# 1938 Iowa Senate election

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The 1938 Iowa State Senate elections took place as part of the biennial 1938 United States elections. Iowa voters elected state senators in 22 of the state senate's 50 districts. State senators serve four-year terms in the Iowa State Senate.
A statewide map of the 50 state Senate districts in the 1938 elections is provided by the Iowa General Assembly here.
The primary election on June 6, 1938, determined which candidates appeared on the November 8, 1938 general election ballot.
Following the previous election, Republicans had control of the Iowa state Senate with 28 seats to Democrats' 22 seats. Following a special election in 1937 in district 1, Republicans flipped the first district to their party. Therefore, on election day in November 1938, Republicans held 29 seats to Democrats' 21.
To claim control of the chamber from Republicans, the Democrats needed to net 5 Senate seats.
Republicans maintained control of the Iowa State Senate following the 1938 general election with the balance of power shifting to Republicans holding 38 seats and Democrats having 12 seats (a net gain of 9 seats for Republicans).

## Summary of Results

* Note: The 28 holdover Senators not up for re-election are not listed on this table.
| State Senate District | Incumbent | Party | Elected Senator | Party |
| 1st | Stanley Lawrence Hart | Rep | Stanley Lawrence Hart | Rep |
| 7th | Paul Lambert Millhone | Rep | Carl Oscar Sjulin | Rep |
| 9th | James M. Bell | Dem | Frederick P. Cromwell | Rep |
| 10th | Arthur Claire Dewey | Rep | Arthur Claire Dewey | Rep |
| 12th | Eugene Irving Mason | Dem | John Edwin Talbott | Rep |
| 13th | Roy E. Stevens | Dem | Elmer K. Bekman | Rep |
| 18th | Frank Pelzer | Rep | Frank Pelzer | Rep |
| 20th | Elmer Primer Corwin | Rep | Elmer Primer Corwin | Rep |
| 21st | David W. Kimberly | Rep | Frank D. Martin | Rep |
| 22nd | Harold L. Irwin | Dem | Otto H. Henningsen | Rep |
| 29th | John W. Billingsley | Rep | Ross Rutledge Mowry | Rep |
| 30th | James J. Gillespie | Dem | George M. Faul | Rep |
| 32nd | Tom Ellis Murray | Dem | Linus Forsling | Rep |
| 34th | Andrew Bell | Dem | Robert W. Harvey | Rep |
| 35th | Howard C. Baldwin | Dem | Howard C. Baldwin | Dem |
| 37th | George Raymond Hill | Rep | George Raymond Hill | Rep |
| 38th | John Peter Berg | Rep | John Peter Berg | Rep |
| 42nd | Samuel D. Goetsch | Dem | Edward Henry Vrba | Dem |
| 44th | Edward P. Donohue | Rep | Edward P. Donohue | Rep |
| 45th | Henry Julius Grunewald | Dem | Richard V. Leo | Rep |
| 48th | I. G. Chrystal | Dem | Ralph E. Benson | Rep |
| 50th | Albert Josiah Shaw | Rep | Albert Josiah Shaw | Rep |
Source:

## Detailed Results

* NOTE: The 28 districts that did not hold elections in 1938 are not listed here.
* 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, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Stanley L. Hart (incumbent) | 7,819 | 58.9 |
| | Democratic | J. O. Boyd | 5,455 | 41.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,274 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 7

Iowa Senate, District 7 General Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Carl O. Sjulin | 8,891 | 64.7 |
| | Democratic | Harold J. Teachout | 4,841 | 35.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,732 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 9

Iowa Senate, District 9 General Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Fred Cromwell | 6,830 | 63.5 |
| | Democratic | James M. Bell (incumbent) | 3,919 | 36.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,749 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 10

Iowa Senate, District 10 General Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | A. Claire Dewey (incumbent) | 7,930 | 66.4 |
| | Democratic | William Griffin | 4,008 | 33.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,938 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 12

Iowa Senate, District 12 Democratic Primary Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | E. I. Mason (incumbent) | 1,058 | 61.3 |
| | Democratic | Adkins | 668 | 38.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,726 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 12 General Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John E. Talbott | 7,616 | 58.1 |
| | Democratic | E. I. Mason (incumbent) | 5,439 | 41.6 |
| | Farmer–Labor | Arthur VanZanty | 43 | 0.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,098 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 13

Iowa Senate, District 13 General Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | E. K. Bekman | 6,700 | 51.1 |
| | Democratic | Chester L. Johns | 6,354 | 48.5 |
| | Farmer–Labor | D. W. Matheny | 49 | 0.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,103 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 18

Iowa Senate, District 18 Republican Primary Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Frank Pelzer (incumbent) | 2,679 | 64.4 |
| | Republican | Hulsehus | 1,482 | 35.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,161 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 18 General Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Frank Pelzer (incumbent) | 7,466 | 52.5 |
| | Democratic | Walter Gregersen | 6,747 | 47.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,213 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 20

Iowa Senate, District 20 Republican Primary Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | E. P. Corwin (incumbent) | 3,337 | 70.9 |
| | Republican | Hudler | 1,367 | 29.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,704 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 20 General Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | E. P. Corwin (incumbent) | 8,222 | 65.0 |
| | Democratic | Henry Wildasin | 4,420 | 35.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,642 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 21

