1936 Iowa Senate election

The 1936 Iowa State Senate elections took place as part of the biennial 1936 United States elections. Iowa voters elected state senators in 32 of the state senate's 50 districts. State senators serve four-year terms in the Iowa State Senate.

1936 Iowa Senate election
November 3, 1936
32 out of 50 seats in the Iowa State Senate
26 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Republican Democratic
Last election 22 28
Seats before 24[lower-alpha 1] 26[lower-alpha 1]
Seats after 28 22
Seat change 4 4
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A statewide map of the 50 state Senate districts in the 1936 elections is provided by the Iowa General Assembly here.

The primary election on June 1, 1936 determined which candidates appeared on the November 3, 1936 general election ballot.[1][2]

Following the previous election, Democrats had control of the Iowa state Senate with 28 seats to Republicans' 22 seats. Due to some vacancies and special elections, by election day 1936, Democrats held 26 seats to Republicans' 24.[lower-alpha 1]

To claim control of the chamber from Democrats, the Republicans needed to net 2 Senate seats.

Republicans gained control of the Iowa State Senate following the 1936 general election with the balance of power shifting to Republicans holding 28 seats and Democrats having 22 seats (a net gain of 4 seats for Republicans).

Summary of Results
  • Note: The 18 holdover Senators not up for re-election are not listed on this table.[3]
State Senate District Incumbent Party Elected Senator Party
2nd John N. Calhoun Rep Sanford Zeigler Rep
3rd Hugh G. Guernsey Dem Hugh G. Guernsey Dem
4th Joseph E. Doze Dem Harold V. Levis Rep
5th Howard W. Edwards Rep Howard W. Edwards Rep
6th Claude Stanley Rep Ole John Kirketeg Rep
8th Homer Hush Rep Kenneth A. Evans Rep
11th William S. Beardsley Rep William S. Beardsley Rep
14th Albert Earl Augustine Dem Albert Earl Augustine Dem
15th Carl F. Aschenbrenner Dem Hugh W. Lundy Rep
16th Ora E. Husted Rep Ora E. Husted Rep
17th George M. Hopkins Rep George M. Hopkins Rep
18th Frank Pelzer Rep Frank Pelzer Rep
19th Morris W. Moore Dem Morris W. Moore Dem
23rd Carolyn Campbell Pendray[lower-alpha 2] Dem Frank E. Ellis Dem
24th Henry Delbert Miller Dem Henry Delbert Miller Dem
25th Paul W. Schmidt Dem Frederick Conrad Schadt Rep
26th Frank C. Byers Rep Frank C. Byers Rep
27th Paul H. Anderson Dem Edward Joseph Breen Dem
28th Benjamin Chase Whitehill Rep Benjamin Chase Whitehill Rep
30th James J. Gillespie Dem James J. Gillespie Dem
31st Fred William Nelson Rep Lant H. Doran Rep
32nd Vincent F. Harrington Dem Tom Ellis Murray Dem
33rd George L. Parker Rep George L. Parker Rep
36th Martin X. Geske Dem Martin X. Geske Dem
37th George Raymond Hill Rep George Raymond Hill Rep
39th Louis H. Meyer Dem Clermont Colfax Smith Rep
40th Thomas William Mullaney Dem Paul Palmer Stewart Rep
41st Leo Elthon Rep Leo Elthon Rep
43rd William C. McArthur Dem Earl M. Dean Dem
46th Mike G. Fisch Dem Winfred Mighell Dem
47th George William Patterson Rep Lester S. Gillette Dem
49th Garritt E. Roelofs Rep Charles Bernard Hoeven Rep

Source:[4]

Detailed Results
  • NOTE: The 18 districts that did not hold elections in 1936 are not listed here.

