The 1970 Iowa State Senate elections took place as part of the biennial 1970 United States elections. Iowa voters elected state senators in 27 of the state senate's 50 districts. Due to redistricting following the amending of the Iowa Constitution in 1968 mandating single-member districts, the Iowa Senate downsized from 61 to 50 members following the 1970 election.[1] State senators typically 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 1968 redistricting process on the location of each district, contrast the previous map with the map used for 1970 elections.
The primary election on June 2, 1970 determined which candidates appeared on the November 3, 1970 general election ballot. Primary election results can be obtained here.[2] General election results can be obtained here.[3]
Following the previous election, Republicans had control of the Iowa state Senate with 45 seats to Democrats' 16 seats. In June 1969, a special election in district 18 resulted in Sen. Orr flipping a seat in favor of the Democrats.[b] Therefore, on election day in November 1970, Republicans controlled 44 seats and Democrats had 17.
To claim control of the chamber from Republicans, the Democrats needed to net 9 Senate seats.[c]
Republicans maintained control of the Iowa State Senate following the 1970 general election with the balance of power shifting to Republicans holding 38 seats and Democrats having 12 seats (a net loss of 6 seats for Republicans and loss of 5 seats for the Democrats).[c]
Summary of Results[]
The Iowa Constitution was amended in 1968 and required transitioning to single-member districts.[1] Following the 1970 elections, the total number of state Senators fell from 61 to 50 members. 27 districts were up for election in 1970.
An asterisk (*) after a Senator's name indicates they were an incumbent in a new district number due to redistricting.
Italicized district numbers indicate holdover Senators who were not up for election in 1970, but were shifted to new district numbers in the middle of their terms. These districts did not hold elections in 1970.[d]
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 6[]
Iowa Senate, District 6 Republican Primary Election, 1970
^ abMinority Leader Frommelt was redistricted from district 30 to 25 and lost re-election against another incumbent, Senator John M. Walsh, who had also been redistricted from district 30 to 25.
^ abcRepublican Senator Kenneth Benda resigned and was replaced by Democratic Senator Joann Yessler Orr in district 18 following a special election on June 20, 1969.
^ abcdThe overall size of the Iowa Senate decreased from 61 to 50 members, so both parties saw a decrease in size following the election of 1970.
^Except Sen. Arbuckle, who stayed in the same district number, the 28th, both before and after the redistricting process and was not up for election.
^ abcDemocratic Senator J. Donald Weimer was redistricted from district 24 to 22 and Weimer won the 22nd district general election in November 1970. However, he did not take office. In a special election in December, Democrat Cloyd E. Robinson won and kept the seat for the Democratic Party.
^ abRedistricted from district 23 to 24. Also note, district 24 transitioned from a 3-member district (2 Republicans & 1 Democrat) to single-member district (1 Republican).
^Redistricted from district 20 to 30. Also note, district 30 transitioned from a 2-member district (1 Republican & 1 Democrat) to single-member district (1 Democrat).
^Redistricted from district 20 to 32. Also note, district 32 transitioned from a 3-member district (3 Republicans) to single-member district (1 Democrat).
^ abRedistricted from district 16 to 37. Also note, district 37 transitioned from a 2-member district (2 Republicans) to single-member district (1 Republican).
6
Federal government
State government
Cedar Rapids
Des Moines