# 1980 Iowa Senate election

Elections in Iowa :
Federal government
U.S. Presidential elections
1848
1852
1856
1860
1864
1868
1872
1876
1880
1884
1888
1892
1896
1900
1904
1908
1912
1916
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Presidential caucuses
Democratic
1976
1980
1984
1992
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Republican
1980
1996
2000
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
U.S. Senate elections
1848
1849
1852
1855
1857 sp
1858
1860
1864
1866
1866 sp
1870
1870 sp
1872
1878
1882
1882 sp
1884
1888
1890
1894
1896
1900
1902
1902 sp
1907
1908
1908 sp
1909
1911 sp
1913
1914
1918
1920
1922 sp
1924
1926
1926 sp
1930
1932
1936
1936 sp
1938
1942
1944
1948
1950
1954
1956
1960
1962
1966
1968
1972
1974
1978
1980
1984
1986
1990
1992
1996
1998
2002
2004
2008
2010
2014
2016
2020
2022
2026
2028
U.S. House of Representatives elections
1846
1847
1848
1850
1st sp
1852
1854
1856
1858
1860
1861
1st sp
1862
1864
1866
1868
1870
2nd sp
1872
1874
1876
1878
1879
5th sp
1880
1882
1883
6th sp
1884
7th sp
1886
1888
1890
7th sp
1892
1894
1896
1898
1900
10th sp
1902
1904
1906
1908
1910
1911
9th sp
1912
11th sp
1914
2nd sp
1916
1918
1920
1921
5th sp
1922
1923
8th sp
1924
1926
1928
9th sp
1930
1932
1934
1936
1938
1940
6th sp
1942
9th sp
1944
1946
1948
1950
1952
1954
1956
1958
1959
4th sp
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024 :
State government
General elections
2009
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
Gubernatorial elections
1846
1850
1854
1857
1859
1861
1863
1865
1867
1869
1871
1873
1875
1877
1879
1881
1883
1885
1887
1889
1891
1893
1895
1897
1899
1901
1903
1906
1908
1910
1912
1914
1916
1918
1920
1922
1924
1926
1928
1930
1932
1934
1936
1938
1940
1942
1944
1946
1948
1950
1952
1954
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2018
2022
2026
Secretary of State elections
2022
Attorney General elections
2014
2018
2022
Senate elections
1846
1848
1850
1852
1854
1856
1857
1859
1861
1863
1865
1867
1869
1871
1873
1875
1877
1879
1881
1883
1885
1887
1889
1891
1893
1895
1897
1899
1901
1903
1906
1908
1910
1912
1914
1916
1918
1920
1922
1924
1926
1928
1930
1932
1934
1936
1938
1940
1942
1944
1946
1948
1950
1952
1954
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
Specials
House of Representatives elections
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
Territorial Council elections
1838
1839
1840
1841
1842
1843
1844
1845 :
Ballot measures
2020
Question 1
2022
Amendment 1 :
Cedar Rapids
Mayoral elections
2021 :
Des Moines
Mayoral elections
1997 sp
1999
2003
2007
2011
2015
2019
2023 :
vte :
The 1980 Iowa State Senate elections took place as part of the biennial 1980 United States elections. Iowa voters elected state senators in half of the state senate's districts—the 25 even-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 1980 is provided by the Iowa General Assembly here.
The primary election on June 3, 1980, determined which candidates appeared on the November 4, 1980 general election ballot. Primary election results can be obtained here. General election results can be obtained here.
Following the previous elections in 1978, Republicans had control of the Iowa state Senate with 28 seats to Democrats' 22 seats. In 1979, Democratic Senator Earl Willits resigned and Republican Gary Baugher won a special election to fill the seat, thereby increasing Republicans' seats to 29.
To take control of the chamber from Republicans, the Democrats needed to net 5 Senate seats.
Republicans maintained their control of the Iowa State Senate following the 1980 general election with the balance of power remaining unchanged with Republicans holding 29 seats and Democrats having 21 seats after the election.