District 2 • District 3 • District 4 • District 5 • District 6 • District 8 • District 11 • District 14 • District 15 • District 16 • District 17 • District 18 • District 19 • District 23 • District 24 • District 25 • District 26 • District 27 • District 28 • District 30 • District 31 • District 32 • District 33 • District 36 • District 37 • District 39 • District 40 • District 41 • District 43 • District 46 • District 47 • District 49

  • 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 Republican Primary Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sanford Zeigler, Jr. 2,394 60.2
Republican Fulton 1,586 39.8
Total votes 3,980 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 2 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sanford Zeigler, Jr. 7,857 58.6
Democratic J. Wilbur Dole 5,560 41.4
Total votes 13,417 100.0
Republican hold

District 3
Iowa Senate, District 3 Democratic Primary Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Hugh G. Guernsey (incumbent) 1,961 57.4
Democratic Schlegel 1,454 42.6
Total votes 3,415 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 3 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Hugh G. Guernsey (incumbent) 9,706 56.1
Republican Purley Rinker 7,588 43.9
Total votes 17,294 100.0
Democratic hold

District 4
Iowa Senate, District 4 Republican Primary Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican H. V. Levis 2,737 61.6
Republican Johnston 1,708 38.4
Total votes 4,445 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 4 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican H. V. Levis 7,616 55.3
Democratic Francis B. Ryan 6,148 44.7
Total votes 13,764 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 5
Iowa Senate, District 5 Republican Primary Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican H. W. Edwards (incumbent) 4,036 63.1
Republican Vaughn 2,360 36.9
Total votes 6,396 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 5 Democratic Primary Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Irving, Jr. 1,485 62.4
Democratic Jackson 894 37.6
Total votes 2,379 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 5 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican H. W. Edwards (incumbent) 10,682 51.0
Democratic John Irving, Jr. 10,272 49.0
Total votes 20,954 100.0
Republican hold

District 6
Iowa Senate, District 6 Republican Primary Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican O. J. Kirketeg 2,802 63.1
Republican Cox 1,640 36.9
Total votes 4,442 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 6 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican O. J. Kirketeg 7,161 59.0
Democratic Charles S. Hook 4,974 41.0
Total votes 12,135 100.0
Republican hold

District 8
Iowa Senate, District 8 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican K. A. Evans 7,543 51.5
Democratic Fred W. Kenworthy 7,099 48.5
Total votes 14,642 100.0
Republican hold

District 11
Iowa Senate, District 11 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William S. Beardsley (incumbent) 8,127 60.7
Democratic M. R. Stansell 5,256 39.3
Total votes 13,383 100.0
Republican hold

District 14
Iowa Senate, District 14 Republican Primary Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John H. Taylor 1,228 52.0
Republican Jones 1,135 48.0
Total votes 2,363 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 14 Democratic Primary Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic A. E. Augustine (incumbent) 603 55.9
Democratic Smith 475 44.1
Total votes 1,078 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 14 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic A. E. Augustine (incumbent) 5,531 53.5
Republican John H. Taylor 4,805 46.5
Total votes 10,336 100.0
Democratic hold

District 15
Iowa Senate, District 15 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Hugh W. Lundy 9,162 50.8
Democratic F. M. Roberts 8,891 49.2
Total votes 18,053 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 16
Iowa Senate, District 16 Democratic Primary Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Fred C. Armstrong 589 53.5
Democratic Sawyer 511 46.5
Total votes 1,100 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 16 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ora E. Husted (incumbent) 7,082 52.9
Democratic Fred C. Armstrong 6,304 47.1
Total votes 13,386 100.0
Republican hold

District 17
Iowa Senate, District 17 Republican Primary Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George M. Hopkins (incumbent) 3,226 51.6
Republican Kerberg 1,557 24.9
Republican Beveridge 1,469 23.5
Total votes 6,252 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 17 Democratic Primary Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic H. E. Cornish 1,289 51.5
Democratic Regan 1,214 48.5
Total votes 2,503 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 17 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George M. Hopkins (incumbent) 12,201 51.2
Democratic H. E. Cornish 11,227 47.2
Farmer–Labor Anton M. Christensen 379 1.6
Total votes 23,807 100.0
Republican hold

District 18
Iowa Senate, District 18 Republican Primary Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Pelzer (incumbent) 2,100 56.7
Republican Holton 1,602 43.3
Total votes 3,702 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 18 Democratic Primary Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Russell Swift 1,552 55.1
Democratic Frederickson 1,265 44.9
Total votes 2,817 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 18 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Pelzer (incumbent) 9,674 55.6
Democratic Russell Swift 7,738 44.4
Total votes 17,412 100.0
Republican hold

