Des Moines metro school board races go blue
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In the Des Moines school board race, incumbent Maria Alonzo and newcomer Sara Hopkins won the contested race for two at-large seats on Tuesday, according to unofficial election results.
- Incumbent DMPS school board chair Jackie Norris and member Jenna Knox did not run for reelection.
Why it matters: Local school districts are dealing with rapidly changing state laws, including cellphone bans, restrictions on LGBTQ+ instruction, funding competition with private schools and chronic absenteeism.
- School boards help districts navigate education reform laws while also addressing specific local concerns.
Zoom in: The district has recently faced a scandal and challenges with public trust after former superintendent Ian Roberts was detained by ICE.
- All of the DMPS school board candidates have supported more transparency in the superintendent search process. When Roberts was hired in 2023, the board chose to present only Roberts to the public among the three final candidates.
Across the suburbs, Democrats snagged a majority of seats for several school boards.
In Johnston, Democratic-backed candidates Justin David Smith, Kaycee Schippers and Rexford G. Davidson won the three open seats.
- The school board election has been particularly partisan, with candidate affiliations ranging from Turning Point USA to Annie's Foundation.
In Ankeny, Jeff Schumacher, Roxanne Petersen and Joy Burk won seats, and in Urbandale, Hannah Horton, Rodrigo Santizo and Rachel Kent won.
- Waukee voters selected Michael Schrodt, Jaime Secory, Becky Lachenmaier and Armel R. Traore Dit Nignan for the school board.