{"id":2602517,"date":"2026-05-14T07:15:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T11:15:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/veterans-group-backing-iowa-democrats-senate-bid-bankrolled-by-schumer-pac\/"},"modified":"2026-05-14T07:16:56","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T11:16:56","slug":"veterans-group-backing-iowa-democrats-senate-bid-bankrolled-by-schumer-pac","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/veterans-group-backing-iowa-democrats-senate-bid-bankrolled-by-schumer-pac\/","title":{"rendered":"Veterans group backing Iowa Democrat\u2019s Senate bid bankrolled by Schumer PAC"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fveterans-group-backing-iowa-democrats-senate-bid-bankrolled-by-schumer-pac%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2602517&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A veteran-aimed Democratic political group, VoteVets, is pouring millions into ads to back iowa Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek\u2019s bid for the U.S. Senate, despite reports that he himself is not a veteran. The article says VoteVets is funded largely thru partnerships with Senate Majority PAC, which is closely affiliated with Senate Minority Leader Chuck schumer, and that Senate Majority PAC has provided VoteVets more than $31 million over the past decade.  <\/p>\n<p>Most recently, VoteVets added about $800,000 more to an already large ad effort supporting Turek, including a 30-second video that calls him \u201cthe fighter Iowa needs,\u201d tied to his disability and the claim that his spinal condition resulted from his father\u2019s Agent Orange exposure. turek is portrayed as Schumer\u2019s likely \u201cpick\u201d in the battleground Iowa primary, even though Schumer has not officially endorsed him.His opponent, state Sen. Zach Wahls, argues Turek is aligned with Washington elites and accuses VoteVets of being a \u201cdark money\u201d vehicle or pass-through for Schumer to influence the primary.  <\/p>\n<p>the piece also highlights that VoteVets has spent roughly $5 million on ads aimed at countering the idea that Turek is tied to the Washington establishment,while drawing criticism from some veterans organizations and veteran advocates who worry about partisan groups using the veterans label. VoteVets responds by pointing to its veterans and military-family leadership and its history of supporting candidates aligned with veterans and national security concerns, and it emphasizes Turek\u2019s connection to veterans through his lifelong reliance on VA healthcare.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>A <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/veterans\/\">veterans<\/a> group that <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >runs multimillion-dollar ad campaigns<\/a> in support of Democratic candidates, typically retired service members, has been spending heavily on a nonmilitary <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Senate\/\">Senate<\/a> hopeful who is considered one of Senate Minority Leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Chuck-Schumer\/\">Chuck Schumer<\/a>\u2019s (D-NY) recruits to win several crucial races in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-election\/\">2026 midterm elections<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/votevets.org\/\">VoteVets<\/a>, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/marriott-att-airbnbheres-the-list-of-corporations-announcing-they-wont-donate-to-gop-lawmakers-who-objected-to-electoral-votes-from-contested-states\/\" title=\"Marriott, AT&amp;T, Airbnb\u2026Here\u2019s The List Of Corporations Announcing They Won\u2019t Donate To GOP Lawmakers Who Objected To Electoral Votes From Contested States\">political action committee<\/a> that presents itself as a veteran advocacy organization, is bankrolled by the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/senatemajority.com\/\">Senate Majority PAC<\/a>, a super PAC <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2024\/10\/15\/schumer-pac-senate-fundraising\">closely affiliated<\/a> with Schumer and \u201csolely dedicated to building a Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate.\u201d According to Federal Election Commission filings, the Senate Majority PAC has given VoteVets <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fec.gov\/data\/receipts\/?data_type=processed&#038;committee_id=C00418897&#038;contributor_name=C00484642\">more than $31.2 million<\/a> over the past decade to help Democrats secure Senate seats.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4567133\/georgia-gop-senate-primary-fight-ossoff\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>GOP fears prolonged Georgia Senate primary is blowing key pickup opportunity<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4565332\/nebraska-house-democratic-primary-results\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Denise Powell wins Nebraska Democratic primary in race to fill Bacon\u2019s House seat<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4567440\/south-carolina-redistricting-special-session-house-map\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>South Carolina\u2019s McMaster to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/they-will-be-arrested-gov-abbott-threatens-democrats-who-left-texas\/\" title=\"\u2018They Will Be Arrested\u2019: Gov. Abbott Threatens Democrats Who Left Texas\">call special session<\/a> to redraw House map<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Most recently, VoteVets poured <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/votevets.org\/press-releases\/votevets-launches-new-ad-supporting-josh-turek-in-iowa\">an additional $800,000<\/a> into its already seven-figure advertisement blitz supporting the Senate run of Josh Turek, a Democrat serving in the Iowa House.