IA-SEN: Des Moines School Board President Jackie Norris (D) exits U.S. Senate race
Des Moines School Board President Jackie Norris ended her campaign for U.S. Senate Thursday, saying she plans to focus on efforts to investigate and bring accountability to Des Moines Public Schools following the immigration arrest of former Superintendent Ian Roberts.
Norris had entered the race in August as a Democratic candidate, focusing her campaign on supporting public education and aid programs cut by recent GOP-backed laws like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP. In a Democratic primary field that had some candidates getting more national or state attention, such as state Sen. Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, and Rep. Josh Turek, D-Council Bluffs, as well as former Knoxville Chamber of Commerce Director Nathan Sage, Norris’ campaign had a lower profile than some of her competitors.
But in the two months since her announcement, the Des Moines School Board has become a focal point in state and national politics. In late September, Roberts, who served as DMPS superintendent since 2023, was arrested and detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Federal officials have since confirmed Roberts, a citizen of Guyana, was given an order of removal by an immigration judge in May 2024.
Multiple reports had also found Roberts had falsified parts of his education credentials and resume during the DMPS hiring process. The background check process conducted during this process also did not reveal some of Roberts’ previous criminal charges or immigration status — issues which led to the school board moving to sue the search firm it used in hiring Roberts, JG Consulting.
https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/10/16/des-moines-school-board-president-jackie-norris-exits-u-s-senate-race/