The 1962 Iowa State Senate elections took place as part of the biennial 1962 United States elections. Iowa voters elected state senators in 27 of the state senate's 50 districts. At that time, the Iowa Senate still had several multi-member districts.[a] State senators serve four-year terms in the Iowa State Senate.
The Iowa General Assembly provides statewide maps of each district. To compare the effect of the 1962 redistricting process on the location of each district, contrast the previous map with the map used for 1962 elections.[b]
The primary election on June 4, 1962 determined which candidates appeared on the November 6, 1962 general election ballot.[1][2]
Following the previous election, Republicans had control of the Iowa state Senate with 35 seats to Democrats' 15 seats.
To claim control of the chamber from Republicans, the Democrats needed to net 11 Senate seats.
Republicans maintained control of the Iowa State Senate following the 1962 general election with the balance of power shifting to Republicans holding 38 seats and Democrats having 12 seats (a net gain of 3 seats for Republicans).
Summary of Results[]
Note: The 23 holdover Senators not up for re-election are listed here with asterisks (*).[3]
27 of the 50 Iowa Senate seats were up for election in 1962.[a] 21 of the races were in newly drawn seats with the borders from this map. However, there were six races for unexpired terms in districts that were using the prior map here.[b]
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).
District 1[]
Iowa Senate, District 1 General Election, 1962
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Seeley G. Lodwick
6,810
50.6
Democratic
Joseph L. Phelan
6,654
49.4
Total votes
13,464
100.0
Republicangain from Democratic
District 4[]
Iowa Senate, District 4 General Election, 1962
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Howard Vincent
4,024
51.9
Democratic
Bob Hellyer
3,731
48.1
Total votes
7,755
100.0
Republicanhold
District 5[]
Iowa Senate, District 5 Republican Primary Election, 1962
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Marshall F. Camp
2,101
40.6
Republican
Charles O. Nelson
1,716
33.2
Republican
Robert E. Maggert
1,359
26.2
Total votes
5,176
100.0
Iowa Senate, District 5 General Election, 1962
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Franklin S. Main
6,211
51.4
Republican
Marshall F. Camp
5,872
48.6
Total votes
12,083
100.0
Democraticgain from Republican
District 6[]
The 6th was a 2-member district following the 1962 election. Subdistrict No. 1 had a holdover Senator; however, Subdistrict No. 2 held an election.[a]
The 14th was a 2-member district following the 1962 election. Subdistrict No. 1 held an election for a two-year term using the prior district boundaries map;[b] however, Subdistrict No. 2 held an election for a four-year term using the redrawn district boundaries.[a]
Though he won the general election, L. C. Shivvers was deceased. This necessitated a special election on January 10, 1963.
Iowa Senate, District 15 Special Election, 1963
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Vera H. Shivvers
2,921
53.0
Democratic
Howard H. Myers
2,586
47.0
Total votes
5,507
100.0
Republicanhold
District 17[]
The 17th was a 2-member district following the 1962 election. Subdistrict No. 1 had a holdover Senator; however, Subdistrict No. 2 held an election.[a]
The 23rd was a 2-member district following the 1962 election. Subdistrict No. 1 had a holdover Senator; however, Subdistrict No. 2 held an election.[a]
Iowa Senate, District 23 Subdistrict No. 2 General Election, 1962
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Kenneth Benda
6,144
57.2
Democratic
David M. Ahrens
4,590
42.8
Total votes
10,734
100.0
District 25[]
The 25th was a 2-member district following the 1962 election. Subdistrict No. 1 had a holdover Senator; however, Subdistrict No. 2 held an election.[a]
Iowa Senate, District 25 Subdistrict No. 2 General Election, 1962
The 27th was a 2-member district following the 1962 election. Subdistrict No. 1 had a holdover Senator; however, Subdistrict No. 2 held an election.[a]
Iowa Senate, District 27 Subdistrict No. 2 General Election, 1962
The 31st was a 2-member district following the 1962 election. Subdistrict No. 1 held an election for a two-year term using the prior district boundaries map;[b] however, Subdistrict No. 2 held an election for a four-year term using the redrawn district boundaries.[a]
Iowa Senate, District 31 Subdistrict No. 1 General Election, 1962
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
A. V. Doran
12,127
52.8
Democratic
Conrad E. Lawlor
10,844
47.2
Total votes
22,971
100.0
Republicanhold
Iowa Senate, District 31 Subdistrict No. 2 General Election, 1962
The 32nd was a 2-member district following the 1962 election. Subdistrict No. 1 had a holdover Senator; however, Subdistrict No. 2 held an election.[a]
Iowa Senate, District 32 Subdistrict No. 2 General Election, 1962
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstMulti-member districts following the 1962 elections were: 6th with 2 seats; 8th with 2 seats; 14th with 2 seats; 17th with 2 seats; 23rd with 2 seats; 25th with 2 seats; 27th with 2 seats; 31st with 2 seats; and, 32nd with 2 seats.
^ abcdDistricts using the old district boundaries map were: 4th, 5th, 14th (subdistrict won by Senator Campbell), 15th, 31st (subdistrict won by Senator Doran), and 39th.