president's engagement with sports extends to political circles, where his endorsements are viewed as a signal of bipartisan appeal and a mobilizing force for younger voters.