Jackie Norris is staying in the race for U.S. Senate
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Jackie Norris, Michelle Obama's chief of staff in 2009, was elected to the Des Moines Public Schools board in November 2021. Photo: Courtesy of DMPS
Des Moines Public Schools board chairperson Jackie Norris tells Axios she's committed to her U.S. Senate campaign despite ongoing fallout from the district's superintendent scandal and increasing attacks from Republicans.
Why it matters: Iowa Democrats are eager to break the state's all-Republican congressional hold in 2026, but the controversy with now-former superintendent Ian Roberts could complicate the effort to win the seat being vacated by Sen. Joni Ernst.
Catch up quick: Norris was one of the board members who helped hire Roberts in 2023.
- Roberts, a native of Guyana, was detained by federal immigration agents on Sept. 26 and faces federal charges of being an illegal alien with firearms.
- Faulty background checks and inaccuracies regarding his professional or educational experiences have been revealed in the following weeks.
Zoom in: Norris initially asked people to engage in "radical empathy" when Roberts was detained — a term Roberts used in a book to describe situations where people can respectfully disagree.
- By Oct. 1, the district issued a press release saying it had been "profoundly misled" by Roberts' misrepresentations. The board soon agreed to file a lawsuit against JG Consulting, a firm hired for the 2023 search.
What they're saying: U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, a Republican running for the Senate seat, recently referenced Norris' comments in calling for "radical accountability" to taxpayers, whom she says were fleeced by his hiring.
- After Norris asked for campaign donations online because she didn't have time to focus on fundraising ahead of deadline, the Republican Party of Iowa said in a press release: "Why? Because she hired an illegal immigrant to run Iowa's largest school district."
The other side: The GOP tactics have the potential to backfire on them, Norris tells Axios.
- "They seized on a crisis to attack public education and to attack me," Norris said. "Politicians like Ashley Hinson don't seem to care if her comments put public schools or public school kids or teachers in the crossfire."
Reality check: The situation is a double-edged sword for Norris, Karen Kedrowski, director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University, tells Axios.
- The controversy has increased Norris' name recognition but will also be fodder for negative campaign ads and could carry a lot of baggage into the general election, she said.
Yes, but: A lot can happen in the roughly eight months until the 2026 primary and the issue may have settled by then, Kedrowski noted.
- At least four other Democrats seek the nomination: state Sen. Zach Wahls, former state legislator Bob Krause, military veteran Nathan Sage and state Rep. Josh Turek.
Editor's note: Jackie Norris evaluated her Senate campaign and ended it two days after publication.