Iowa Senate, District 21 General Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Frank D. Martin | 11,795 | 51.1 |
| | Democratic | Nic LeGrand | 11,293 | 48.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,088 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 22

Iowa Senate, District 22 Republican Primary Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | O. H. Henningsen | 2,862 | 57.6 |
| | Republican | Long | 2,104 | 42.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,966 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 22 General Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | O. H. Henningsen | 9,526 | 53.9 |
| | Democratic | H. L. Irwin (incumbent) | 8,146 | 46.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,672 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 29

Iowa Senate, District 29 Republican Primary Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ross R. Mowry | 1,218 | 41.2 |
| | Republican | Decker | 780 | 26.4 |
| | Republican | Baker | 523 | 17.7 |
| | Republican | Hagen | 434 | 14.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,955 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 29 Democratic Primary Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | J. E. Craven | 855 | 35.6 |
| | Democratic | Hall | 641 | 26.7 |
| | Democratic | Morgan | 625 | 26.0 |
| | Democratic | Rigdon | 280 | 11.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,401 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 29 General Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ross R. Mowry | 5,215 | 51.5 |
| | Democratic | J. E. Craven | 4,910 | 48.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,125 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 30

Iowa Senate, District 30 Republican Primary Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | George M. Faul (incumbent) | 7,176 | 39.7 |
| | Republican | Brown | 6,063 | 33.6 |
| | Republican | Miller | 4,820 | 26.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,059 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 30 General Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | George M. Faul | 30,324 | 57.7 |
| | Democratic | James J. Gillespie (incumbent) | 21,788 | 41.6 |
| | Farmer–Labor | Guy O. McElrea | 272 | 0.5 |
| | Prohibition | Henry McCraven | 126 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 52,510 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 32

Iowa Senate, District 32 Republican Primary Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | L. B. Forsling | 5,378 | 79.7 |
| | Republican | Brand | 1,368 | 20.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 6,746 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 32 Democratic Primary Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | P. H. McGrath | 2,598 | 56.1 |
| | Democratic | Waller | 2,033 | 43.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,631 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 32 General Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | L. B. Forsling | 16,576 | 57.2 |
| | Democratic | P. H. McGrath | 11,923 | 41.2 |
| | Farmer–Labor | Earl Crowl | 473 | 1.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 28,972 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 34

Iowa Senate, District 34 Republican Primary Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Robert W. Harvey | 3,073 | 64.9 |
| | Republican | Harshbarger | 1,659 | 35.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,732 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 34 General Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Robert W. Harvey | 11,600 | 51.7 |
| | Democratic | Andrew Bell (incumbent) | 10,826 | 48.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,426 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 35

Iowa Senate, District 35 Democratic Primary Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Howard C. Baldwin (incumbent) | 6,761 | 53.6 |
| | Democratic | Rhomberg | 5,849 | 46.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,610 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 35 General Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Howard C. Baldwin (incumbent) | 12,122 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,122 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 37

Iowa Senate, District 37 Democratic Primary Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Dewey Gilbert | 1,452 | 69.9 |
| | Democratic | Schmedeke | 625 | 30.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,077 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 37 General Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | G. R. Hill (incumbent) | 10,290 | 57.1 |
| | Democratic | Dewey Gilbert | 7,718 | 42.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,008 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 38

Iowa Senate, District 38 General Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John P. Berg (incumbent) | 14,670 | 59.5 |
| | Democratic | J. E. Cundy | 9,858 | 40.0 |
| | Farmer–Labor | Vance J. Price | 116 | 0.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,644 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 42

Iowa Senate, District 42 Republican Primary Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Sam D. Goetsch (incumbent) | 2,103 | 56.5 |
| | Republican | Miller | 1,622 | 43.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,725 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 42 General Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Edward H. Vrba | 7,905 | 52.4 |
| | Republican | Sam D. Goetsch (incumbent) | 7,180 | 47.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,085 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 44

Iowa Senate, District 44 Republican Primary Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | E. P. Donohue (incumbent) | 2,793 | 55.2 |
| | Republican | Hill | 2,267 | 44.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,060 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 44 General Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | E. P. Donohue (incumbent) | 7,719 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 7,719 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 45

Iowa Senate, District 45 General Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Richard V. Leo | 8,322 | 54.3 |
| | Democratic | Henry J. Grunewald (incumbent) | 7,016 | 45.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,338 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 48

Iowa Senate, District 48 General Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ralph E. Benson | 10,304 | 58.9 |
| | Democratic | E. L. Zitzlsperger | 7,180 | 41.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,484 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 50

Iowa Senate, District 50 General Election, 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Albert J. Shaw (incumbent) | 8,723 | 64.1 |
| | Democratic | R. V. Neville | 4,890 | 35.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,613 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
* 1 2 3 4 Democratic Senator Timothy Francis "T. F." Driscoll of District 1 died in early 1937. In the subsequent special election, Republican Stanley Lawrence Hart flipped the first district to his party.
* 1 2 3 Senator Goetsch switched parties and ran for re-election as a Republican. He lost in the general election to Democrat Ed Vrba.