# 1974 Iowa Senate election

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The 1974 Iowa State Senate elections took place as part of the biennial 1974 United States elections. Iowa voters elected state senators in 26 of the state senate's districts—the 25 odd-numbered state senate districts and a special election in district 10. State senators serve four-year terms in the Iowa State Senate, with half of the seats up for regularly-scheduled election each cycle. A statewide map of the 50 state Senate districts in the year 1974 is provided by the Iowa General Assembly here.
The primary election on June 4, 1974, determined which candidates appeared on the November 5, 1974 general election ballot. Primary election results can be obtained here. General election results can be obtained here.
Following the previous election in 1972, Republicans had control of the Iowa state Senate with 28 seats to Democrats' 22 seats.
To take control of the chamber from Republicans, the Democrats needed to net 4 Senate seats.
Democrats flipped control of the Iowa State Senate following the 1974 general election, with Democrats claiming 26 seats and Republicans falling to 24 seats after the election (a net gain of 4 seats for the Democrats).

## Summary of Results

* NOTE: 24 of the even-numbered districts did not have elections in 1974 so they are not listed here (district 10 had a special election).
| State Senate District | Incumbent | Party | Elected Senator | Party |
| 1st | Lucas DeKoster | Rep | Lucas DeKoster | Republican |
| 3rd | Warren E. Curtis | Rep | Warren E. Curtis | Republican |
| 5th | Ray Taylor | Rep | Ray Taylor | Republican |
| 7th | Ralph Farnham McCartney | Rep | Milo Merritt | Democratic |
| 9th | Dale L. Tieden | Rep | Dale L. Tieden | Republican |
| 10th | Mike Blouin | Dem | Robert M. "Bob" Carr | Democratic |
| 11th | Gene Kennedy | Dem | Richard John Norpel | Democratic |
| 13th | Tom Riley | Rep | James M. Redmond | Democratic |
| 15th | Ralph Wilson Potter | Rep | Steve Sovern | Democratic |
| 17th | Barton L. Schwieger | Rep | Fred Nolting | Democratic |
| 19th | Clifford Earl Burroughs | Rep | Clifford Earl Burroughs | Republican |
| 21st | John S. Murray | Rep | John S. Murray | Republican |
| 23rd | C. Joseph Coleman | Dem | C. Joseph Coleman | Democratic |
| 25th | E. Kevin Kelly | Rep | E. Kevin Kelly | Republican |
| 27th | James Schaben | Dem | Louis P. Culver | Democratic |
| 29th | Norman Rodgers | Dem | Norman Rodgers | Democratic |
| 31st | Earl Willits | Dem | Earl Willits | Democratic |
| 33rd | George F. Milligan | Rep | Philip B. Hill | Republican |
| 35th | Eugene Marshall Hill | Dem | Eugene Marshall Hill | Democratic |
| 37th | Minnette Doderer | Dem | Minnette Doderer | Democratic |
| 39th | Roger John Shaff | Rep | Roger John Shaff | Republican |
| 41st | Bill Gluba | Dem | Bill Gluba | Democratic |
| 43rd | Lowell Junkins | Dem | Lowell Junkins | Democratic |
| 45th | Gene W. Glenn | Dem | Gene W. Glenn | Democratic |
| 47th | Richard Ramsey | Rep | Richard Ramsey | Republican |
| 49th | Calvin Hultman | Rep | Calvin Hultman | Republican |
Source:

## Detailed Results

* Reminder: All odd-numbered Iowa Senate seats were up for regularly-scheduled election in 1974 as well as a special election in the 10th district. All other even-numbered districts did not have elections in 1974.
* 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 1

Iowa Senate, District 1 Republican Primary Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Lucas DeKoster (incumbent) | 3,272 | 51.4 |
| | Republican | Harold E. Vermeer | 3,095 | 48.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 6,367 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 1 General Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Lucas DeKoster (incumbent) | 12,800 | 67.4 |
| | Democratic | Harry Gerrit Kobes | 6,196 | 32.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,996 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 3

Iowa Senate, District 3 General Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Warren E. Curtis (incumbent) | 9,540 | 50.7 |
| | Democratic | Jack Clark | 9,277 | 49.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,817 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 5

Iowa Senate, District 5 General Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ray Taylor (incumbent) | 9,060 | 52.3 |
| | Democratic | Henry J. Stoffer | 8,272 | 47.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,332 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 7

Iowa Senate, District 7 General Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Milo Merritt | 10,038 | 53.6 |
| | Republican | Orlo G. Natvig | 8,705 | 46.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,743 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### District 9