District 19
Iowa Senate, District 19 Democratic Primary Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Morris Moore (incumbent) 1,466 51.7
Democratic Green 1,370 48.3
Total votes 2,836 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 19 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Morris Moore (incumbent) 14,867 53.8
Republican De Vere Watson 12,765 46.2
Total votes 27,632 100.0
Democratic hold

District 23
Iowa Senate, District 23 Democratic Primary Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Frank E. Ellis 936 50.5
Democratic Ristine 918 49.5
Total votes 1,854 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 23 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Frank E. Ellis 4,498 56.0
Republican O. H. Kelly 3,531 44.0
Total votes 8,029 100.0
Democratic hold

District 24
Iowa Senate, District 24 Republican Primary Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George Miller 2,090 56.0
Republican Bodenhofer 1,645 44.0
Total votes 3,735 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 24 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic H. D. Miller (incumbent) 8,686 53.7
Republican George Miller 7,376 45.6
Farmer–Labor Carl J. Mitzner 106 0.7
Total votes 16,168 100.0
Democratic hold

District 25
Iowa Senate, District 25 Democratic Primary Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Paul W. Schmidt (incumbent) 1,683 51.1
Democratic Hite 1,611 48.9
Total votes 3,294 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 25 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frederick C. Schadt 10,340 49.6
Democratic Paul W. Schmidt (incumbent) 9,582 46.0
Farmer–Labor H. G. Smith 908 4.4
Total votes 20,830 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 26
Iowa Senate, District 26 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank C. Byers (incumbent) 19,888 52.7
Democratic R. B. McConologue 17,137 45.4
Farmer–Labor Ira Edwards 698 1.9
Total votes 37,723 100.0
Republican hold

District 27
Iowa Senate, District 27 Republican Primary Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Francis J. Mullen 2,289 57.4
Republican Rutledge 1,696 42.6
Total votes 3,985 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 27 Democratic Primary Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Edward Breen 2,152 49.2
Democratic McManus 1,235 28.2
Democratic Paul H. Anderson (incumbent) 990 22.6
Total votes 4,377 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 27 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Edward Breen 11,511 54.5
Republican Francis J. Mullen 9,603 45.5
Total votes 21,114 100.0
Democratic hold

District 28
Iowa Senate, District 28 Republican Primary Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican B. C. Whitehill (incumbent) 2,082 57.4
Republican McLean 1,548 42.6
Total votes 3,630 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 28 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican B. C. Whitehill (incumbent) 7,803 62.2
Democratic Robert E. Johnson 4,736 37.8
Total votes 12,539 100.0
Republican hold

District 30
Iowa Senate, District 30 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic J. J. Gillespie (incumbent) 35,514 51.1
Republican George M. Faul 33,185 47.7
Farmer–Labor H. P. Fagan 839 1.2
Total votes 69,538 100.0
Democratic hold

District 31
Iowa Senate, District 31 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican L. H. Doran 12,182 100.0
Total votes 12,182 100.0
Republican hold

District 32
Iowa Senate, District 32 Republican Primary Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican A. R. Strong 3,504 50.8
Republican Gillman 3,394 49.2
Total votes 6,898 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 32 Democratic Primary Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tom E. Murray 3,440 72.5
Democratic Waller 1,302 27.5
Total votes 4,742 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 32 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tom E. Murray 21,351 56.2
Republican A. R. Strong 15,350 40.4
Farmer–Labor Charles F. Schrunk 1,272 3.4
Total votes 37,973 100.0
Democratic hold

District 33
Iowa Senate, District 33 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George L. Parker (incumbent) 9,332 52.4
Democratic Dr. J. H. McGready 8,038 45.2
Farmer–Labor L. W. Davis 425 2.4
Total votes 17,795 100.0
Republican hold

District 36
Iowa Senate, District 36 Democratic Primary Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic M. X. Geske (incumbent) 1,405 61.6
Democratic O'Neill 877 38.4
Total votes 2,282 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 36 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic M. X. Geske (incumbent) 6,006 51.4
Republican G. W. Hunt 5,451 46.7
Farmer–Labor M. D. Guyer 223 1.9
Total votes 11,680 100.0
Democratic hold

