The 1966 Iowa State Senate elections took place as part of the biennial 1966 United States elections. Iowa voters elected state senators in 32 of the state senate's 61 districts. At this time, the Iowa Senate still had several multi-member districts. State senators serve four-year terms in the Iowa State Senate.
The Iowa Senate was expanded from 59 to 61 members and new district maps were drawn for the 1966 election. The Iowa General Assembly provides statewide maps of each district.[1]
The primary election on September 6, 1966 determined which candidates appeared on the November 8, 1966 general election ballot.[2][3]
Following the previous election, Democrats had control of the Iowa state Senate with 34 seats to Republicans' 25 seats.
To claim control of the chamber from Democrats, the Republicans needed to net 6 Senate seats.
Democrats maintained control of the Iowa State Senate following the 1966 general election with the balance of power shifting to Democrats holding 32 seats and Republicans having 29 seats (a net gain of 4 seats for Republicans and net loss of 2 seats for Democrats).[a]
Summary of Results[]
Note: The 29 holdover Senators not up for re-election are listed here with asterisks (*).[4]
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, 1966
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Seeley G. Lodwick (incumbent)
7,612
56.5
Democratic
Robert O'Malley
5,872
43.5
Total votes
13,484
100.0
Republicanhold
District 6[]
Iowa Senate, District 6 General Election, 1966
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Vern Lisle (incumbent)
10,046
71.8
Democratic
F. S. Toke Nelson
3,937
28.2
Total votes
13,983
100.0
Republicanhold
District 7[]
Iowa Senate, District 7 General Election, 1966
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Robert R. Dodds (incumbent)
8,225
55.3
Republican
Robert A. Reppert
6,655
44.7
Total votes
14,880
100.0
Democratichold
District 8[]
Iowa Senate, District 8 Republican Primary Election, 1966
The 20th was a 5-member district following the 1966 election. Subdistrict No. 1 was held by holdover Senator Reppert. Subdistrict No. 4 held an election for a two-year term; whereas, subdistricts Nos. 2, 3, & 5 held elections for four-year terms.
Election for a two-year term in subdistrict No. 4.
Iowa Senate, District 20 Subdistrict No. 4 General Election, 1966
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Lee H. Gaudineer, Jr.
43,473
55.5
Republican
Gerald C. Shearer
34,891
44.5
Total votes
78,364
100.0
District 22[]
Iowa Senate, District 22 Democratic Primary Election, 1966
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
James F. Schaben
1,490
70.1
Democratic
Elroy Maule
637
29.9
Total votes
2,127
100.0
Iowa Senate, District 22 General Election, 1966
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
James F. Schaben
8,179
54.3
Republican
Rowley L. Williams
6,877
45.7
Total votes
15,056
100.0
Democraticgain from Republican
District 23[]
Iowa Senate, District 23 General Election, 1966
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Clifton C. Lamborn
6,896
55.8
Democratic
John A. Holmes
5,452
44.2
Total votes
12,348
100.0
Republicanhold
District 24[]
The 24th was a 3-member district following the 1966 election. Subdistrict No. 1 was held by holdover Senator Ely. Subdistricts Nos. 2 & 3 held elections.
The 37th was a 2-member district following the 1966 election. Subdistrict No. 1 held a special election for a two-year term. Subdistrict No. 2 held an election for a four-year term.
Iowa Senate, District 37 Subdistrict No. 1 Special Election, 1966
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Charles S. Van Eaton
17,637
55.7
Democratic
John S. Sheehan
14,051
44.3
Total votes
31,688
100.0
Republicanhold
Subdistrict No. 2 held an election for a four-year term.
Iowa Senate, District 37 Subdistrict No. 2 General Election, 1966
^The 50th district became obsolete (done away with) following redistricting.
^The 51st district became obsolete (done away with) following redistricting.
^The 52nd district became obsolete (done away with) following redistricting.
^The 53rd district became obsolete (done away with) following redistricting.
^Multi-member districts in the electoral map of 1966 elections were: 13th with 2 seats; 15th with 2 seats; 20th with 5 seats; 24th with 3 seats; 30th with 2 seats; 32nd with 3 seats; and, 37th with 2 seats. Remember, in 1966, multi-member districts still existed in the Iowa Senate.