# 1940 Iowa Senate election

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The 1940 Iowa State Senate elections took place as part of the biennial 1940 United States elections. Iowa voters elected state senators in 29 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 1940 elections is provided by the Iowa General Assembly here.
The primary election on June 3, 1940, determined which candidates appeared on the November 5, 1940 general election ballot.
Following the previous election, Republicans had control of the Iowa state Senate with 38 seats to Democrats' 12 seats.
To claim control of the chamber from Republicans, the Democrats needed to net 14 Senate seats.
Republicans maintained control of the Iowa State Senate following the 1940 general election with the balance of power shifting to Republicans holding 45 seats and Democrats having 5 seats (a net gain of 7 seats for Republicans).

## Summary of Results

* Note: The 21 holdover Senators not up for re-election are not listed on this table.
| State Senate District | Incumbent | Party | Elected Senator | Party |
| 2nd | Sanford Zeigler | Rep | Sanford Zeigler | Rep |
| 3rd | Hugh G. Guernsey | Dem | Dewey Emmitt Goode | Rep |
| 4th | Harold V. Levis | Rep | Clarence L. Clark | Rep |
| 5th | Howard W. Edwards | Rep | Stephen Ray Emerson | Rep |
| 6th | Ole John Kirketeg | Rep | William Oliver Turner | Rep |
| 8th | Kenneth A. Evans | Rep | Kenneth A. Evans | Rep |
| 11th | William S. Beardsley | Rep | Floyd Arden Jones | Rep |
| 14th | Albert Earl Augustine | Dem | Albert Earl Augustine | Dem |
| 15th | Hugh W. Lundy | Rep | Hugh W. Lundy | Rep |
| 16th | Ora E. Husted | Rep | Harry Samuel Love | Rep |
| 17th | George M. Hopkins | Rep | Ai Miller | Rep |
| 19th | Morris W. Moore | Dem | De Vere Watson | Rep |
| 23rd | Frank E. Ellis | Dem | DuFay D. Fuller | Rep |
| 24th | Henry Delbert Miller | Dem | Marion Claire Hamiel | Rep |
| 25th | Frederick Conrad Schadt | Rep | Leroy Samuel Mercer | Dem |
| 26th | Frank C. Byers | Rep | Frank C. Byers | Rep |
| 27th | Edward Joseph Breen | Dem | Charles V. Findlay | Rep |
| 28th | Benjamin Chase Whitehill | Rep | Benjamin Chase Whitehill | Rep |
| 31st | Lant H. Doran | Rep | John R. Hattery | Rep |
| 32nd | Linus Forsling | Rep | Robert Prentis Munger | Rep |
| 33rd | George L. Parker | Rep | Irving D. Long | Rep |
| 36th | Martin X. Geske | Dem | Gerald W. Hunt | Rep |
| 39th | Clermont Colfax Smith | Rep | J. Kendall Lynes | Rep |
| 40th | Paul Palmer Stewart | Rep | Paul Palmer Stewart | Rep |
| 41st | Leo Elthon | Rep | Leo Elthon | Rep |
| 43rd | Earl M. Dean | Dem | Oscar E. Johnson | Dem |
| 46th | Winfred Mighell | Dem | Raymond Edward Hess | Rep |
| 47th | Lester S. Gillette | Dem | Robert Keir | Rep |
| 49th | Charles Bernard Hoeven | Rep | Jans T. "J. T." Dykhouse | Rep |
Source:

## Detailed Results

* NOTE: The 21 districts that did not hold elections in 1940 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 2

Iowa Senate, District 2 General Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Sanford Zeigler, Jr. (incumbent) | 9,354 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 9,354 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 3

Iowa Senate, District 3 General Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Dewey E. Goode | 9,795 | 55.2 |
| | Democratic | Jess Exline | 7,934 | 44.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,729 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 4

Iowa Senate, District 4 General Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Clarence L. Clark | 7,622 | 55.8 |
| | Democratic | Arch Jones | 6,026 | 44.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,648 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 5

Iowa Senate, District 5 General Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | S. Ray Emerson | 12,653 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,653 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 6