District 37
Iowa Senate, District 37 Republican Primary Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican G. R. Hill (incumbent) 3,032 52.0
Republican Ellsworth 2,803 48.0
Total votes 5,835 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 37 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican G. R. Hill (incumbent) 10,768 46.4
Democratic Oscar Ulstad 10,306 44.4
Independent William Schmedika 2,126 9.2
Total votes 23,200 100.0
Republican hold

District 39
Iowa Senate, District 39 Republican Primary Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican C. Colfax Smith 2,413 52.1
Republican Lynes 2,220 47.9
Total votes 4,633 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 39 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican C. Colfax Smith 7,304 50.2
Democratic L. H. Meyer (incumbent) 6,989 48.1
Farmer–Labor Theodore Biekert 249 1.7
Total votes 14,542 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 40
Iowa Senate, District 40 Republican Primary Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul P. Stewart 2,924 53.9
Republican Lee 2,502 46.1
Total votes 5,426 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 40 Democratic Primary Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic T. W. Mullaney (incumbent) 1,430 55.0
Democratic Holmes 1,170 45.0
Total votes 2,600 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 40 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul P. Stewart 11,266 54.4
Democratic T. W. Mullaney (incumbent) 9,427 45.6
Total votes 20,693 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 41
Iowa Senate, District 41 Republican Primary Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Leo Elthon (incumbent) 3,321 56.2
Republican Aasgaard 2,593 43.8
Total votes 5,914 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 41 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Leo Elthon (incumbent) 8,440 56.3
Democratic S. S. Westley 6,563 43.7
Total votes 15,003 100.0
Republican hold

District 43
Iowa Senate, District 43 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Earl Dean 14,108 52.0
Republican J. C. Robinson 13,025 48.0
Total votes 27,133 100.0
Democratic hold

District 46
Iowa Senate, District 46 Democratic Primary Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Winfred Mighell 2,088 52.5
Democratic Mike G. Fisch (incumbent) 1,890 47.5
Total votes 3,978 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 46 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Winfred Mighell 11,165 53.3
Republican R. E. Hess 9,765 46.7
Total votes 20,930 100.0
Democratic hold

District 47
Iowa Senate, District 47 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Lester Gillette 19,101 56.6
Republican Harry E. Narey 14,510 42.9
Farmer–Labor C. H. Larison 180 0.5
Total votes 33,791 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

District 49
Iowa Senate, District 49 Democratic Primary Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Charles J. Zylstra 1,191 51.6
Democratic Riegel 1,116 48.4
Total votes 2,307 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 49 General Election, 1936
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Charles B. Hoeven 13,364 50.8
Democratic Charles J. Zylstra 12,945 49.2
Total votes 26,309 100.0
Republican hold
  1. During the 46th General Assembly of the Iowa State Senate (Jan. 1935 through Jan. 1937), there were numerous vacancies and special elections. In district 3, Democratic Senator John K. Valentine was succeeded by Democrat Hugh Guernsey following a special election (a hold of the district for Democrats). In district 5, Democratic Senator Frank M. Stevens was succeeded by Republican Howard W. Edwards following a special election (a gain of the district for Republicans). In district 14, Democratic Senator Lewis Tuttle Shangle was succeeded by Democrat Albert Earl Augustine following a special election (a hold of the district for Democrats). In district 18, Democratic Senator Charles E. Malone was succeeded by Republican Frank Pelzer following a special election (a gain of the district for Republicans). In district 28, Democratic Senator Chris Reese was succeeded by Republican Benjamin Chase Whitehill following a special election (a gain of the district for Republicans). In district 30, Republican Senator George A. Wilson was succeeded by Democrat James J. Gillespie (a gain of the district for Democrats). In district 37, Republican Senator Irving H. Knudson was succeeded by Republican George Raymond Hill following a special election (a hold of the district for Republicans). Given these changes, by election day in 1936 Democrats had seen their seats fall from 28 to 26 and Republicans had seen their seats rise from 22 to 24 since the start of the 46th General Assembly.
  2. Senator Pendray was the first woman elected to the Iowa General Assembly.

See also

References
  1. "Primary Election 1936 For State Senator" (PDF). Iowa General Assembly. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  2. "General Election 1936 For State Senator" (PDF). Iowa General Assembly. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  3. "Hold-Over State Senators" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  4. "Legislators". Iowa State Senate. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  5. "Primary Election for State Senator 1936" (PDF). Iowa Official Register. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
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