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The 1940 Iowa State Senate elections took place as part of the biennial 1940 United States elections. Iowa voters elected state senators in 29 of the state senate's 50 districts. State senators serve four-year terms in the Iowa State Senate.

A statewide map of the 50 state Senate districts in the 1940 elections is provided by the Iowa General Assembly here.

The primary election on June 3, 1940 determined which candidates appeared on the November 5, 1940 general election ballot.[1][2]

Following the previous election, Republicans had control of the Iowa state Senate with 38 seats to Democrats' 12 seats.

To claim control of the chamber from Republicans, the Democrats needed to net 14 Senate seats.

Republicans maintained control of the Iowa State Senate following the 1940 general election with the balance of power shifting to Republicans holding 45 seats and Democrats having 5 seats (a net gain of 7 seats for Republicans).

Summary of Results

  • Note: The 21 holdover Senators not up for re-election are not listed on this table.[3]
State Senate District Incumbent Party Elected Senator Party
2nd Sanford Zeigler Rep Sanford Zeigler Rep
3rd Hugh G. Guernsey Dem Dewey Emmitt Goode Rep
4th Harold V. Levis Rep Clarence L. Clark Rep
5th Howard W. Edwards Rep Stephen Ray Emerson Rep
6th Ole John Kirketeg Rep William Oliver Turner Rep
8th Kenneth A. Evans Rep Kenneth A. Evans Rep
11th William S. Beardsley Rep Floyd Arden Jones Rep
14th Albert Earl Augustine Dem Albert Earl Augustine Dem
15th Hugh W. Lundy Rep Hugh W. Lundy Rep
16th Ora E. Husted Rep Harry Samuel Love Rep
17th George M. Hopkins Rep Ai Miller Rep
19th Morris W. Moore Dem De Vere Watson Rep
23rd Frank E. Ellis Dem DuFay D. Fuller Rep
24th Henry Delbert Miller Dem Marion Claire Hamiel Rep
25th Frederick Conrad Schadt Rep Leroy Samuel Mercer Dem
26th Frank C. Byers Rep Frank C. Byers Rep
27th Edward Joseph Breen Dem Charles V. Findlay Rep
28th Benjamin Chase Whitehill Rep Benjamin Chase Whitehill Rep
31st Lant H. Doran Rep John R. Hattery Rep
32nd Linus Forsling Rep Robert Prentis Munger Rep
33rd George L. Parker Rep Irving D. Long Rep
36th Martin X. Geske Dem Gerald W. Hunt Rep
39th Clermont Colfax Smith Rep J. Kendall Lynes Rep
40th Paul Palmer Stewart Rep Paul Palmer Stewart Rep
41st Leo Elthon Rep Leo Elthon Rep
43rd Earl M. Dean Dem Oscar E. Johnson Dem
46th Winfred Mighell Dem Raymond Edward Hess Rep
47th Lester S. Gillette Dem Robert Keir Rep
49th Charles Bernard Hoeven Rep Jans T. "J. T." Dykhouse Rep

Source:[4]

Detailed Results

  • NOTE: The 21 districts that did not hold elections in 1940 are not listed here.
  • Note: If a district does not list a primary, then that district did not have a competitive primary (i.e., there may have only been one candidate file for that district).[5]

District 2

Iowa Senate, District 2 General Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sanford Zeigler, Jr. (incumbent) 9,354 100.0
Total votes 9,354 100.0
Republican hold

District 3

Iowa Senate, District 3 General Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dewey E. Goode 9,795 55.2
Democratic Jess Exline 7,934 44.8
Total votes 17,729 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 4

Iowa Senate, District 4 General Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Clarence L. Clark 7,622 55.8
Democratic Arch Jones 6,026 44.2
Total votes 13,648 100.0
Republican hold

District 5

Iowa Senate, District 5 General Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican S. Ray Emerson 12,653 100.0
Total votes 12,653 100.0
Republican hold

District 6

Iowa Senate, District 6 Republican Primary Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Oliver Turner 2,734 54.3
Republican Watts 2,302 45.7
Total votes 5,036 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 6 General Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Oliver Turner 7,318 62.2
Democratic C. T. Mercer 4,443 37.8
Total votes 11,761 100.0
Republican hold

