# 1948 Iowa Senate election

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The 1948 Iowa State Senate elections took place as part of the biennial 1948 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 year 1948 is provided by the Iowa General Assembly here.
The primary election on June 3, 1948, determined which candidates appeared on the November 5, 1948 general election ballot.
Following the previous election, Republicans had control of the Iowa state Senate with 46 seats to Democrats' 4 seats.
To claim control of the chamber from Republicans, the Democrats needed to net 22 Senate seats.
Republicans maintained control of the Iowa State Senate following the 1948 general election with the balance of power shifting to Republicans holding 43 seats and Democrats having 7 seats (a net gain of 3 seats for Democrats).

## 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 | Alden Loring Doud | Rep | Alden Loring Doud | Rep |
| 3rd | James R. Barkley | Rep | Sherman West | Dem |
| 4th | James Alonzo Newsome | Rep | Pearl Wayland McMurry | Rep |
| 5th | Roy B. Hawkins | Rep | Xavier Thomas Prentis | Rep |
| 6th | Kathlyn M. Kirketeg | Rep | Ernest L. Humbert | Rep |
| 8th | Oscar N. Hultman | Rep | Oscar N. Hultman | Rep |
| 11th | Floyd Arden Jones | Rep | Loyd Van Patten | Rep |
| 14th | Albert Earl Augustine | Dem | Albert Earl Augustine | Dem |
| 15th | Tunis H. Klein | Dem | Francis M. Roberts | Dem |
| 16th | John Lyle Musmaker | Rep | Raymond R. Gillespie | Dem |
| 17th | Ai Miller | Rep | Glenn Edwin Whitehead | Rep |
| 19th | De Vere Watson | Rep | De Vere Watson | Rep |
| 23rd | Edwin Charles Schluter | Rep | John Milton Tudor | Rep |
| 24th | Jans T. "J. T." Dykhouse | Rep | Jans T. "J. T." Dykhouse | Rep |
| 25th | Leroy Samuel Mercer | Dem | Leroy Samuel Mercer | Dem |
| 26th | Frank C. Byers | Rep | Frank C. Byers | Rep |
| 27th | Charles V. Findlay | Rep | Paul E. McCarville | Rep |
| 28th | Robert A. Rockhill | Rep | Warren Eldon Walter | Rep |
| 31st | Janious G. Lucas | Rep | John R. Hattery | Rep |
| 32nd | Adrian D. Clem | Rep | Charles S. Van Eaton | Rep |
| 33rd | Irving D. Long | Rep | Donald Alexander Risk | Rep |
| 36th | Fern Eugene Sharp | Rep | Fern Eugene Sharp | Rep |
| 39th | J. Kendall Lynes | Rep | J. Kendall Lynes | Rep |
| 40th | Arthur H. Jacobson | Rep | Arthur H. Jacobson | Rep |
| 41st | Leo Elthon | Rep | Leo Elthon | Rep |
| 43rd | Herman M. Knudson | Rep | Herman M. Knudson | Rep |
| 46th | Frederick James Ritchie | Rep | Edward S. Parker | Rep |
| 47th | Robert Keir | Rep | Harry E. Watson | Rep |
| 49th | Duane E. Dewel | Rep | Burl Nelson Ridout | Dem |
Source:

## Detailed Results

* NOTE: The 21 districts that did not hold elections in 1948 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, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Alden L. Doud (incumbent) | 6,899 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 6,899 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 3

Iowa Senate, District 3 General Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Sherman West | 7,389 | 53.0 |
| | Republican | W. R. Fimmen | 6,542 | 47.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,931 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### District 4

Iowa Senate, District 4 General Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | P. W. McMurry | 5,917 | 54.3 |
| | Democratic | Joe W. Kridelbaugh | 4,981 | 45.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,898 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 5

Iowa Senate, District 5 Republican Primary Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | X. T. Prentis | 3,889 | 58.2 |
| | Republican | Sam Holland | 2,792 | 41.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 6,681 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 5 General Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | X. T. Prentis | 9,832 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 9,832 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 6

Iowa Senate, District 6 General Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ernest L. Humbert | 5,515 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,515 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 8

Iowa Senate, District 8 General Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | O. N. Hultman (incumbent) | 7,318 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 7,318 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 11

Iowa Senate, District 11 Republican Primary Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Loyd Van Patten | 3,047 | 55.5 |
| | Republican | Victor Felter | 2,439 | 44.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,486 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 11 General Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Loyd Van Patten | 7,144 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 7,144 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 14

Iowa Senate, District 14 General Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | A. E. Augustine (incumbent) | 4,706 | 58.4 |
| | Republican | G. R. Draper | 3,350 | 41.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 8,056 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 15

Iowa Senate, District 15 General Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Dr. F. M. Roberts | 8,728 | 55.5 |
| | Republican | Hugh Lundy | 6,999 | 44.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,727 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 16

Iowa Senate, District 16 Republican Primary Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Virgil E. Smith | 2,364 | 54.1 |
| | Republican | Charles H. Neidt | 2,007 | 45.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,371 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 16 General Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | R. R. Gillespie | 5,534 | 50.4 |
| | Republican | V. E. Smith | 5,444 | 49.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,978 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### District 17

