# 1861 Iowa Senate election

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In the 1861 Iowa State Senate elections, Iowa voters elected state senators to serve in the ninth Iowa General Assembly. Following the expansion of the Iowa Senate from 43 to 49 seats in 1861, elections were held for 25 of the state senate's 49 seats. State senators serve four-year terms in the Iowa State Senate.
The general election took place in 1861.
Following the previous election in 1859, Republicans had control of the Iowa Senate with 22 seats to Democrats' 21 seats. However, four changes occurred during the eighth general assembly. In the ninth district, Republican Senator Alvin Saunders resigned on May 14, 1861, causing a vacancy in his seat. Republican Leroy G. Palmer succeeded Senator Saunders, holding the seat for the Republicans. In the tenth district, Republican Senator James Falconer Wilson resigned on October 7, 1861, causing a vacancy in his seat. The tenth district seat was left vacant until a special election in 1861. In the fourteenth district, Democratic Senator Andrew Oliphant Patterson resigned on May 14, 1861, causing a vacancy in his seat. Republican Joseph A. Green succeeded Senator Patterson, flipping the seat to Republican control. In the thirty-fifth district, Republican Senator Thomas Drummond resigned on May 14, 1861, causing a vacancy in his seat. Republican Joseph Dysart succeeded Senator Drummond, holding the seat for the Republicans. Therefore, by election day in 1861, the Republicans held 22 seats, the Democrats held 20 seats, and one seat was vacant (the seat that had been held by Republican Senator James F. Wilson).
To claim control of the chamber from Republicans, the Democrats needed to net five Senate seats.
Republicans maintained control of the Iowa State Senate following the election with the balance of power shifting to Republicans holding 33 seats and Democrats having 16 seats (a net gain of 11 seats for Republicans).

