# 1996 Iowa Senate election

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The 1996 Iowa State Senate elections took place as part of the biennial 1996 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 1996 is provided by the Iowa General Assembly here.
The primary election on June 4, 1996 determined which candidates appeared on the November 5, 1996 general election ballot. Primary election results can be obtained here. General election results can be obtained here.
Following the previous election, Democrats had control of the Iowa state Senate with 27 seats to Republicans' 23 seats.
To take control of the chamber from Democrats, the Republicans needed to net 3 Senate seats.
Republicans claimed control of the Iowa State Senate following the 1996 general election by netting 6 seats, resulting in Republicans holding 29 seats and Democrats having 21 seats.

## Summary of Results

* NOTE: The 25 odd-numbered districts did not have elections in 1996 so they are not listed here.
| State Senate District | Incumbent | Party | Elected Senator | Party |
| 2nd | Bradly C. Banks | Rep | John Redwine | Republican |
| 4th | Jack Kibbie | Dem | Jack Kibbie | Democratic |
| 6th | Wayne D. Bennett | Rep | Steve King | Republican |
| 8th | Berl Priebe | Dem | James E. Black | Republican |
| 10th | Merlin Bartz | Rep | Merlin Bartz | Republican |
| 12th | Donald Redfern | Rep | Donald Redfern | Republican |
| 14th | Larry Murphy | Dem | Kitty Rehberg | Republican |
| 16th | Lyle Zieman | Rep | Lyle Zieman | Republican |
| 18th | Mike Connolly | Dem | Mike Connolly | Democratic |
| 20th | Jack Rife | Rep | Jack Rife | Republican |
| 22nd | Patrick J. Deluhery | Dem | Patrick J. Deluhery | Democratic |
| 24th | Richard F. Drake | Rep | Richard F. Drake | Republican |
| 26th | Mary Lundby | Rep | Mary Lundby | Republican |
| 28th | Andy McKean | Rep | Andy McKean | Republican |
| 30th | Emil J. Husak | Dem | Neal Schuerer | Republican |
| 32nd | Randal Giannetto | Dem | Larry McKibben | Republican |
| 34th | Tony Bisignano | Dem | Matt McCoy | Democratic |
| 36th | Elaine Szymoniak | Dem | Elaine Szymoniak | Democratic |
| 38th | Gene Maddox | Rep | Gene Maddox | Republican |
| 40th | Albert Sorensen | Dem | Jerry Behn | Republican |
| 42nd | Michael Gronstal | Dem | Michael Gronstal | Democratic |
| 44th | Leonard Boswell | Dem | Jeff Angelo | Republican |
| 46th | Patty Judge | Dem | Patty Judge | Democratic |
| 48th | H. Kay Hedge | Rep | H. Kay Hedge | Republican |
| 50th | Gene Fraise | Dem | Gene Fraise | Democratic |
Source:

## Detailed Results

* Reminder: Only even-numbered Iowa Senate seats were up for election in 1996; therefore, odd-numbered seats did not have elections in 1996 & 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 Democratic Primary Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Sandra K. Atkinson | 378 | 56.7 |
| | Democratic | Fred J. Sparr | 289 | 43.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 667 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 2 General Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John Redwine | 14,437 | 63.5 |
| | Democratic | Sandra K. Atkinson | 6,915 | 30.4 |
| | Independent | Fred Sparr | 1,397 | 6.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,749 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 4

Iowa Senate, District 4 General Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jack Kibbie (incumbent) | 13,810 | 57.8 |
| | Republican | Dan Payne | 10,074 | 42.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,884 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 6

Iowa Senate, District 6 Republican Primary Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Steve King | 3,570 | 68.4 |
| | Republican | Wayne D. Bennett (incumbent) | 1,651 | 31.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,221 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 6 General Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Steve King | 14,440 | 64.5 |
| | Democratic | Eileen Heiden | 7,936 | 35.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,376 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 8

Iowa Senate, District 8 Democratic Primary Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Berl Priebe (incumbent) | 1,641 | 63.3 |
| | Democratic | Doug Thompson | 951 | 36.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,592 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 8 General Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | James Edward Black | 13,150 | 53.3 |
| | Democratic | Berl Priebe (incumbent) | 11,536 | 46.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,686 | 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, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Merlin Bartz (incumbent) | 16,031 | 63.2 |
| | Democratic | Robert Perry | 9,340 | 36.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 25,371 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 12

