Former Michelle Obama aide Jackie Norris announces Senate challenge to Joni Ernst
Jackie Norris,chair of the Des Moines School Board adn former chief of staff to former First Lady michelle Obama,announced her campaign for the U.S.Senate seat in Iowa. Norris cited economic challenges such as unaffordable child care, health care, housing, and youth mental health issues as key reasons for running. She emphasized the need for practical solutions, including affordable child care and accessible pre-K programs. norris has a history in Iowa politics,having worked on former Governor Tom Vilsack’s campaign,and has experience in public service and nonprofit leadership. Making a bipartisan appeal, she stressed the importance of moving beyond partisan divisions to address Iowa’s needs effectively. Norris is the fourth Democrat to enter the race and is expected to challenge incumbent Republican Senator Joni Ernst in the 2026 midterm elections, where Ernst also faces primary challengers.
Former Michelle Obama aide Jackie Norris announces Senate challenge to Joni Ernst
Des Moines School Board Chair Jackie Norris announced her campaign Tuesday for Senate in Iowa.
Norris previously served as the chief of staff for former First Lady Michelle Obama, and is currently serving on the board of the largest school district in Iowa since 2021. She told Iowa Public Radio she was running due to economic concerns.
“You’ve got the economic strain, where essentials like child care, health care and housing are unaffordable, and our youth are in a mental health crisis right now,” she said.
“There’s different ways to do it, whether it’s child care affordability, whether it’s looking at solutions around pre-K to make sure that’s available and accessible to working parents, I think it is addressing mental health issues for young people,” she said.
She first came to Iowa when she worked on former Gov. Tom Vilsack’s campaign, who later became the first Democrat to win the state in 30 years. After serving in the Obama White House, she launched the Corporate Institute at President George H. W. Bush’s Points of Light organization.
In her campaign launch video, she made a bipartisan pitch.
“Red versus blue isn’t fixing anything. Iowa needs a Senator who doesn’t just talk tough but rolls up their sleeves, and has the grit and experience to actually get something done,” she said.
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Norris is the fourth Democrat to enter the race. Others include Democratic state Sen. Zach Wahls, state Rep. J.D. Scholten and Knoxville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Nathan Sage.
The Democratic nominee will likely face Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) in the 2026 midterm election, but she has not yet announced a reelection campaign. As it stands, Ernst is facing a primary challenge from two state lawmakers.
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