District 8

Iowa Senate, District 8 General Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican K. A. Evans (incumbent) 8,439 60.3
Democratic L. A. Nelson 5,555 39.7
Total votes 13,994 100.0
Republican hold

District 11

Iowa Senate, District 11 Republican Primary Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Floyd Jones 2,772 57.8
Republican Lowe 2,023 42.2
Total votes 4,795 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 11 General Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Floyd Jones 7,973 59.2
Democratic Frank Gonseth 5,486 40.8
Total votes 13,459 100.0
Republican hold

District 14

Iowa Senate, District 14 General Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic A. E. Augustine (incumbent) 5,631 52.5
Republican F. C. Stanley 5,096 47.5
Total votes 10,727 100.0
Democratic hold

District 15

Iowa Senate, District 15 Republican Primary Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Hugh W. Lundy (incumbent) 3,988 75.3
Republican Brady 1,310 24.7
Total votes 5,298 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 15 General Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Hugh W. Lundy (incumbent) 9,865 52.6
Democratic F. M. Roberts 8,877 47.4
Total votes 18,742 100.0
Republican hold

District 16

Iowa Senate, District 16 Republican Primary Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican H. S. Love 2,451 52.7
Republican Ehm 2,201 47.3
Total votes 4,652 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 16 General Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican H. S. Love 8,231 62.4
Democratic C. H. Wicks 4,958 37.6
Total votes 13,189 100.0
Republican hold

District 17

Iowa Senate, District 17 Republican Primary Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ai Miller 4,930 64.8
Republican McQuirk 2,678 35.2
Total votes 7,608 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 17 General Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ai Miller 13,380 55.2
Democratic J. A. Graham 10,845 44.8
Total votes 24,225 100.0
Republican hold

District 19

Iowa Senate, District 19 Republican Primary Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican DeVere Watson 1,437 33.8
Republican Lutz 879 20.7
Republican Ferguson 740 17.5
Republican Langstrom 683 16.1
Republican Ritchie 507 11.9
Total votes 4,246 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 19 Democratic Primary Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dr. M. Moore (incumbent) 1,175 62.0
Democratic Morris 719 38.0
Total votes 1,894 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 19 General Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican DeVere Watson 15,426 51.7
Democratic Dr. M. Moore (incumbent) 14,421 48.3
Total votes 29,847 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 23

Iowa Senate, District 23 Republican Primary Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican D. D. Fuller 629 60.5
Republican Spiro 411 39.5
Total votes 1,040 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 23 Democratic Primary Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Frank E. Ellis (incumbent) 1,213 69.6
Democratic Wilcke 529 30.4
Total votes 1,742 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 23 General Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican D. D. Fuller 4,620 52.3
Democratic Frank E. Ellis (incumbent) 4,213 47.7
Total votes 8,833 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 24

Iowa Senate, District 24 General Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican M. C. Hamiel 10,098 57.4
Democratic La Mar Foster 7,480 42.6
Total votes 17,578 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 25

Iowa Senate, District 25 Republican Primary Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frederick C. Schadt (incumbent) 2,196 51.3
Republican Ries 2,082 48.7
Total votes 4,278 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 25 Democratic Primary Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Leroy S. Mercer 1,969 53.3
Democratic Whiting 1,728 46.7
Total votes 3,697 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 25 General Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Leroy S. Mercer 11,608 50.6
Republican Frederick C. Schadt (incumbent) 11,321 49.4
Total votes 22,929 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

District 26

Iowa Senate, District 26 General Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank C. Byers (incumbent) 23,411 56.3
Democratic Marvin I. Burkholder 18,180 43.7
Total votes 41,591 100.0
Republican hold

District 27

Iowa Senate, District 27 Republican Primary Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican C. V. Findlay 3,433 67.4
Republican Kime 1,659 32.6
Total votes 5,092 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 27 General Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican C. V. Findlay 11,507 52.5
Democratic Irving E. Black 10,414 47.5
Total votes 21,921 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 28