## Summary of Results

* NOTE: The 25 odd-numbered districts did not have elections in 1980 so they are not listed here.
| State Senate District | Incumbent | Party | Elected Senator | Party |
| 2nd | Irvin L. Bergman | Rep | Richard Vande Hoef | Republican |
| 4th | Berl Priebe | Dem | Berl Priebe | Democratic |
| 6th | Alvin V. Miller | Dem | Alvin V. Miller | Democratic |
| 8th | Rolf V. Craft | Rep | Rolf V. Craft | Republican |
| 10th | Robert M. "Bob" Carr | Dem | Robert M. "Bob" Carr | Democratic |
| 12th | Merlin Hulse | Rep | Merlin Hulse | Republican |
| 14th | Cloyd E. Robinson | Dem | James D. Wells | Democratic |
| 16th | James V. Gallagher | Dem | James V. Gallagher | Democratic |
| 18th | Bill Hansen | Rep | Ted J. Anderson | Democratic |
| 20th | Elizabeth Ruby Miller | Rep | Michael R. Lura | Republican |
| 22nd | Jack Nystrom | Rep | Jack Nystrom | Republican |
| 24th | John R. Scott | Dem | Elvie C. Dreeszen | Republican |
| 26th | James Calhoon | Dem | Donald V. Doyle | Democratic |
| 28th | Charles W. Hutchins | Dem | Charles W. Hutchins | Democratic |
| 30th | David Readinger | Rep | David Readinger | Republican |
| 32nd | William D. Palmer | Dem | William D. Palmer | Democratic |
| 34th | George Kinley | Dem | George Kinley | Democratic |
| 36th | Joann Yessler Orr | Dem | Emil J. Husak | Democratic |
| 38th | Richard F. Drake | Rep | Richard F. Drake | Republican |
| 40th | Edgar Holden | Rep | Edgar Holden | Republican |
| 42nd | Charles Peter Miller | Dem | Charles Peter Miller | Democratic |
| 44th | Forrest Schwengels | Rep | Forrest Schwengels | Republican |
| 46th | Bass Van Gilst | Dem | Bass Van Gilst | Democratic |
| 48th | James E. Briles | Rep | James E. Briles | Republican |
| 50th | Tom L. Slater | Dem | Tom L. Slater | Democratic |
Source:

## Detailed Results

* Reminder: Only even-numbered Iowa Senate seats were up for election in 1980; therefore, odd-numbered seats did not have elections in 1980 & 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 2

Iowa Senate, District 2 Republican Primary Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Richard Vande Hoef | 3,134 | 54.7 |
| | Republican | Leon Triggs | 2,598 | 45.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,732 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 2 General Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Richard Vande Hoef | 13,912 | 59.1 |
| | Democratic | John E. van der Linden | 9,612 | 40.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,524 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 4

Iowa Senate, District 4 General Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Berl Priebe (incumbent) | 15,459 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,459 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 6

Iowa Senate, District 6 General Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Alvin V. Miller (incumbent) | 13,467 | 54.5 |
| | Republican | Patrick J. Breheny | 11,218 | 45.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,685 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 8

Iowa Senate, District 8 General Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rolf V. Craft (incumbent) | 15,254 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,254 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 10

Iowa Senate, District 10 General Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bob Carr (incumbent) | 12,588 | 54.9 |
| | Republican | John M. Walsh | 10,359 | 45.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,947 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 12

Iowa Senate, District 12 General Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Merlin Hulse (incumbent) | 13,407 | 62.0 |
| | Democratic | Michael L. Richards | 8,217 | 38.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 21,624 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 14

Iowa Senate, District 14 General Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | James D. Wells | 14,215 | 94.3 |
| | Libertarian | Rich Newell | 867 | 5.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,082 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 16

Iowa Senate, District 16 General Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | James V. Gallagher (incumbent) | 12,782 | 56.9 |
| | Republican | Maurice Stoneman | 9,669 | 43.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,451 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 18

Iowa Senate, District 18 Republican Primary Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jerry E. Jorgensen | 3,653 | 69.6 |
| | Republican | Gordon B. Denton | 1,595 | 30.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,248 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 18 General Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ted Anderson | 13,356 | 51.1 |
| | Republican | Jerry E. Jorgensen | 12,801 | 48.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 26,157 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### District 20

Iowa Senate, District 20 Republican Primary Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mick Lura | 4,016 | 51.7 |
| | Republican | Virtus Brockman | 3,752 | 48.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 7,768 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 20 General Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mick Lura | 13,296 | 54.6 |
| | Democratic | Ralph Howe | 11,049 | 45.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,345 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 22

Iowa Senate, District 22 Democratic Primary Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Doris Van Sickle | 881 | 53.1 |
| | Democratic | Robert E. Eide | 778 | 46.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,659 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 22 General Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jack Nystrom (incumbent) | 15,168 | 61.5 |
| | Democratic | Doris Van Sickle | 9,482 | 38.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,650 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 24

Iowa Senate, District 24 General Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Elvie Dreeszen | 11,813 | 57.6 |
| | Democratic | Howard Heisterkamp | 8,221 | 40.1 |
| | Libertarian | Frank Hanisch | 481 | 2.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,515 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 26

Iowa Senate, District 26 Republican Primary Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Leonard C. Andersen | 1,534 | 51.2 |
| | Republican | William W. Douglass, Jr. | 1,462 | 48.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,996 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 26 General Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Donald V. Doyle | 10,803 | 53.0 |
| | Republican | Leonard C. Andersen | 9,575 | 47.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,378 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 28

Iowa Senate, District 28 General Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bill Hutchins (incumbent) | 12,449 | 55.8 |
| | Republican | George Opperman | 9,848 | 44.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,297 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 30

Iowa Senate, District 30 General Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David Readinger (incumbent) | 17,024 | 56.5 |
| | Democratic | Robert J. Marks | 13,092 | 43.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 30,116 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 32

Iowa Senate, District 32 General Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | William D. Palmer (incumbent) | 15,228 | 68.8 |
| | Republican | Ray C. Stiles | 6,890 | 31.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,118 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 34

Iowa Senate, District 34 General Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | George Kinley (incumbent) | 14,927 | 67.9 |
| | Republican | Gary E. Cozad | 6,807 | 31.0 |
| | Independent | Tex Allen | 259 | 1.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 21,993 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 36

Iowa Senate, District 36 Republican Primary Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bruce Ostrom | 1,527 | 29.7 |
| | Republican | Charles V. Dunham | 1,445 | 28.1 |
| | Republican | Dean L. Morse | 1,228 | 23.9 |
| | Republican | C. Eugene Long | 946 | 18.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,146 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 36 General Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Emil J. Husak | 11,475 | 51.8 |
| | Republican | Charles V. Dunham | 10,671 | 48.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,146 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 38

Iowa Senate, District 38 General Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Richard F. Drake (incumbent) | 13,837 | 60.9 |
| | Democratic | Tom Tucker | 8,887 | 39.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,724 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 40

Iowa Senate, District 40 General Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Edgar H. Holden (incumbent) | 16,157 | 55.8 |
| | Democratic | Mary Johnson | 12,777 | 44.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 28,934 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 42

Iowa Senate, District 42 General Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Charles P. Miller (incumbent) | 12,631 | 56.8 |
| | Republican | Ralph L. Caston, III | 9,589 | 43.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,220 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 44

Iowa Senate, District 44 Democratic Primary Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | R.W. Gustafson | 1,157 | 64.2 |
| | Democratic | Cynthia Hesseltine | 644 | 35.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,801 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 44 General Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Forrest Schwengels (incumbent) | 14,690 | 67.0 |
| | Democratic | R.W. Gustafson | 7,224 | 33.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 21,914 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 46

Iowa Senate, District 46 General Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bass Van Gilst (incumbent) | 12,384 | 52.0 |
| | Republican | James M. Bellamy | 11,443 | 48.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,827 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 48

Iowa Senate, District 48 General Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | James E. Briles (incumbent) | 12,590 | 52.9 |
| | Democratic | Dave Schweers | 11,189 | 47.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,779 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 50

Iowa Senate, District 50 General Election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Tom Slater (incumbent) | 8,664 | 50.5 |
| | Republican | Jim Griffin | 8,503 | 49.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,167 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
* 1 2 Democratic Senator Earl Willits resigned from his seat in district 31 in 1979. Republican Gary L. Baugher won a special election to fill the remainder of the term, thus gaining an additional seat for his party.