## Summary of results

* Note: The holdover Senators not up for re-election are not listed on this table.
| Senate District | Incumbent | Party | Party | Elected Senator | Party | Outcome |
| 1st | Valentine Buechel | | Dem | Frederick Hesser | Dem | Dem Hold |
| 1st | John Walker Rankin | | Rep | George Washington McCrary | Rep | Rep Hold |
| 2nd | Gideon Smith Bailey | | Dem | Abner Harrison McCrary | Rep | Rep Gain |
| 5th | Newly created subdistrict | Newly created subdistrict | Newly created subdistrict | Elijah F. Esteb | Dem | Dem Gain |
| 8th | William Findlay Coolbaugh | | Dem | John G. Foote | Rep | Rep Gain |
| 9th | Alvin Saunders | | Rep | Theron Webb Woolson | Rep | Rep Hold |
| 9th | Leroy G. Palmer | | Rep | Theron Webb Woolson | Rep | Rep Hold |
| 10th | James Falconer Wilson | | Rep | Joshua Monroe Shaffer | Rep | Rep Hold |
| Rep Hold |||
| 11th | John A. Johnson | | Dem | Jacob W. Dixon | Rep | Rep Gain |
| 12th | Daniel A. Anderson | | Rep | Warren S. Dungan | Rep | Rep Hold |
| 13th | Samuel Reiner | | Rep | James Simpson Hurley | Rep | Rep Hold |
| 14th | Andrew Oliphant Patterson | | Dem | William G. Woodward | Rep | Rep Hold |
| 14th | Joseph A. Green | | Rep | William G. Woodward | Rep | Rep Hold |
| 15th | William B. Lewis | | Dem | William B. Lewis | Rep | Rep Gain |
| 16th | Oliver P. Sherraden | | Rep | Isaac Pearl Teter | Rep | Rep Hold |
| 18th | Jairus Edward Neal | | Dem | Jairus Edward Neal | Dem | Dem Hold |
| 19th | John W. Thompson | | Rep | Benjamin F. Gue | Rep | Rep Hold |
| 19th | Newly created subdistrict | Newly created subdistrict | Newly created subdistrict | Joseph B. Leake | Rep | Rep Gain |
| 20th | George M. Davis | | Rep | Norman Boardman | Rep | Rep Hold |
| 23rd | William P. Davis | | Rep | Joshua H. Hatch | Rep | Rep Hold |
| 25th | Joseph Mann | | Dem | William H. Holmes | Rep | Rep Gain |
| 27th | David S. Wilson | | Dem | John D. Jennings | Dem | Dem Hold |
| 29th | Newly created subdistrict | Newly created subdistrict | Newly created subdistrict | John Kern | Dem | Dem Gain |
| 30th | Marquis Lafayette McPherson | | Rep | Marquis Lafayette McPherson | Rep | Rep Hold |
| 31st | William H.M. Pusey | | Dem | James Redfield | Rep | Rep Gain |
| 35th | Thomas Drummond | | Rep | Joseph Dysart | Rep | Rep Hold |
| Rep Hold |||
| 40th | Newly created subdistrict | Newly created subdistrict | Newly created subdistrict | George W. Howard | Rep | Rep Gain |
| 42nd | Newly created district | Newly created district | Newly created district | Martin V. Burdick | Rep | Rep Gain |
| 43rd | Newly created district | Newly created district | Newly created district | Sherman Griswold Smith | Rep | Rep Gain |
Source:
* 1 2 Following the 1859 Iowa Senate election, Republicans held 22 seats to Democrats' 21. However, four changes occurred during the eighth general assembly. In the ninth district, Republican Senator Alvin Saunders resigned on May 14, 1861, causing a vacancy in his seat. Republican Leroy G. Palmer succeeded Senator Saunders, holding the seat for the Republicans. In the tenth district, Republican Senator Wilson resigned on October 7, 1861, causing a vacancy in his seat. The tenth district seat was left vacant until a special election in 1861. In the fourteenth district, Democratic Senator Andrew Oliphant Patterson resigned on May 14, 1861, causing a vacancy in his seat. Republican Joseph A. Green succeeded Senator Patterson, flipping the seat to Republican control. In the thirty-fifth district, Republican Senator Thomas Drummond resigned on May 14, 1861, causing a vacancy in his seat. Republican Joseph Dysart succeeded Senator Drummond, holding the seat for the Republicans. Therefore, by election day in 1861, the Republicans held 22 seats, the Democrats held 20 seats, and one seat was vacant (the seat that had been held by Republican Senator James F. Wilson).
* 1 2 3 The Iowa Senate expanded from 43 seats to 49 seats following the 1861 general election.
* 1 2 Article IV, section 18, of the Constitution of Iowa at that time established that the Lieutenant Governor of Iowa shall perform the duties of the President of the Senate. The Lieutenant Governor performed the duties of President of the Senate from January 11, 1858 through January 14, 1991. As of 1991, duties of Iowa's Lieutenant Governor no longer include presiding over the state Senate.
* ↑ As Lieutenant Governor, Nicholas J. Rusch was the ninth President of the Iowa Senate. He served during the eighth Iowa General Assembly, succeeding Republican Oran Faville in that leadership position.
* ↑ As the next Lieutenant Governor, John R. Needham was the tenth President of the Iowa Senate. He served during the ninth Iowa General Assembly, succeeding Republican Nicholas J. Rusch in that leadership position.
* ↑ At the time, the Iowa Senate had several multi-member districts.
* ↑ The first was a 2-member district at the time.
* ↑ The second district was a 1-member district at the time.
* ↑ The fifth district transitioned from a 1- to 2-member district at the time. Senator Taylor was a holdover incumbent not up for re-election.
* ↑ The eighth district was a 1-member district at the time.
* ↑ The ninth district was a 1-member district at the time.
* ↑ In the ninth district, Republican Senator Alvin Saunders resigned on May 14, 1861, causing a vacancy in his seat. Republican Leroy G. Palmer succeeded Senator Saunders.
* ↑ Republican Leroy G. Palmer succeeded Senator Saunders, holding the seat for the Republicans.
* ↑ The tenth district was a 1-member district at the time.
* ↑ Senator Wilson resigned on October 7, 1861, causing a vacancy in his seat.
* ↑ The eleventh district was a 1-member district at the time.
* ↑ The twelfth district was a 1-member district at the time.
* ↑ The thirteenth district was a 1-member district at the time.
* ↑ The fourteenth district was a 1-member district at the time.
* ↑ In the fourteenth district, Democratic Senator Andrew Oliphant Patterson resigned on May 14, 1861, causing a vacancy in his seat.
* ↑ Republican Joseph A. Green succeeded Senator Patterson, flipping the seat to Republican control.
* ↑ The fifteenth district was a 1-member district at the time.
* ↑ There was not an election in this district. Instead, the incumbent switched political parties.
* 1 2 Senator Lewis was an incumbent holdover senator not up for re-election. Instead, he switched parties from Democrat to Republican.
* ↑ The sixteenth district was a 1-member district at the time.
* ↑ The eighteenth district was a 1-member district at the time.
* ↑ The nineteenth district transitioned from a 1- to 2-member district at the time.
* ↑ The twentieth district was a 1-member district at the time.
* ↑ The twenty-third district was a 1-member district at the time.
* ↑ The twenty-fifth district was a 1-member district at the time.
* ↑ The twenty-seventh district was a 2-member district at the time. Senator Trumbull was a holdover incumbent not up for re-election.
* ↑ The twenty-ninth district transitioned from a 1- to 2-member district at the time. Senator Henderson was a holdover incumbent not up for re-election.
* ↑ The thirtieth district was a 1-member district at the time.
* ↑ The thirty-first district was a 1-member district at the time.
* ↑ The thirty-fifth district was a 1-member district at the time.
* ↑ In the thirty-fifth district, Republican Senator Thomas Drummond resigned on May 14, 1861, causing a vacancy in his seat.
* ↑ Republican Joseph Dysart succeeded Senator Drummond, holding the seat for the Republicans.
* ↑ The fortieth district transitioned from a 1- to 2-member district at the time. Senator Powers was a holdover incumbent not up for re-election.
* ↑ The forty-second district was a newly created 1-member district at the time.
* ↑ The forty-third district was a newly created 1-member district at the time.

## Detailed results

* NOTE: The Iowa General Assembly does not provide detailed vote totals for Iowa State Senate elections in 1861.