# 1839 Iowa Council election

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In the 1839 Iowa Territory Council elections, electors selected councilors to serve in the second Iowa Territory Council. All 13 members of the Territory Council were elected. Councilors served one-year terms.
The Iowa Territory existed from July 4, 1838, until December 28, 1846, when Iowa was admitted to the Union as a state. At the time, the Iowa Territory had a Legislative Assembly consisting of an upper chamber (i.e., the Territory Council) and a lower chamber (i.e., the Territory House of Representatives).
Following the organization of the first Territory Council in 1838, Democrats held a majority with seven seats to Whigs' six seats.
To claim a majority of seats, the Whigs needed to net one seat from the Democrats.
The Democrats maintained a majority of seats in the Council following the 1839 general election with the balance of power remaining unchanged with the Democrats holding seven seats and the Whigs having six seats. Democratic Councilor Stephen P. Hempstead was chosen as the President of the second Territory Council to succeed Whig Councilor Jesse B. Browne in that leadership position.

## Summary of Results

| Iowa Territory Council District | Incumbent | Party | Elected Councilor | Party | Outcome |
| 1st | George Hepner | Dem | George Hepner | Dem | Dem Hold |
| 1st | Arthur Inghram | Dem | Arthur Inghram | Dem | Dem Hold |
| 1st | Robert Ralston | Dem | Robert Ralston | Dem | Dem Hold |
| 2nd | Jesse B. Browne | Whig | Jesse B. Browne | Whig | Whig Hold |
| 3rd | Lawson B. Hughes | Whig | Lawson B. Hughes | Whig | Whig Hold |
| 3rd | Jesse D. Payne | Whig | Jesse D. Payne | Whig | Whig Hold |
| 4th | E. A. M. Swazy | Dem | E. A. M. Swazy | Dem | Dem Hold |
| 4th | Isham Keith | Whig | Isham Keith | Whig | Whig Hold |
| 5th | James M. Clark | Whig | James M. Clark | Whig | Whig Hold |
| 6th | Charles Whittlesey | Whig | Charles Whittlesey | Whig | Whig Hold |
| 7th | Jonathan W. Parker | Dem | Jonathan W. Parker | Dem | Dem Hold |
| 8th | Stephen Hempstead | Dem | Stephen Hempstead | Dem | Dem Hold |
| 8th | Warner Lewis | Dem | Warner Lewis | Dem | Dem Hold |
Source:
* 1 2 3 4 5 Councilor Hempstead of Dubuque County was chosen to be the President of the second Iowa Territory Council.
* ↑ At the time, the Council had several multi-member districts.
* ↑ The 1st was a 3-member district.
* ↑ Councilor Hepner resided in Des Moines County during the second Iowa Territory Council.
* ↑ Councilor Inghram resided in Des Moines County during the second Iowa Territory Council.
* ↑ Councilor Ralston resided in Des Moines County during the second Iowa Territory Council.
* ↑ The 2nd was a 1-member district.
* ↑ Councilor Browne resided in Lee County during the second Iowa Territory Council.
* ↑ The 3rd was a 2-member district.
* ↑ Councilor Hughes resided in Henry County during the second Iowa Territory Council.
* ↑ Councilor Payne resided in Henry County during the second Iowa Territory Council.
* ↑ The 4th was a 2-member district.
* ↑ Councilor Swazy resided in Van Buren County during the second Iowa Territory Council.
* ↑ Councilor Keith resided in Van Buren County during the second Iowa Territory Council.
* ↑ The 5th was a 1-member district.
* ↑ Councilor Clark resided in Louisa County during the second Iowa Territory Council.
* ↑ The 6th was a 1-member district.
* ↑ Councilor Whittlesey resided in Cedar County during the second Iowa Territory Council.
* ↑ The 7th was a 1-member district.
* ↑ Councilor Parker resided in Scott County during the second Iowa Territory Council.
* ↑ The 8th was a 2-member district.
* ↑ Councilor Lewis resided in Dubuque County during the second Iowa Territory Council.

## Detailed Results

* NOTE: The Iowa General Assembly does not contain detailed vote totals for Territory Council elections in 1839.