Iowa Senate, District 12 General Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Donald Redfern (incumbent) | 13,692 | 57.1 |
| | Democratic | Michael James Carroll | 10,286 | 42.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,978 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 14

Iowa Senate, District 14 General Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Kitty Rehberg | 12,064 | 51.2 |
| | Democratic | Larry Murphy (incumbent) | 11,478 | 48.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,542 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 16

Iowa Senate, District 16 General Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Lyle Zieman (incumbent) | 13,092 | 57.6 |
| | Democratic | Arthur Walter Moellering | 9,632 | 42.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,724 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 18

Iowa Senate, District 18 General Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mike Connolly (incumbent) | 14,501 | 63.0 |
| | Republican | Greg Yoko | 8,522 | 37.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,023 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 20

Iowa Senate, District 20 General Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jack Rife (incumbent) | 12,813 | 59.9 |
| | Democratic | Jill Cirivello | 8,589 | 40.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 21,402 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 22

Iowa Senate, District 22 General Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Patrick J. Deluhery (incumbent) | 10,669 | 50.5 |
| | Republican | Neil P. Harrison | 10,445 | 49.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 21,114 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 24

Iowa Senate, District 24 General Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Richard F. Drake (incumbent) | 15,269 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,269 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 26

Iowa Senate, District 26 General Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mary Lundby (incumbent) | 18,068 | 63.6 |
| | Democratic | Charlie Brown | 10,330 | 36.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 28,398 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 28

Iowa Senate, District 28 General Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Andy McKean (incumbent) | 19,632 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,632 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 30

Iowa Senate, District 30 Republican Primary Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Neal Schuerer | 1,403 | 50.4 |
| | Republican | Wayne T. Newton | 1,378 | 49.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,781 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 30 General Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Neal Schuerer | 13,060 | 52.0 |
| | Democratic | Emil J. Husak (incumbent) | 12,053 | 48.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 25,113 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 32

Iowa Senate, District 32 General Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Larry McKibben | 13,706 | 53.6 |
| | Democratic | Randy Giannetto (incumbent) | 11,393 | 44.5 |
| | Reform | Ronn Young | 480 | 1.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 25,579 | 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, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Chuck Austin | 819 | 60.4 |
| | Republican | Rose Scarpino | 536 | 39.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,355 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 34 General Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Matt McCoy | 13,262 | 68.5 |
| | Republican | Chuck Austin | 6,102 | 31.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,364 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 36

Iowa Senate, District 36 Republican Primary Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ronald N. Langston | 1,857 | 67.5 |
| | Republican | Pat Anderson | 896 | 32.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,753 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 36 General Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Elaine Szymoniak (incumbent) | 12,541 | 53.0 |
| | Republican | Ronald N. Langston | 11,116 | 47.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,657 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 38

Iowa Senate, District 38 General Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Gene Maddox (incumbent) | 20,682 | 64.8 |
| | Democratic | Frank Steinbach | 11,241 | 35.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 31,923 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 40

Iowa Senate, District 40 General Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jerry Behn | 12,561 | 52.3 |
| | Democratic | Albert Sorensen (incumbent) | 11,455 | 47.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,016 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 42

Iowa Senate, District 42 General Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Michael Gronstal (incumbent) | 9,911 | 50.4 |
| | Republican | Carl L. Heinrich | 9,761 | 49.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,672 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 44

Iowa Senate, District 44 Republican Primary Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jeff Angelo | 4,109 | 55.9 |
| | Republican | Pete Wenstrand | 3,241 | 44.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 7,350 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 44 Democratic Primary Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | J. Kelly Tobin | 1,743 | 52.8 |
| | Democratic | Kevin L. Wynn | 1,557 | 47.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,300 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 44 General Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jeff Angelo | 14,517 | 60.6 |
| | Democratic | J. Kelly Tobin | 9,437 | 39.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,954 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 46

Iowa Senate, District 46 General Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Patty Judge (incumbent) | 14,181 | 61.1 |
| | Republican | Claude R. Neill | 9,012 | 38.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,193 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 48

Iowa Senate, District 48 General Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | H. Kay Hedge (incumbent) | 15,325 | 69.9 |
| | Democratic | John A. Peterson | 6,606 | 30.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 21,931 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 50

Iowa Senate, District 50 General Election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Gene Fraise (incumbent) | 12,721 | 56.4 |
| | Republican | Mike Fesler | 9,817 | 43.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,538 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |