Overview

• Norris serves as Des Moines school board chair and previously worked on Barack Obama’s Iowa campaign before becoming Michelle Obama’s chief of staff
• Her campaign video emphasizes the financial pressures on Iowa families and calls for policy solutions on affordability and education
• The Democratic primary now features Nathan Sage, J.D. Scholten, Zach Wahls and potential contender Josh Turek
• Public Policy Polling shows Ernst leading a generic Democrat by about two points, while a Data for Progress survey finds her ahead of Norris by six points on an informed ballot
• Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball rate the 2026 Iowa Senate contest as Likely Republican and Ernst has not yet confirmed her reelection plans