# 1998 Iowa Senate election

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The 1998 Iowa State Senate elections took place as part of the biennial 1998 United States elections. Iowa voters elected state senators in half of the state senate's districts—the 25 odd-numbered state senate districts. State senators serve four-year terms in the Iowa State Senate, with half of the seats up for election each cycle. A statewide map of the 50 state Senate districts in the year 1998 is provided by the Iowa General Assembly here.
The primary election on June 2, 1998, determined which candidates appeared on the November 3, 1998 general election ballot. Primary election results can be obtained here. General election results can be obtained here.
Following the previous election in 1996, Republicans had control of the Iowa state Senate with 29 seats to Democrats' 21 seats. In a special election in District 13 in 1997 to fill a vacancy created by Sen. Jim Lind's (R) resignation, Democratic candidate Patricia M. "Pat" Harper (D) flipped the seat for her party. Therefore, on election day 1998, Republicans held 28 seats to Democrats' 22.
To reclaim control of the chamber from Republicans, the Democrats needed to net 4 Senate seats.
Republicans strengthened their control of the Iowa State Senate following the 1998 general election by netting two seats, resulting in Republicans holding 30 seats and Democrats having 20 seats after the election.

## Summary of Results

* NOTE: The 25 even-numbered districts did not have elections in 1998 so they are not listed here.
| State Senate District | Incumbent | Party | Elected Senator | Party |
| 1st | Steven D. Hansen | Dem | Steven D. Hansen | Democratic |
| 3rd | Wilmer Rensink | Rep | Kenneth Veenstra | Republican |
| 5th | Mary Lou Freeman | Rep | Mary Lou Freeman | Republican |
| 7th | Rod Halvorson | Dem | Mike Sexton | Republican |
| 9th | Stewart Iverson | Rep | Stewart Iverson | Republican |
| 11th | John Jensen | Rep | John Jensen | Republican |
| 13th | Patricia M. "Pat" Harper | Dem | Patricia M. "Pat" Harper | Democratic |
| 15th | Allen Borlaug | Rep | Betty A. Soukup | Democratic |
| 17th | Thomas L. Flynn | Dem | Thomas L. Flynn | Democratic |
| 19th | Sheldon L. Rittmer | Rep | Sheldon L. Rittmer | Republican |
| 21st | Maggie Tinsman | Rep | Maggie Tinsman | Republican |
| 23rd | Mary Neuhauser | Dem | Joe Bolkcom | Democratic |
| 25th | Robert Dvorsky | Dem | Robert Dvorsky | Democratic |
| 27th | Wally Horn | Dem | Wally Horn | Democratic |
| 29th | Dennis Black | Dem | Dennis Black | Democratic |
| 31st | Johnie Hammond | Dem | Johnie Hammond | Democratic |
| 33rd | William D. Palmer | Dem | Jeff Lamberti | Republican |
| 35th | Dick Dearden | Dem | Dick Dearden | Democratic |
| 37th | Mary Kramer | Rep | Mary Kramer | Republican |
| 39th | Jo Ann M. Douglas | Rep | Jo Ann M. Johnson | Republican |
| 41st | Nancy Boettger | Rep | Nancy Boettger | Republican |
| 43rd | Derryl McLaren | Rep | Derryl McLaren | Republican |
| 45th | Bill Fink | Dem | Bill Fink | Democratic |
| 47th | Donald Gettings | Dem | David P. Miller | Republican |
| 49th | Tom Vilsack | Dem | Mark Shearer | Democratic |
Source:

## Detailed Results

* Reminder: Only odd-numbered Iowa Senate seats were up for election in 1998; therefore, even-numbered seats did not have elections in 1998 & are not shown.
* 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, 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Steven D. Hansen (incumbent) | 8,421 | 61.2 |
| | Republican | Kathleen Hoffmann | 5,337 | 38.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,758 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 3

Iowa Senate, District 3 General Election, 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Kenneth Veenstra | 15,040 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,040 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 5

Iowa Senate, District 5 General Election, 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mary Lou Freeman (incumbent) | 13,389 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,389 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 7

Iowa Senate, District 7 General Election, 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mike Sexton | 9,245 | 51.5 |
| | Democratic | Rod Halvorson (incumbent) | 8,712 | 48.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,957 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 9

Iowa Senate, District 9 General Election, 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Stewart Iverson (incumbent) | 12,472 | 66.4 |
| | Democratic | Jim Murra | 6,300 | 33.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,772 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 11

Iowa Senate, District 11 General Election, 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John W. Jensen (incumbent) | 14,957 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,957 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 13

Iowa Senate, District 13 General Election, 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Patricia Harper (incumbent) | 10,469 | 63.6 |
| | Republican | Mike Lanigan | 5,998 | 36.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 16,467 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 15

Iowa Senate, District 15 General Election, 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Betty Soukup | 10,453 | 50.3 |
| | Republican | Allen Borlaug (incumbent) | 10,324 | 49.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,777 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### District 17

Iowa Senate, District 17 General Election, 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Tom Flynn (incumbent) | 13,067 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,067 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 19

Iowa Senate, District 19 General Election, 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Sheldon L. Rittmer (incumbent) | 10,586 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,586 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 21

Iowa Senate, District 21 Republican Primary Election, 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Maggie Tinsman (incumbent) | 2,931 | 42.5 |
| | Republican | Philip B. Allen, Jr. | 2,650 | 47.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,581 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 21 General Election, 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Maggie Tinsman (incumbent) | 12,550 | 67.8 |
| | Democratic | Tommy Jacobson | 5,960 | 32.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,510 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 23

Iowa Senate, District 23 General Election, 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joe Bolkcom | 12,513 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,513 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 25

Iowa Senate, District 25 General Election, 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Robert Dvorsky (incumbent) | 13,301 | 64.4 |
| | Republican | Mary Louise Howard | 7,368 | 35.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,669 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 27

Iowa Senate, District 27 General Election, 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Wally Horn (incumbent) | 13,653 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,653 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 29

Iowa Senate, District 29 Republican Primary Election, 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bruce Rhoads | 1,675 | 62.1 |
| | Republican | Joseph R. Hudson | 552 | 20.5 |
| | Republican | Rick Phillips | 470 | 17.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,697 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 29 General Election, 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Dennis Black (incumbent) | 12,642 | 60.6 |
| | Republican | Bruce Rhoads | 8,216 | 39.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,858 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 31

Iowa Senate, District 31 Republican Primary Election, 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Norman A. Luiken | 1,735 | 70.3 |
| | Republican | Jerry Litzel | 733 | 29.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,468 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 31 General Election, 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Johnie Hammond (incumbent) | 9,428 | 55.6 |
| | Republican | Norman A. Luiken | 7,524 | 44.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 16,952 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 33

Iowa Senate, District 33 General Election, 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jeff Lamberti | 17,147 | 84.5 |
| | Reform | Alan Palmer | 3,146 | 15.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,293 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 35

Iowa Senate, District 35 General Election, 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Dick Dearden (incumbent) | 10,538 | 71.6 |
| | Republican | Bert Wagoner, Jr. | 4,172 | 28.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,710 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 37

Iowa Senate, District 37 General Election, 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mary Kramer (incumbent) | 13,194 | 51.6 |
| | Democratic | Bill Reichardt | 12,136 | 47.4 |
| | Reform | Eric William Gunderson | 246 | 1.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 25,576 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 39

Iowa Senate, District 39 General Election, 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jo Ann Douglas (incumbent) | 13,708 | 56.6 |
| | Democratic | Brent A. Halling | 10,513 | 43.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,221 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 41

Iowa Senate, District 41 General Election, 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Nancy Boettger (incumbent) | 12,082 | 68.5 |
| | Democratic | John L. Jensen | 5,560 | 31.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,642 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 43

Iowa Senate, District 43 General Election, 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Derryl McLaren (incumbent) | 13,685 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,685 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 45

Iowa Senate, District 45 General Election, 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bill Fink (incumbent) | 10,988 | 56.7 |
| | Republican | Larry L. Hughes | 8,387 | 43.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,375 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 47

Iowa Senate, District 47 General Election, 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David P. Miller | 9,788 | 50.1 |
| | Democratic | Dan Gullion | 8,530 | 43.6 |
| | Natural Law | Jonas Magram | 1,236 | 6.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,554 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 49

Iowa Senate, District 49 General Election, 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mark Shearer | 10,045 | 53.1 |
| | Republican | Richard Garrels | 8,881 | 46.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,926 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
* ↑ In district 13, Sen. Lind (R) resigned and Sen. Harper (D) won a special election in 1997 to flip the seat to her party.
* 1 2 This is the same Senator, she just changed her last name.