Polk County board seats open up
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Two longtime Democratic Polk County supervisors are stepping aside, triggering a rare reshuffle and raising the possibility that Republicans could take a majority on the board for the first time in decades.
Why it matters: Supervisors oversee a large county budget and decisions involving public health, roads, courts, jails and countywide services.
Catch up quick: Angela Connolly and Tom Hockensmith are not seeking reelection this year after long runs on the board, while fellow Democratic Supervisor Matt McCoy is also up for reelection this year.
- The board's two Republicans, Jill Altringer and Mark Holm, took office in January 2025 and are not up for reelection this year.
Zoom in: The departures have created openings for Democratic candidates with strong local name recognition.
- Democratic Supervisor Matt McCoy is running for reelection in District 1, which is mostly in western Polk County, against John Forbes, a former Democratic state representative and retired Urbandale pharmacist.
- Des Moines City Council member Joe Gatto and Heather Jones-Brown, a higher education professional, are running for the Democratic nomination to succeed Hockensmith in District 4 on the city's south side.
- Izaah Knox, a Democratic state senator and executive director of Urban Dreams, is seeking the Democratic nomination to succeed Connolly for Polk County's District 5 seat, which includes much of northern Des Moines and parts of downtown.
State of play: No Republicans are on the June 2 primary ballot for the supervisor positions.
Yes, but: The GOP can still place candidates on the November ballot by filling ballot vacancies through party conventions before the Aug. 26 deadline.
The big picture: Republicans need to win only one seat to take the board after November's elections.
- Gatto's bid could also open his south-side City Council seat if he wins.