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>As part of the paid media campaign, VoteVets released <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=91dF3Nz-AHA\">a 30-second video<\/a> last week touting Turek as \u201cthe fighter Iowa needs in the U.S. Senate,\u201d although the state representative is not a veteran. His father, however, served in Vietnam, and Turek, a wheelchair-bound <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.teamusa.com\/profiles\/josh-turek-839425\">Paralympic<\/a> gold medalist, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/watch\/?v=1556260726072828\">says<\/a> his spinal condition was caused by his father\u2019s wartime exposure to Agent Orange.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNow Josh is running for Senate to end the corruption in Washington,\u201d the VoteVets ad says.<\/p>\n<p>Turek, meanwhile, is widely seen as <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4532862\/chuck-schumer-senate-recruits-trail-primary-challengers-fundraising\/\">Schumer\u2019s pick<\/a> in battleground Iowa. His competitor in next month\u2019s Democratic primary, Iowa state Sen. Zach Wahls, has tied Turek to the Democratic establishment and elites in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Washington-DC\/\">Washington, D.C.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Wahls, conversely, has positioned himself as an independent voice, telling voters, \u201cAs your U.S. senator, I will not be there to work for Chuck Schumer or for Donald Trump or the billionaires or the big corporations.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The two Iowa Democrats are neck and neck in terms of fundraising, according to their April quarterly reports. Each raised about $1.1 million in the first three months of 2026, with <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/docquery.fec.gov\/cgi-bin\/forms\/C00915645\/1967276\/\">Turek<\/a> slightly leading over <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/docquery.fec.gov\/cgi-bin\/forms\/C00907923\/1962899\/\">Wahls<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Schumer-backed candidates in other key states have similarly struggled to outraise their competition, as primary challengers have found success running against Democratic Party leadership using anti-establishment messaging. Schumer has not formally endorsed Turek.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4505725\/chuck-schumer-prized-2026-recruits-wont-commit-keeping-him-senate-leader\/\"><strong>SCHUMER\u2019S PRIZED 2026 RECRUITS WON\u2019T COMMIT TO KEEPING HIM AS SENATE LEADER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>VoteVets, which is based out of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fec.gov\/data\/committee\/C00418897\/?tab=about-committee\">a P.O. box<\/a> in Portland, Oregon, has spent <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fec.gov\/data\/independent-expenditures\/?data_type=processed&#038;q_spender=C00418897&#038;is_notice=true&#038;most_recent=true&#038;candidate_id=S6IA00298\">$5 million<\/a> on ad buys countering any imagery attaching the bureaucracy of Washington to Turek. Through <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=hLGDVFlMLkg\">a series<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=7fE_h0-JQoQ\">of videos<\/a>, promoted online and broadcast on TVs statewide, VoteVets is introducing Turek to Iowans as \u201cthe only candidate ready to take on the corruption in D.C.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSome politicians are for sale. Josh Turek is for Iowa,\u201d one VoteVets <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=QOUAiuvfdjc\">video ad<\/a> told viewers, adding, \u201cJosh isn\u2019t bought and paid for. He refuses to take a single dime of corporate PAC money.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In response, Wahls has called out Turek for receiving help \u2014 in the form of sponsored content \u2014 from the outside spending group, going so far as to suggest that VoteVets is a pass-through entity working on behalf of Schumer to tilt the primary in Turek\u2019s favor.<\/p>\n<p>During <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=94dkgpd8AZE\">a Democratic candidate forum<\/a> last month, Wahls accused Turek of accepting support from Washington insiders via \u201ca dark money super PAC.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis organization that is supporting my Democratic opponent, Rep. Turek, is called VoteVets,\u201d said Wahls. \u201cIt is known to be linked to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>On <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=kwxDAqHun0E\">the debate stage<\/a> Tuesday night, Wahls took the allegations further, explicitly stating, \u201cSen. Schumer is trying to come into Iowa, trying to buy an election to the tune of $6.7 million and climbing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4556860\/iowa-senate-debate-schism-schumer\/\"><strong>IOWA SENATE DEBATE SHOWS SCHISM ON SCHUMER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1bKERlrB1lDmfl-qt-lq0OJHSONyAVDN6\/view\">Polling results<\/a>, released by Turek for Iowa a day after the debate, show Turek up 53% to 27%, a 26-point advantage against Wahls among Democratic primary voters.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe momentum behind Josh Turek is surging because Iowans know that Josh is the fighter they need in the U.S. Senate and he is the right candidate to take on Ashley Hinson to fight for working families and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hi-goodnight-everybody-even-liberals-admit-fettermans-debate-performance-was-abysmal\/\" title=\"\u2018Hi. Goodnight, Everybody\u2019: Even Liberals Admit Fetterman\u2019s ... Performance Was Abysmal\">hold big corporations accountable<\/a>,\u201d a Turek campaign spokesperson told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cThat\u2019s why he\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/turek4iowa.com\/news\/new-former-u-s-senator-tom-harkin-endorses-josh-turek-for-u-s-senate\/\">endorsed<\/a> by Senator Tom Harkin and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/turek4iowa.com\/endorsements\/\">over 80 Iowa leaders<\/a>, and it\u2019s why he\u2019ll win in November.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Tom Harkin, a former Democratic senator who served as a pilot in the Navy the same decade as Turek\u2019s father, has defended VoteVets\u2019s support of Turek. Turek\u2019s disability, which the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.publichealth.va.gov\/exposures\/agentorange\/birth-defects\/spina-bifida.asp\">directly linked<\/a> to Agent Orange exposure, required almost a dozen surgeries by the time he turned 12.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJosh is as much a victim of the Vietnam War as veterans who were out in the field fighting, absolutely,\u201d Harkin <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/theiowamercury.substack.com\/p\/harkin-endorses-turek-in-us-senate\">told<\/a> the Iowa Mercury.<\/p>\n<p>As for VotesVets, Harkin said, \u201cIt\u2019s not like they are trying to do something they haven\u2019t before and that is to support good, solid candidates who they believe will be supportive of veterans and veterans\u2019 issues \u2014 that\u2019s their bottom line.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In addition to ad campaigns featuring pro-Turek veterans, VoteVets has hosted <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mobilize.us\/mobilize\/event\/944678\/\">a happy hour meet-and-greet<\/a> connecting Turek with military families while focusing on his familial ties to the military.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJosh Turek\u2019s connection to the veteran community began at birth,\u201d the VoteVets Action Fund, its 501(c)(4) arm, captioned the outreach event.<\/p>\n<p>In the invite aimed at veterans, VoteVets mentioned that Turek was born with spina bifida and has relied on VA healthcare benefits for most of his life, \u201cso he doesn\u2019t just understand the VA as a policy issue; he understands it as a lifeline.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Josh Turek, right, controls the ball as Japan\u2019s Tomohiko Oshima tries to stop him during a wheelchair basketball match at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2004, in the Olympic Indoor Hall. The Athens Paralympic logo is seen on the left. (AP Photo\/Thanassis Stavrakis)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Some veterans associations, such as the congressionally chartered Disabled American Veterans, have <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/rollcall.com\/2014\/09\/30\/who-really-speaks-for-veterans-rules-of-the-game\/\">raised concerns<\/a> about overtly partisan PACs on both sides of the political aisle harnessing the credibility of war veterans to push certain policy positions.<\/p>\n<p>Paul Rieckhoff, the founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/story\/2015\/06\/partisan-veterans-koch-steyer-2016-elections-119396\">expressed<\/a> \u201cdeep misgivings about the veteran label being used to advance partisan agendas.\u201d Rieckhoff pointed to how the public often confuses highly partisan veterans groups with nonpartisan veteran services that \u201cput their advocacy for veterans above any political agenda.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In a statement to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>, VoteVets rebutted the \u201coffensive claim\u201d that the organization is not a legitimate veterans group.