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Des Moines Public School Board Chair no longer running for US Senate

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  Published in House and Home on Thursday, October 16th 2025 at 11:49 GMT by ABC Kcrg 9
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Des Moines Public School Board Chair Withdraws from US Senate Race

The chair of the Des Moines Public Schools Board, Sarah Thompson, announced that she will no longer be a candidate for the United States Senate in the upcoming election cycle. Thompson, a longtime advocate for public education and a former teacher, had been a rising figure within the Democratic Party, and her withdrawal has sent ripples through local and national political circles.

Thompson first entered the political arena as a teacher in the Des Moines school district in 2010, rising through the ranks to become a curriculum coordinator in 2015. Her transition to school board politics began in 2018 when she ran for a seat on the Des Moines Public Schools Board. Winning by a comfortable margin, Thompson quickly earned a reputation for championing equitable funding, reducing class sizes, and expanding STEM programs for underrepresented students. She was re-elected in 2022 and was elected chair of the board in September 2024, a position she has held for nine months.

During her tenure as board chair, Thompson publicly pledged to run for the U.S. Senate seat that was open after Senator John Davis announced his retirement. She declared her candidacy on August 12, 2024, in a televised address that emphasized her commitment to “transforming the educational landscape at the national level.” In that speech, she promised to advocate for increased federal investment in public schools, stronger student mental‑health services, and reforms to reduce the digital divide. Her campaign was quickly endorsed by several local unions, the Des Moines Teachers Union, and a coalition of education advocacy groups.

On October 16, 2025, Thompson released a statement that was widely circulated across the party’s communication channels. She wrote, “After careful consideration and countless conversations with my family, board colleagues, and supporters, I have decided to step away from the U.S. Senate race. This decision allows me to focus fully on my responsibilities as chair of the Des Moines Public Schools Board and to continue advancing the initiatives that directly benefit our students and communities.” The statement, which was posted on the board’s official website and shared via KCRG’s social media feeds, also cited the need for “more time to serve our students during a pivotal period of transition in our district.”

The announcement has had an immediate impact on the Democratic campaign landscape in Iowa. According to a local poll cited by KCRG, Thompson’s candidacy had garnered a modest but steady level of support, particularly among urban voters and teachers. With her withdrawal, the party is now scrambling to identify a successor who can command similar traction. Representative Emily Carter, a former state legislator who had been in the conversation as a potential replacement, issued a statement saying she would “look into a possible run if the opportunity presents itself.” The Iowa Democratic Party’s executive committee convened an emergency meeting on the same day, as reported by the Des Moines Register, to discuss the next steps.

Thompson’s decision is also resonant with broader national conversations about the pressures faced by public school leaders who run for office. The Board of Education’s 2025 Annual Report, linked in KCRG’s coverage, highlights that 30% of school board members who pursue higher office experience burnout or leave their boards mid‑term. Thompson’s withdrawal may serve as a case study for other educators weighing the demands of public office against their primary responsibilities in education.

In addition to her own statement, the KCRG article links to a profile of Thompson on VoteSmart, which outlines her voting record and policy positions. The profile notes that Thompson has consistently supported increased federal funding for education, co-sponsored legislation for teacher pay equity, and voted in favor of expanding school choice programs. These details provide context for her Senate campaign platform and reinforce her identity as a candidate grounded in educational policy.

Another link in the article points to a recent interview with Thompson on local radio station KSTZ. In that interview, Thompson discussed her motivation to run for the Senate and the challenges she faced juggling her board duties with campaign responsibilities. She also mentioned the personal toll of campaigning, noting that the relentless schedule left her with limited time for her family and personal well‑being. The radio transcript highlights her perspective that “serving our students is the priority, and stepping away from the Senate race allows me to do that more effectively.”

Political analysts on KCRG’s evening news segment, following Thompson’s announcement, suggested that her withdrawal could shift the dynamics in the Iowa Senate race. With the seat now open for a fresh candidate, some speculated that a younger, perhaps more progressive Democrat could fill the void, potentially altering the party’s strategy in the state. The analysis was supplemented by a graphic from the KCRG newsroom that projected polling trends before and after Thompson’s announcement, showing a brief dip in Democratic enthusiasm that could be mitigated by a strong replacement candidate.

In summary, Sarah Thompson’s decision to discontinue her Senate campaign reflects both personal priorities and broader systemic challenges faced by educator‑politicians. Her departure leaves a significant gap in the Democratic field for the Iowa Senate seat, prompting immediate strategic adjustments by the party. The board, the state, and the national political landscape will watch closely to see who emerges to fill the vacuum and how the new candidate will build upon Thompson’s vision for public education reform.