Iowa Senate, District 6 Republican Primary Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Oliver Turner | 2,734 | 54.3 |
| | Republican | Watts | 2,302 | 45.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,036 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 6 General Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Oliver Turner | 7,318 | 62.2 |
| | Democratic | C. T. Mercer | 4,443 | 37.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,761 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 8

Iowa Senate, District 8 General Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | K. A. Evans (incumbent) | 8,439 | 60.3 |
| | Democratic | L. A. Nelson | 5,555 | 39.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,994 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 11

Iowa Senate, District 11 Republican Primary Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Floyd Jones | 2,772 | 57.8 |
| | Republican | Lowe | 2,023 | 42.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,795 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 11 General Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Floyd Jones | 7,973 | 59.2 |
| | Democratic | Frank Gonseth | 5,486 | 40.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,459 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 14

Iowa Senate, District 14 General Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | A. E. Augustine (incumbent) | 5,631 | 52.5 |
| | Republican | F. C. Stanley | 5,096 | 47.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,727 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 15

Iowa Senate, District 15 Republican Primary Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Hugh W. Lundy (incumbent) | 3,988 | 75.3 |
| | Republican | Brady | 1,310 | 24.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,298 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 15 General Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Hugh W. Lundy (incumbent) | 9,865 | 52.6 |
| | Democratic | F. M. Roberts | 8,877 | 47.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,742 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 16

Iowa Senate, District 16 Republican Primary Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | H. S. Love | 2,451 | 52.7 |
| | Republican | Ehm | 2,201 | 47.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,652 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 16 General Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | H. S. Love | 8,231 | 62.4 |
| | Democratic | C. H. Wicks | 4,958 | 37.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,189 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 17

Iowa Senate, District 17 Republican Primary Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ai Miller | 4,930 | 64.8 |
| | Republican | McQuirk | 2,678 | 35.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 7,608 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 17 General Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ai Miller | 13,380 | 55.2 |
| | Democratic | J. A. Graham | 10,845 | 44.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,225 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 19

Iowa Senate, District 19 Republican Primary Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | DeVere Watson | 1,437 | 33.8 |
| | Republican | Lutz | 879 | 20.7 |
| | Republican | Ferguson | 740 | 17.5 |
| | Republican | Langstrom | 683 | 16.1 |
| | Republican | Ritchie | 507 | 11.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,246 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 19 Democratic Primary Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Dr. M. Moore (incumbent) | 1,175 | 62.0 |
| | Democratic | Morris | 719 | 38.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,894 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 19 General Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | DeVere Watson | 15,426 | 51.7 |
| | Democratic | Dr. M. Moore (incumbent) | 14,421 | 48.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 29,847 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 23

Iowa Senate, District 23 Republican Primary Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | D. D. Fuller | 629 | 60.5 |
| | Republican | Spiro | 411 | 39.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,040 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 23 Democratic Primary Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Frank E. Ellis (incumbent) | 1,213 | 69.6 |
| | Democratic | Wilcke | 529 | 30.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,742 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 23 General Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | D. D. Fuller | 4,620 | 52.3 |
| | Democratic | Frank E. Ellis (incumbent) | 4,213 | 47.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 8,833 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 24

Iowa Senate, District 24 General Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | M. C. Hamiel | 10,098 | 57.4 |
| | Democratic | La Mar Foster | 7,480 | 42.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,578 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 25

Iowa Senate, District 25 Republican Primary Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Frederick C. Schadt (incumbent) | 2,196 | 51.3 |
| | Republican | Ries | 2,082 | 48.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,278 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 25 Democratic Primary Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Leroy S. Mercer | 1,969 | 53.3 |
| | Democratic | Whiting | 1,728 | 46.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,697 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 25 General Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Leroy S. Mercer | 11,608 | 50.6 |
| | Republican | Frederick C. Schadt (incumbent) | 11,321 | 49.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,929 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### District 26

Iowa Senate, District 26 General Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Frank C. Byers (incumbent) | 23,411 | 56.3 |
| | Democratic | Marvin I. Burkholder | 18,180 | 43.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 41,591 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 27

Iowa Senate, District 27 Republican Primary Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | C. V. Findlay | 3,433 | 67.4 |
| | Republican | Kime | 1,659 | 32.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,092 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 27 General Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | C. V. Findlay | 11,507 | 52.5 |
| | Democratic | Irving E. Black | 10,414 | 47.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 21,921 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 28

