Senator Izaah Knox

Izaah Knox was elected to his first term in the Iowa Senate in 2022. He represents Senate District 17, which encompasses central Des Moines, the East Village and the East Side. 

Senator Knox is an Assistant Democratic Leader.

In addition to his service in the Senate, Izaah serves as the executive director of Urban Dreams, a Des Moines community services nonprofit. He previously worked as a community outreach consultant for Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and as an adjunct, advisor, and YouthBuild education coordinator at Des Moines Area Community College.  

Izaah also serves in volunteer and leadership roles for several Des Moines area organizations and institutions, including the Children and Family Urban Movement, Bankers Trust Community Advisory Board, Drake University Community Advisory, American Heart Association, Food Bank of Iowa, Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, and Pro Iowa Advisory Council.

In 2024, he was honored as a Top 500 Iowa Influential Business Leader and received the Des Moines Area Community College Alumni Impact Award.

Izaah is a two-time Drake University graduate with an undergraduate degree in journalism and a master’s in Education. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Iowa State University. He is married to Jenna, and they have three kids: Chance, Porter, and Johnnie.