{"id":2500127,"date":"2025-10-17T13:49:58","date_gmt":"2025-10-17T17:49:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iowa-senate-candidate-drops-bid-to-focus-on-school-board\/"},"modified":"2025-10-17T13:52:25","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T17:52:25","slug":"iowa-senate-candidate-drops-bid-to-focus-on-school-board","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iowa-senate-candidate-drops-bid-to-focus-on-school-board\/","title":{"rendered":"Iowa Senate candidate drops bid to focus on school board"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fiowa-senate-candidate-drops-bid-to-focus-on-school-board%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2500127&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Jackie Norris, Chairwoman of the Des Moines School Board, has withdrawn her Iowa Senate candidacy too focus on her responsibilities following a scandal involving the district&#8217;s former superintendent, Ian Roberts. roberts, who had a lengthy criminal record and was living in the U.S. illegally, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after a car chase. His hiring sparked criticism over the school board&#8217;s inadequate vetting process, as Roberts also allegedly forged a doctorate degree. Norris cited the ongoing &#8220;superintendent crisis&#8221; and coordinated attacks against the board as reasons for stepping back from her Senate run to prioritize managing the fallout, supporting education funding measures, and cooperating with investigations. the incident has political implications in Iowa, where Democrats aimed to flip a Senate seat after Senator Joni ernst announced she would not seek reelection, though Republicans remain favored to retain the position.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Iowa Senate candidate drops bid to focus on school board after superintendent was arrested by ICE<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2375551\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Des Moines School Board Chairwoman Jackie Norris is dropping her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/senate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Senate<\/a> bid in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iowa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Iowa<\/a> to focus on her job after it was revealed that a former superintendent of the district lived in the United States illegally.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/3836350\/dhs-record-iowa-school-superintendent-ian-roberts-immigration\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ian Roberts<\/a> ran the state&rsquo;s largest school district before Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested him after a car chase. It was discovered that Roberts had a criminal record that spanned decades, and his hiring drew considerable criticism due to the board&rsquo;s alleged insufficient vetting of him.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3853543\/daniel-cameron-leading-kentucky-senate-primary-polls\/\">Daniel Cameron ahead in GOP Kentucky Senate primary polls despite raising fraction of rivals&#8217; funds<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3852570\/emilys-list-endorsement-illinois-senate-race\/\">Democrats clash over EMILY&rsquo;s List&rsquo;s early endorsement in Illinois Senate race<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3851908\/uaw-joins-unions-backing-oyster-farmer-graham-platner-over-janet-mills-maine-senate-race\/\">UAW joins unions backing oyster farmer Platner over Mills in Senate race<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Norris noted the recent &ldquo;superintendent crisis&rdquo; needed her full attention and put herself, the community, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/leftist-captured-high-school-hit-with-investigations-irs-complaint\/\" title=\"Leftist-Captured High School Hit With ..., IRS Complaint\">school board &#038;ldquo<\/a>;in the crosshairs of vicious and coordinated attacks.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/3829504\/how-an-illegal-immigrant-landed-a-iowa-school-superintendent-job\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>HOW AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT LANDED AN IOWA SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT JOB <\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Those realities took time and oxygen away from the work I set out to do: stand up for our kids and families &mdash; and the backbone of our communities, their&nbsp;educators and caregivers,&rdquo; Norris said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/jackienorrisiowa\/posts\/pfbid022X8F5PEuMF38axTPE47mMvz2RD949nPXguQnwA7QMCTJ6YFAhxNk87BFLcJeBhfdl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">statement.<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This undated photo provided by Des Moines Public Schools shows board Chairwoman Jackie Norris. (Des Moines Public Schools via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>The former Senate candidate said she needed to focus &ldquo;on the work at hand,&rdquo; which included leading the board through the transition, supporting the passage of the $265 million Reimagine Education bond, and &ldquo;fully participating&rdquo; in the investigations &ldquo;to get the answers our community deserves.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Thank you to all of my supporters and friends who have been steadfast in their support,&rdquo; Norris said. &ldquo;I will continue to serve our community and do everything I can to better the lives of children and their families.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Norris had been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3491553\/former-michelle-obama-aide-jackie-norris-senate-challenge-joni-ernst\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">one of several Democrats<\/a> scrambling to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3790715\/open-senate-governor-races-iowa-trigger-political-shake-up\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">flip Iowa&rsquo;s Senate seat blue<\/a> after Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) decided not to run for reelection. Democrats running include state Sen. Zach Wahls, state Rep. Josh Turek, and military veteran Nathan Sage.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) is the top Republican running and drew President Donald Trump&rsquo;s endorsement last month. She previously called for Norris&rsquo;s resignation. Republicans are expected to hold on to the seat.<\/p>\n<p>ICE arrested the former superintendent, Roberts, on Sept. 26, and he resigned from his position on Sept. 30. At the time of his arrest, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >law enforcement officers allegedly found<\/a> him with a gun, knife, and $3,000 in cash.<\/p>\n<p>Roberts is originally from Guyana and illegally returned to the U.S. in 1999 after a theft and drug arrest. He has also racked up other criminal charges since then. In 2012, he was convicted of reckless driving, unsafe operation, and speeding in Maryland.<\/p>\n<p>Then in 2020, he was charged with second-degree criminal&nbsp;possession of a weapon, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/illegal-alien-who-served-as-school-superintendent-was-registered-to-vote-and-has-extensive-criminal-record\/\" title=\"Illegal Alien Who Served as School Superintendent Was Registered to Vote and Has Extensive ...\">fourth-degree weapon charges<\/a>. In 2022, Roberts was hit with a weapons-related charge in Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n<p>ICE charged Roberts with being an illegal immigrant in possession of a firearm.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/3836473\/des-moines-superintendent-school-board-sues-consulting-firm\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">DES MOINES SCHOOL BOARD SUES FIRM FOR &lsquo;FAILING TO PROPERLY VET&rsquo; DETAINED SUPERINTENDENT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It is also alleged that Roberts forged his doctorate from Morgan State University, and the school board knew of this fact and decided to hire him anyway.<\/p>\n<p>It is unclear if the board members knew about his immigration status and his criminal record before hiring him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Iowa Senate candidate quits to handle school board crisis<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2500128,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AP25281782063859.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[3728,5626,5894,42534,33580],"class_list":["post-2500127","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-election","tag-iowa","tag-politics","tag-school-board","tag-senate-candidate"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AP25281782063859.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2500127","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2500127"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2500127\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2500131,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2500127\/revisions\/2500131"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2500128"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2500127"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2500127"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2500127"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}