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All 19 seats in the Iowa State Senate 10 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||
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Elections in Iowa |
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In the 1846 Iowa State Senate elections, Iowa voters elected state senators to serve in the first Iowa General Assembly. Elections were held for all 19 members of the State Senate. In the newly created Senate, members were to serve four-year terms. Members of the first General Assembly were classified into two groups. Nine of the newly elected senators would serve full four-year terms, while 10 drew short terms of two years and were up for re-election in 1848. This classification process began the rotation system whereby half the members of the Senate are elected biennially for full four-year terms. [7]
This was the first general election following Iowa's admission to the Union. [lower-alpha 1] Prior to statehood, the Iowa Territory had a Legislative Assembly consisting of an upper chamber (i.e., the Territory Council) and a lower chamber (i.e., the Territory House). [lower-alpha 7] Therefore, the Territory Council was the predecessor of the Iowa Senate, which became the upper chamber in the new Iowa General Assembly.
In the previous election in 1845, the members of the eighth and final Territory Council were chosen. Democrats held a majority of seats with 11 to Whigs' two seats in the final Territory Council. The newly created Iowa Senate was expanded to nineteen members and districts were redrawn in advance of the election.
To claim a majority of seats, the Whigs needed to net eight seats.
The general election took place in 1846. [9]
Democrats maintained a majority of seats. Following the 1846 general election, Democrats held 11 seats in the Iowa Senate while Whigs held eight seats (a net gain of 6 seats for Whigs). Democratic Councilor Stephen Hempstead was the President of the eighth & final Territory Council. [lower-alpha 4] Democratic Senator Thomas Baker was chosen as the first President of the Iowa Senate. [lower-alpha 5] During the first General Assembly, Democratic Senator Thomas Hughes succeeded Senator Baker as the second President of the Iowa Senate. [lower-alpha 6]
Source: [15]
District boundaries for the Iowa Territory Council in 1845:
District boundaries were redrawn before the 1846 general election for the Iowa Senate:
The 1848 and 1849 United States Senate elections were elections which had the Democratic Party lose seats but maintain control of the United States Senate.
In the 1871 Iowa State Senate elections, Iowa voters elected state senators to serve in the fourteenth Iowa General Assembly. Elections were held in 34 of the state senate's 49 districts. State senators serve four-year terms in the Iowa State Senate.
In the 1838 Iowa Territory Council elections, electors selected councilors to serve in the first Iowa Territory Council. All 13 members of the Territory Council were elected. Councilors served one-year terms.
In the 1839 Iowa Territory Council elections, electors selected councilors to serve in the second Iowa Territory Council. All 13 members of the Territory Council were elected. Councilors served one-year terms.
In the 1840 Iowa Territory Council elections, electors selected councilors to serve in the third Iowa Territory Council. All 13 members of the Territory Council were elected. Councilors served one-year terms.
In the 1841 Iowa Territory Council elections, electors selected councilors to serve in the fourth Iowa Territory Council. All 13 members of the Territory Council were elected. Councilors served one-year terms.
In the 1842 Iowa Territory Council elections, electors selected councilors to serve in the fifth Iowa Territory Council. All 13 members of the Territory Council were elected. Councilors served one-year terms.
In the 1843 Iowa Territory Council elections, electors selected councilors to serve in the sixth Iowa Territory Council. All 13 members of the Territory Council were elected. Councilors served one-year terms.
In the 1844 Iowa Territory Council elections, electors selected councilors to serve in the seventh Iowa Territory Council. All 13 members of the Territory Council were elected. Councilors served one-year terms.
In the 1845 Iowa Territory Council elections, electors selected councilors to serve in the eighth and final Iowa Territory Council before Iowa attained statehood in 1846. All 13 members of the Territory Council were elected. Councilors served until the organization of the Iowa General Assembly in 1846 as the legislative branch of the new state of Iowa.
In the 1848 Iowa State Senate elections, Iowa voters elected state senators to serve in the second Iowa General Assembly. Elections were held for 10 of the state senate's 19 seats. State senators serve four-year terms in the Iowa State Senate.
In the 1850 Iowa State Senate elections, Iowa voters elected state senators to serve in the third Iowa General Assembly. Elections were held for 11 of the state senate's 19 seats. State senators serve four-year terms in the Iowa State Senate.
In the 1852 Iowa State Senate elections, Iowa voters elected state senators to serve in the fourth Iowa General Assembly. Following the expansion of the Iowa Senate from 19 to 31 seats in 1852, elections were held for 22 of the state senate's 31 seats. State senators serve four-year terms in the Iowa State Senate.
In the 1854 Iowa State Senate elections, Iowa voters elected state senators to serve in the fifth Iowa General Assembly. Elections were held for 19 of the state senate's 31 seats. State senators serve four-year terms in the Iowa State Senate.
In the 1856 Iowa State Senate elections, Iowa voters elected state senators to serve in the sixth Iowa General Assembly. Following the expansion of the Iowa Senate from 31 to 36 seats in 1856, elections were held for 21 of the state senate's 36 seats. State senators serve four-year terms in the Iowa State Senate.
In the 1859 Iowa State Senate elections, Iowa voters elected state senators to serve in the eighth Iowa General Assembly. Following the expansion of the Iowa Senate from 36 to 43 seats in 1859, elections were held for 27 of the state senate's 43 seats. State senators serve four-year terms in the Iowa State Senate.
In the 1861 Iowa State Senate elections, Iowa voters elected state senators to serve in the ninth Iowa General Assembly. Following the expansion of the Iowa Senate from 43 to 49 seats in 1861, elections were held for 25 of the state senate's 49 seats. State senators serve four-year terms in the Iowa State Senate.
In the 1865 Iowa State Senate elections, Iowa voters elected state senators to serve in the eleventh Iowa General Assembly. Following the expansion of the Iowa Senate from 46 to 48 seats in 1865, elections were held for 23 of the state senate's 48 seats. State senators serve four-year terms in the Iowa State Senate.
In the 1867 Iowa State Senate elections, Iowa voters elected state senators to serve in the twelfth Iowa General Assembly. Following the expansion of the Iowa Senate from 48 to 49 seats in 1867, elections were held for 34 of the state senate's 49 seats. State senators serve four-year terms in the Iowa State Senate.
In the 1869 Iowa State Senate elections, Iowa voters elected state senators to serve in the thirteenth Iowa General Assembly. Following the expansion of the Iowa Senate from 49 to 50 seats in 1869, elections were held for 21 of the state senate's 50 seats. State senators serve four-year terms in the Iowa State Senate.