In the 1863 Iowa State Senate elections, Iowa voters elected state senators to serve in the tenth Iowa General Assembly. Following the downsizing of the Iowa Senate from 49 to 46 seats in 1863, elections were held for 34 of the state senate's 46 seats.[f] State senators serve four-year terms in the Iowa State Senate.
Following the previous election in 1861, Republicans had control of the Iowa Senate with 33 seats to Democrats' 16 seats. However, three changes occurred during the ninth general assembly. In the third district, Democratic Senator Cyrus Bussey resigned on January 18, 1862, causing a vacancy in his seat.[12] Democrat James Pollard succeeded Senator Bussey, holding the seat for the Democrats.[13] In the sixth district, Republican Senator James Conrad Hagans died on September 7, 1863, causing a vacancy in his seat.[14] The sixth district seat was left vacant until the next election. In the forty-first district, Republican Senator John Scott resigned on January 18, 1862, causing a vacancy in his seat.[15] Democrat Edwin B. Potter succeeded Senator Scott, flipping the seat to Democratic control.[16] Therefore, by election day in 1863, the Republicans held 31 seats, the Democrats held 17 seats, and one seat was vacant (the seat that had been held by Republican Senator Hagans).
To claim control of the chamber from Republicans, the Democrats needed to net seven Senate seats.
Republicans maintained control of the Iowa State Senate following the election with the balance of power shifting to Republicans holding 41 seats and Democrats having five seats (a net gain of 10 seats for Republicans).[b]
Summary of Results
Note: The holdover Senators not up for re-election are not listed on this table.
^ abFollowing the 1861 Iowa Senate election, Republicans held 33 seats to Democrats' 16. However, three changes occurred during the ninth general assembly. In the third district, Democratic Senator Cyrus Bussey resigned on January 18, 1862, causing a vacancy in his seat.[1] Democrat James Pollard succeeded Senator Bussey, holding the seat for the Democrats.[2] In the sixth district, Republican Senator James Conrad Hagans died on September 7, 1863, causing a vacancy in his seat.[3] The sixth district seat was left vacant until the next election. In the forty-first district, Republican Senator John Scott resigned on January 18, 1862, causing a vacancy in his seat.[4] Democrat Edwin B. Potter succeeded Senator Scott, flipping the seat to Democratic control.[5] Therefore, by election day in 1863, the Republicans held 31 seats, the Democrats held 17 seats, and one seat was vacant (the seat that had been held by Republican Senator Hagans).
^ abcThe Iowa Senate decreased from 49 seats to 46 seats following the 1863 general election.[6]
^Article IV, section 18, of the Constitution of Iowa at that time established that the Lieutenant Governor of Iowa shall perform the duties of the President of the Senate. The Lieutenant Governor performed the duties of President of the Senate from January 11, 1858 through January 14, 1991. As of 1991, duties of Iowa's Lieutenant Governor no longer include presiding over the state Senate.[7]
^As the next Lieutenant Governor, Enoch W. Eastman was the eleventh President of the Iowa Senate. He served during the tenth Iowa General Assembly, succeeding Republican John R. Needham in that leadership position.[9]
^Democrat James Pollard succeeded Senator Bussey, holding the seat for the Democrats.[18]
^The fourth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The fifth district transitioned from a 2- to 1-member district.
^Senator William E. Taylor was an incumbent who was up for re-election. He was redistricted from district 5 to 6.
^The sixth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^In the sixth district, Republican Senator James Conrad Hagans died on September 7, 1863, causing a vacancy in his seat.[19] The sixth district seat was left vacant until the next election.
^The seventh district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The eighth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^ abSenator Foote was an incumbentholdover senator not up for re-election. Instead, he was redistricted from district 8 to 9.
^The ninth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^ abSenator Woolson was an incumbentholdover senator not up for re-election. Instead, he was redistricted from district 9 to 10.
^The tenth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The eleventh district was a 1-member district at the time.
^ abSenator Dixon was an incumbentholdover senator not up for re-election. Instead, he was redistricted from district 11 to 12.
^The twelfth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The thirteenth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^ abSenator Hurley was an incumbentholdover senator not up for re-election. Instead, he was redistricted from district 13 to 14.
^The fourteenth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The fifteenth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The sixteenth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The seventeenth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The eighteenth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The nineteenth district transitioned from a 2- to 1-member district.
^Senator Leake was an incumbent who was up for re-election. He was redistricted from district 19 to 22.
^ abSenator Gue was an incumbentholdover senator not up for re-election. Instead, he was redistricted from district 19 to 22.
^The twentieth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^ abSenator Boardman was an incumbentholdover senator not up for re-election. Instead, he was redistricted from district 20 to 23.
^The twenty-first district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The twenty-second district transitioned from a 1- to 2-member district at the time.
^The twenty-third district was a 1-member district at the time.
^ abSenator Hatch was an incumbentholdover senator not up for re-election. Instead, he was redistricted from district 23 to 28.
^The twenty-fourth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The twenty-fifth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The twenty-sixth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The twenty-seventh district transitioned from a 2- to 1-member district.
^Senator Trumbull was an incumbent who was up for re-election. He was redistricted from district 27 to 34.
^ abSenator Jennings was an incumbentholdover senator not up for re-election. Instead, he was redistricted from district 27 to 34.
^The twenty-eighth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The twenty-ninth district transitioned from a 2- to 1-member district.
^Senator Kern was an incumbent who was up for re-election. He was redistricted from district 29 to 20.
^Senator Henderson was an incumbent who was up for re-election. He was redistricted from district 29 to 20.
^The thirtieth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The thirty-first district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The thirty-second district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The thirty-third district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The thirty-fourth district transitioned from a 1- to 2-member district at the time.
^The thirty-fifth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The thirty-sixth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The thirty-seventh district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The thirty-eighth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The thirty-ninth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^ abSenator Gray was an incumbent who was up for re-election. He was redistricted from district 39 to 40.
^The fortieth district transitioned from a 2- to 1-member district.
^The forty-first district was a 1-member district at the time.
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