Iowa Senate, District 28 Republican Primary Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | B. C. Whitehill (incumbent) | 2,218 | 52.0 |
| | Republican | Knudson | 2,051 | 48.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,269 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 28 General Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | B. C. Whitehill (incumbent) | 8,490 | 62.6 |
| | Democratic | Mrs. Laura Aves | 5,073 | 37.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,563 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 31

Iowa Senate, District 31 Republican Primary Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John R. Hattery | 4,911 | 57.7 |
| | Republican | Lookingbill | 3,597 | 42.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 8,508 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 31 General Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John R. Hattery | 13,793 | 60.7 |
| | Democratic | Carl L. Little | 8,920 | 39.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,713 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 32

Iowa Senate, District 32 Republican Primary Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Robert P. Munger | 4,087 | 65.9 |
| | Republican | Lockie | 1,545 | 24.9 |
| | Republican | Brand | 359 | 5.8 |
| | Republican | Skaff | 210 | 3.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 6,201 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 32 Democratic Primary Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Donald M. Pendleton | 1,062 | 38.8 |
| | Democratic | Davidson | 878 | 32.1 |
| | Democratic | McCoun | 795 | 29.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,735 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 32 General Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Robert P. Munger | 22,939 | 53.2 |
| | Democratic | Donald M. Pendleton | 20,167 | 46.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 43,106 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 33

Iowa Senate, District 33 Republican Primary Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Irving D. Long | 3,130 | 50.8 |
| | Republican | Morrow | 3,037 | 49.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 6,167 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 33 General Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Irving D. Long | 11,607 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,607 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 36

Iowa Senate, District 36 General Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | G. W. Hunt | 6,927 | 58.5 |
| | Democratic | A. H. Borman | 4,923 | 41.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,850 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 39

Iowa Senate, District 39 Republican Primary Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | J. Kendall Lynes | 2,427 | 54.3 |
| | Republican | Brown | 2,042 | 45.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,469 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 39 Democratic Primary Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | L. H. Meyer | 838 | 54.6 |
| | Democratic | Ryan | 698 | 45.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,536 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 39 General Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | J. Kendall Lynes | 9,631 | 65.6 |
| | Democratic | L. H. Meyer | 5,041 | 34.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,672 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 40

Iowa Senate, District 40 General Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Paul P. Stewart (incumbent) | 13,363 | 60.8 |
| | Democratic | Joseph B. Steele | 8,617 | 39.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 21,980 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 41

Iowa Senate, District 41 Republican Primary Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Leo Elthon (incumbent) | 4,094 | 60.1 |
| | Republican | Gunderson | 2,716 | 39.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 6,810 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 41 General Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Leo Elthon (incumbent) | 10,443 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,443 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 43

Iowa Senate, District 43 Republican Primary Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ralph R. Stuart | 4,807 | 53.5 |
| | Republican | Van Wert | 4,186 | 46.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 8,993 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 43 General Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Oscar E. Johnson | 16,029 | 51.4 |
| | Republican | Ralph R. Stuart | 15,166 | 48.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 31,195 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 46

Iowa Senate, District 46 Democratic Primary Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | L. J. McGivern | 1,236 | 43.6 |
| | Democratic | Kieffer | 964 | 34.1 |
| | Democratic | Winfred Mighell (incumbent) | 630 | 22.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,830 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 46 General Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | R. E. Hess | 13,076 | 57.0 |
| | Democratic | L. J. McGivern | 9,870 | 43.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,946 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 47

Iowa Senate, District 47 Republican Primary Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Robert Keir | 4,136 | 50.4 |
| | Republican | Ketcham | 4,066 | 49.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 8,202 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 47 General Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Robert Keir | 16,331 | 50.1 |
| | Democratic | A. H. Bonnstetter | 16,285 | 49.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 32,616 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 49

Iowa Senate, District 49 Republican Primary Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | J. T. Dykhouse | 2,953 | 43.5 |
| | Republican | Hughes | 2,128 | 31.4 |
| | Republican | Grotters | 1,704 | 25.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 6,785 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 49 General Election, 1940 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | J. T. Dykhouse | 17,656 | 61.7 |
| | Democratic | Charles J. Zylstra | 10,968 | 38.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 28,624 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |