Isabella Liu

For NPR News, I'm Isabella Liu in Des Moines.

We just decided as a collective that we're going to get this job done and we are going to prevent the supermajority.

And that is what helped drive our motivation to get this job done.

Democrat Renee Hardman beat her Republican opponent by more than 40 percentage points.

Hardman's win also means Republicans are one seat short of a supermajority and will need Democratic support to approve the governor's appointees.

Hardman will represent part of West Des Moines, where she serves on the city council.

She also leads a nonprofit, Lutheran Services in Iowa.

Hardman says running a successful campaign in the winter was a group effort.

The seat was formerly held by Democrat Claire Salci, who died in October.

For NPR News, I'm Isabella Liu in Des Moines.

Court documents show Ian Roberts hasn't had work authorization for almost five years.

Des Moines schools hired him in 2023 after a nationwide search.

Des Moines School Board Chair Jackie Norris says they're demanding answers from the firm JG Consulting.

The firm says Roberts provided the documents to show he was eligible for the position in Des Moines.

Homeland Security says Roberts was issued a removal order in May 2024.

He's now being charged with having firearms without legal status.

For NPR News, I'm Isabella Liu in Des Moines.