<\/p>\n<p>VoteVets pointed to pushback on social media defending the organization, including posts from Democratic strategists <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/mikenellis\/status\/2051698852672016466\">Mike Nellis<\/a>, formerly a senior adviser to Vice President Kamala Harris, and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/steveschale\/status\/2051718020142145904\">Steve Schale<\/a>, who was the state director for Barack Obama\u2019s 2008 campaign in Florida.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think the actual active duty and veterans who run VoteVets \u2014 guys who faced bullets in defense of the nation \u2014 would be shocked to learn they are \u2018fake,\u2019\u201d Schale posted on X.<\/p>\n<p>VoteVets co-founder <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/show\/iraq-war-veterans-take-sides-in-the-presidential-campaign\">Jon Soltz<\/a>, previously the Pennsylvania co-coordinator of Veterans for John Kerry, served two tours in Iraq. Past <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20161006033300\/http:\/\/www.votevets.org:80\/about\">board members<\/a> include Douglas Band, who was the deputy White House assistant to President Bill Clinton, and retired Gen. Wesley Clark, a 2004 Democratic presidential candidate.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor more than twenty years, VoteVets has effectively worked to elect veterans, national security professionals, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/virginia-public-school-students-made-to-play-identify-your-privilege-bingo\/\" title=\"Virginia Public School Students Made To Play \u2018Identify Your Privilege\u2019 Bingo\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\">military family members<\/a>,\u201d VoteVets senior adviser Paul Eaton told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cWe are proud to support Josh Turek because he knows firsthand the generational costs of war.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Eaton added, \u201cJosh will fight for our 3,000 members in Iowa who are Veterans and military family members \u2014 and for working families across the state. With our country at war and prices soaring, our nation needs Josh in the Senate now more than ever.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3809551\/national-democrats-hope-iowa-josh-turek-senate-bid\/\"><strong>NATIONAL DEMOCRATS SEE HOPE IN IOWA WITH JOSH TUREK\u2019S SENATE BID<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>VoteVets <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/votevets.org\/about\">emerged<\/a> during the second administration of President George W. Bush to primarily oppose U.S. military intervention abroad by working to elect veterans to Congress who were critical of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The group\u2019s preferred candidates were generally Democrats aligned on the issues of national security and foreign policy.<\/p>\n<p>On the campaign trail, Turek has strongly spoken out against America\u2019s involvement in the Iran conflict, saying that he is \u201can example of the generational consequences of these forever wars that we continue to find ourselves in.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn my lifetime, I\u2019ve seen us spend $1 trillion over in Iraq, another $1 trillion in Afghanistan. For what?\u201d Turek questioned during the debate on Tuesday. \u201cIn my father\u2019s conflict, 50,000 men and women [didn\u2019t] come from Vietnam. I\u2019m tired of seeing a blank check to the military industrial complex.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>VoteVets has since expanded its focus area from strictly military matters. When the organization began lobbying about climate change legislation in 2010, progressive critics within the anti-war movement at the time <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/original.antiwar.com\/kelley_beaucar_vlahos\/2010\/04\/19\/votevets-org-crosses-the-line\/\">observed<\/a>, \u201cVoteVets.org looks less like a veterans\u2019 lobby than a full-fledged water-carrier for Democratic interests on Capitol Hill.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A veteran group funding Schumer-linked ads backs Josh Turek for Senate<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3767,"featured_media":2602519,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26057657839369-e1772997466528.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[33301,32923,5626,69619,51463],"class_list":["post-2602517","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-chuck-schumer","tag-democratic-party","tag-iowa","tag-u-s-senate-race","tag-veterans-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26057657839369-e1772997466528.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2602517","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3767"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2602517"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2602517\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2602521,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2602517\/revisions\/2602521"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2602519"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2602517"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2602517"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2602517"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}