Iowa Senate, District 17 Republican Primary Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | G. E. Whitehead | 4,044 | 54.8 |
| | Republican | Conway E. Morris | 3,337 | 45.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 7,381 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 17 General Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | G. E. Whitehead | 10,601 | 52.3 |
| | Democratic | H. R. Hefley | 9,676 | 47.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,277 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 19

Iowa Senate, District 19 General Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | De Vere Watson (incumbent) | 12,777 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,777 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 23

Iowa Senate, District 23 General Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | J. M. Tudor | 10,685 | 52.0 |
| | Democratic | T. E. Stimpson | 9,864 | 48.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,549 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 24

Iowa Senate, District 24 Republican Primary Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | J. T. Dykhouse (incumbent) | 2,647 | 59.2 |
| | Republican | Cloy F. McKeegan | 1,823 | 40.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,470 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 24 General Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | J. T. Dykhouse (incumbent) | 11,044 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,044 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 25

Iowa Senate, District 25 Republican Primary Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | D. C. Nolan | 2,696 | 58.9 |
| | Republican | Frederick C. Schadt | 1,878 | 41.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,574 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 25 General Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | L. S. Mercer (incumbent) | 10,841 | 51.2 |
| | Republican | D. C. Nolan | 10,339 | 48.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 21,180 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 26

Iowa Senate, District 26 General Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | F. C. Byers (incumbent) | 21,496 | 53.6 |
| | Democratic | D. O. Stentz | 18,640 | 46.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 40,136 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 27

Iowa Senate, District 27 Republican Primary Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Paul E. McCarville | 2,673 | 36.7 |
| | Republican | B. H. Wilder | 2,444 | 33.6 |
| | Republican | Melvin Wilson | 2,157 | 29.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 7,274 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 27 General Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | P. E. McCarville | 10,563 | 52.1 |
| | Democratic | E. C. Hovey | 9,716 | 47.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,279 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 28

Iowa Senate, District 28 Republican Primary Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | W. Eldon Walter | 2,160 | 51.8 |
| | Republican | Robert A. Rockhill (incumbent) | 2,013 | 48.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,173 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 28 General Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | W. Eldon Walter | 7,620 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 7,620 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 31

Iowa Senate, District 31 Republican Primary Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John R. Hattery | 4,623 | 55.5 |
| | Republican | Albert Steinberg | 3,708 | 44.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 8,331 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 31 General Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | J. R. Hattery | 12,707 | 60.4 |
| | Democratic | D. F. Horning | 8,325 | 39.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 21,032 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 32

Iowa Senate, District 32 Republican Primary Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Charles S. Van Eaton | 4,722 | 50.1 |
| | Republican | A. D. Clem (incumbent) | 4,710 | 49.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 9,432 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 32 General Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | C. S. Van Eaton | 18,842 | 51.7 |
| | Democratic | Gale Stevens | 17,616 | 48.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 36,458 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 33

Iowa Senate, District 33 Republican Primary Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Don Risk | 2,659 | 50.7 |
| | Republican | R. A. Nelson | 2,587 | 49.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,246 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 33 General Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Don Risk | 9,668 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 9,668 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 36

Iowa Senate, District 36 Republican Primary Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | F. E. Sharp (incumbent) | 1,345 | 51.9 |
| | Republican | Robert E. Coon | 1,249 | 48.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,594 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 36 General Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | F. E. Sharp (incumbent) | 4,851 | 50.3 |
| | Democratic | S. E. Myers | 4,786 | 49.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 9,637 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 39

Iowa Senate, District 39 General Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | J. Kendall Lynes (incumbent) | 8,145 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 8,145 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 40

Iowa Senate, District 40 Republican Primary Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Arthur H. Jacobson (incumbent) | 4,194 | 65.3 |
| | Republican | W. Lloyd Bruce | 2,226 | 34.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 6,420 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 40 General Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | A. H. Jacobson (incumbent) | 11,034 | 58.5 |
| | Democratic | Lorenz Willman | 7,827 | 41.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,861 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 41

Iowa Senate, District 41 General Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Leo Elthon (incumbent) | 8,373 | 59.6 |
| | Democratic | Ira E. Link | 5,675 | 40.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,048 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 43

Iowa Senate, District 43 General Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Herman M. Knudson (incumbent) | 14,620 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,620 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 46

Iowa Senate, District 46 Republican Primary Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Edward S. Parker | 2,915 | 54.7 |
| | Republican | R. E. Hess | 2,415 | 45.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,330 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 46 General Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | E. S. Parker | 10,037 | 53.1 |
| | Democratic | E. F. Kieffer | 8,871 | 46.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,908 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 47

Iowa Senate, District 47 Republican Primary Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Harry E. Watson | 2,792 | 59.2 |
| | Republican | David G. Ainsworth | 1,924 | 40.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,716 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 47 General Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | H. E. Watson | 8,422 | 50.1 |
| | Democratic | W. A. Yager | 8,378 | 49.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 16,800 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 49

Iowa Senate, District 49 General Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | B. N. Ridout | 9,974 | 51.3 |
| | Republican | D. E. Dewel (incumbent) | 9,467 | 48.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,441 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |