Norris ends Senate campaign, citing need to focus on addressing Des Moines superintendent ‘crisis’

DES MOINES — Jackie Norris has ended her campaign for the U.S. Senate in Iowa, citing a need to focus on her work as leader of the Des Moines Public School Board in the wake of the arrest and resignation of the district’s former superintendent.

Norris made the announcement in a press release Thursday.

Norris is chairwoman of the Des Moines Public School Board, which continues to deal with the fallout from the Sept. 26 arrest of former superintendent Ian Roberts, who was apprehended by federal immigration officers and now faces immigration and federal gun charges. Roberts resigned Sept. 30.

“The recent Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent crisis demanded my full attention as Board Chair and, overnight, put the School Board, our community, and me personally in the crosshairs of vicious and coordinated attacks,” Norris said in a campaign press release. “Those realities took time and oxygen away from the work I set out to do: stand up for our kids and families — and the backbone of our communities, their educators and caregivers.

“As Chair of the School Board, we stepped up and are bringing accountability — leading with grace, transparency, and resolve,” Norris continued. “To that end, it’s clear I need to focus on the work at hand: leading the board through this transition, working to support the passage of the Reimagining Education bond, and fully participating in ongoing investigations to get the answers our community deserves.”

With Norris’ campaign ended, four Democrats remain vying for their party’s nomination in Iowa’s 2026 open-seat U.S. Senate election: state legislators Zach Wahls of Coralville and Josh Turek of Council Bluffs, former chamber of commerce leader Nathan Sage of Indianola, and veterans advocate Bob Krause.

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Who’s running for U.S. Senate in Iowa?

Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst announced earlier this year she is not seeking a third, six-year term. Two Republicans are running for the party’s nomination: Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion and former state legislator Jim Carlin of Sioux City.

Three prominent national elections forecasters — Sabato’s Crystal Ball, Cook Political Report and Inside Elections — rate Iowa’s 2026 U.S. Senate election as “likely Republican.”

Norris, who announced her candidacy on Aug. 5, in addition to chairing the Des Moines school board is president of Horizon Group, a market research and management consulting business in West Des Moines. She is a former CEO of Goodwill of Central Iowa.

Norris’ previous political experience includes working on former Gov. Tom Vilsack’s first gubernatorial campaign in 1998 and Barack Obama’s 2008 Iowa caucus campaign. Norris also worked with both Democratic and Republican presidents, including as former first lady Michelle Obama’s chief of staff.

Jackie Norris’ husband John ran for Iowa governor in 2018. Jackie and John have three adult children, two of which are enrolled at U.S. military academies.

Comments: (515) 355-1300, erin.murphy@thegazette.com

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