Democratic Senate candidates concluded their campaigns on Thursday amidst ongoing repercussions from the superintendent’s arrest by immigration officials.
Jackie Norris, who leads the Des Moines Public Schools Board of Education, has chosen to withdraw from seeking the Democratic nomination for Iowa’s open U.S. Senate seat. She announced this decision through social media. This comes after significant backlash regarding the arrest of an undocumented immigrant who had been appointed as the superintendent of the school district.
Norris stated in an online message, “After careful consideration, I have decided not to run as a candidate for U.S. Senate in the Democratic primary.”
She elaborated, “The recent crisis involving our Public Schools Superintendent has required my full attention as Board President and has subjected our board, our community, and myself to a harsh and systematic assault.” Norris emphasized the need to focus on steering the board through these challenges, supporting the Reimagine Education Bond, and actively participating in the ongoing inquiry to provide the community with the answers it deserves.
In a recent operation, ICE apprehended Ian Andre Roberts, a Guyanese national residing in the country illegally. At the time, Roberts was reportedly found with a loaded handgun, a hunting knife, and a significant amount of cash.
Questions emerged regarding how Roberts, who has a lengthy criminal record, managed to secure the superintendent position at Des Moines Public Schools, which offered a six-figure salary and considerable authority.
The school board later acknowledged that it hired Roberts in 2023, even though he misrepresented his qualifications, claiming to have a doctorate from Morgan State University. The school district has since initiated a lawsuit against the consultancy firm it employed to vet candidates.
“How this undocumented individual was hired without proper work authorization or prior legal issues is astonishing and should raise alarms among parents in the district,” remarked Sam Olson, director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in St. Paul, following Roberts’ arrest.
Voter registration data indicated that Roberts was registered as a Democrat in Maryland, raising concerns among Republican legislators about vulnerabilities in the voting system. Further investigations revealed that Roberts’ consultancy business had benefitted from various school boards’ diversity and inclusion initiatives.
The upcoming 2026 Iowa election will decide who takes over from two-term Republican Senator Joni Ernst, who announced in September that she would not be running for re-election.