Iowa Senate, District 28 Republican Primary Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican B. C. Whitehill (incumbent) 2,218 52.0
Republican Knudson 2,051 48.0
Total votes 4,269 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 28 General Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican B. C. Whitehill (incumbent) 8,490 62.6
Democratic Mrs. Laura Aves 5,073 37.4
Total votes 13,563 100.0
Republican hold

District 31

Iowa Senate, District 31 Republican Primary Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John R. Hattery 4,911 57.7
Republican Lookingbill 3,597 42.3
Total votes 8,508 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 31 General Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John R. Hattery 13,793 60.7
Democratic Carl L. Little 8,920 39.3
Total votes 22,713 100.0
Republican hold

District 32

Iowa Senate, District 32 Republican Primary Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert P. Munger 4,087 65.9
Republican Lockie 1,545 24.9
Republican Brand 359 5.8
Republican Skaff 210 3.4
Total votes 6,201 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 32 Democratic Primary Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Donald M. Pendleton 1,062 38.8
Democratic Davidson 878 32.1
Democratic McCoun 795 29.1
Total votes 2,735 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 32 General Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert P. Munger 22,939 53.2
Democratic Donald M. Pendleton 20,167 46.8
Total votes 43,106 100.0
Republican hold

District 33

Iowa Senate, District 33 Republican Primary Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Irving D. Long 3,130 50.8
Republican Morrow 3,037 49.2
Total votes 6,167 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 33 General Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Irving D. Long 11,607 100.0
Total votes 11,607 100.0
Republican hold

District 36

Iowa Senate, District 36 General Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican G. W. Hunt 6,927 58.5
Democratic A. H. Borman 4,923 41.5
Total votes 11,850 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 39

Iowa Senate, District 39 Republican Primary Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican J. Kendall Lynes 2,427 54.3
Republican Brown 2,042 45.7
Total votes 4,469 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 39 Democratic Primary Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic L. H. Meyer 838 54.6
Democratic Ryan 698 45.4
Total votes 1,536 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 39 General Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican J. Kendall Lynes 9,631 65.6
Democratic L. H. Meyer 5,041 34.4
Total votes 14,672 100.0
Republican hold

District 40

Iowa Senate, District 40 General Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul P. Stewart (incumbent) 13,363 60.8
Democratic Joseph B. Steele 8,617 39.2
Total votes 21,980 100.0
Republican hold

District 41

Iowa Senate, District 41 Republican Primary Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Leo Elthon (incumbent) 4,094 60.1
Republican Gunderson 2,716 39.9
Total votes 6,810 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 41 General Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Leo Elthon (incumbent) 10,443 100.0
Total votes 10,443 100.0
Republican hold

District 43

Iowa Senate, District 43 Republican Primary Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ralph R. Stuart 4,807 53.5
Republican Van Wert 4,186 46.5
Total votes 8,993 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 43 General Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Oscar E. Johnson 16,029 51.4
Republican Ralph R. Stuart 15,166 48.6
Total votes 31,195 100.0
Democratic hold

District 46

Iowa Senate, District 46 Democratic Primary Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic L. J. McGivern 1,236 43.6
Democratic Kieffer 964 34.1
Democratic Winfred Mighell (incumbent) 630 22.3
Total votes 2,830 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 46 General Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican R. E. Hess 13,076 57.0
Democratic L. J. McGivern 9,870 43.0
Total votes 22,946 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 47

Iowa Senate, District 47 Republican Primary Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert Keir 4,136 50.4
Republican Ketcham 4,066 49.6
Total votes 8,202 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 47 General Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert Keir 16,331 50.1
Democratic A. H. Bonnstetter 16,285 49.9
Total votes 32,616 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 49

Iowa Senate, District 49 Republican Primary Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican J. T. Dykhouse 2,953 43.5
Republican Hughes 2,128 31.4
Republican Grotters 1,704 25.1
Total votes 6,785 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 49 General Election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican J. T. Dykhouse 17,656 61.7
Democratic Charles J. Zylstra 10,968 38.3
Total votes 28,624 100.0
Republican hold

See also

References