In the 1850 Iowa State Senate elections, Iowa voters elected state senators to serve in the third Iowa General Assembly. Elections were held for 11 of the state senate's 19 seats.[c] State senators serve four-year terms in the Iowa State Senate.
To claim control of the chamber from Democrats, the Whigs needed to net two Senate seats.
Democrats maintained control of the Iowa State Senate following the 1850 general election with the balance of power shifting to Democrats holding 14 seats and Whigs having five seats (a net gain of 3 seats for Democrats). Democratic Senator Enos Lowe was chosen as the President of the Iowa Senate for the third General Assembly, succeeding Democratic Senator John Jackson Selman in that leadership position.[b][a]
Summary of Results
Note: The holdover Senators not up for re-election are unlisted on this table.
^ abSenator John Jackson Selman of Davis County was chosen to be the third President of the Iowa Senate. He served during the second Iowa General Assembly, succeeding Senator Thomas Hughes in that leadership position.[1]
^ abSenator Enos Lowe of Des Moines County was chosen to be the fourth President of the Iowa Senate. He served during the third Iowa General Assembly, succeeding Senator John Jackson Selman in that leadership position.[2]
^The first district was a 2-member district at the time. However, only one of the seats in the district was contested in the election. The other was held by a holdover senator not up for re-election.
^In 1851, Senator Baker resigned, causing a vacancy in this seat that would be filled by special election during the next session.[5]
^The second district was a 2-member district at the time. However, only one of the seats in the district was contested in the election. The other was held by a holdover senator not up for re-election.
^The fourth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^In September 1850, Senator Royston died, causing a vacancy in this seat that was filled by special election.[6]
^The sixth district was a 2-member district at the time. Senator Fear resigned, causing a vacancy filled by special election to the remainder of two years in the seat's term. Senator Browning's seat was up for a regularly-scheduled election to a four-year term.
^Senator Fear resigned, causing a vacancy in this seat that was filled by special election in the 1850 election.[7]
^Senator Hepner was elected to a full four-year term in the 1850 election.[8]
^The seventh district was a 1-member district at the time.
^During the next term, Senator Morton resigned, causing a vacancy in this seat that would be filled by special election during the next session.[9]
^The ninth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The tenth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The twelfth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The fourteenth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The fifteenth district was a 2-member district at the time. However, only one of the seats in the district was contested in the election. The other was held by a holdover senator not up for re-election.
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