Iowa Senate, District 9 Democratic Primary Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mathew Karpan | 1,165 | 52.5 |
| | Democratic | James L. Eno | 1,055 | 47.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,220 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 9 General Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Dale L. Tieden (incumbent) | 10,884 | 63.6 |
| | Democratic | Mathew Karpan | 6,240 | 36.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,124 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 10

Iowa Senate, District 10 Special Election, November 5, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Robert M. Carr | 6,273 | 59.5 |
| | Republican | James L. Esmoil | 4,270 | 40.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,543 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 11

Iowa Senate, District 11 General Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Richard J. Norpel, Sr. | 8,790 | 54.7 |
| | Republican | Stephen W. Bisenius | 7,276 | 45.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 16,066 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 13

Iowa Senate, District 13 Republican Primary Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ivor W. Stanley | 1,376 | 59.3 |
| | Republican | Norris C. Dobbin | 944 | 40.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,320 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 13 General Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | James Michael Redmond | 10,441 | 57.2 |
| | Republican | Ivor W. Stanley | 7,820 | 42.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,261 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### District 15

Iowa Senate, District 15 General Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Steve Sovern | 9,931 | 56.9 |
| | Republican | Ralph W. Potter (incumbent) | 7,518 | 43.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,449 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### District 17

Iowa Senate, District 17 General Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Fred Nolting | 9,620 | 54.9 |
| | Republican | Myrna Green | 7,887 | 45.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,507 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### District 19

Iowa Senate, District 19 General Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Clifford E. Burroughs (incumbent) | 10,392 | 57.0 |
| | Democratic | Donald D. Clark | 7,838 | 43.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,230 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 21

Iowa Senate, District 21 General Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John S. Murray (incumbent) | 11,539 | 57.5 |
| | Democratic | Tom Richards | 8,514 | 42.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,053 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 23

Iowa Senate, District 23 General Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | C. Joseph Coleman (incumbent) | 10,560 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,560 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 25

Iowa Senate, District 25 Republican Primary Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | E. Kevin Kelly (incumbent) | 1,171 | 62.8 |
| | Republican | Edgar J. Koch | 693 | 37.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,864 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 25 General Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | E. Kevin Kelly (incumbent) | 9,305 | 52.1 |
| | Democratic | E. Phil Vondrak | 8,540 | 47.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,845 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 27

Iowa Senate, District 27 Democratic Primary Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Louis P. Culver | 2,466 | 62.5 |
| | Democratic | James T. Craford | 1,480 | 37.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,946 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 27 General Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Louis P. Culver | 9,545 | 51.0 |
| | Republican | Jewell O. Waugh | 9,156 | 49.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,701 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 29

Iowa Senate, District 29 General Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Norman Rodgers (incumbent) | 10,866 | 52.1 |
| | Republican | Diane Glass | 10,003 | 47.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,869 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 31

Iowa Senate, District 31 General Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Earl Willits (incumbent) | 9,705 | 62.4 |
| | Republican | Joseph B. Flatt | 5,850 | 37.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,555 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 33

Iowa Senate, District 33 Republican Primary Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Philip B. Hill | 2,724 | 77.8 |
| | Republican | Russel De Jong | 777 | 22.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,501 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 33 General Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Philip B. Hill | 11,556 | 58.3 |
| | Democratic | William E. Shay | 8,268 | 41.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,824 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 35

Iowa Senate, District 35 Republican Primary Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Margaret Bovenkamp | 1,160 | 50.1 |
| | Republican | Les Turner | 1,154 | 49.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,314 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 35 General Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Eugene M. Hill (incumbent) | 10,897 | 60.2 |
| | Republican | Margaret Bovenkamp | 7,196 | 39.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,093 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 37

Iowa Senate, District 37 General Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Minnette Doderer (incumbent) | 11,866 | 67.7 |
| | Republican | Glen Leon Jackson | 5,663 | 32.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,529 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 39

Iowa Senate, District 39 General Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Roger J. Shaff | 8,954 | 55.2 |
| | Democratic | John James Hunter | 7,255 | 44.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 16,209 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 41

Iowa Senate, District 41 General Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | William E. "Bill" Gluba (incumbent) | 8,770 | 69.5 |
| | Republican | Cheryl Rigdon | 3,850 | 30.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,620 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 43

Iowa Senate, District 43 General Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Lowell Junkins (incumbent) | 10,320 | 62.4 |
| | Republican | Will Davis | 6,227 | 37.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 16,547 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 45

Iowa Senate, District 45 General Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Gene W. Glenn (incumbent) | 11,723 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,723 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 47

Iowa Senate, District 47 General Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Richard Ramsey (incumbent) | 11,514 | 55.2 |
| | Democratic | James W. Davis | 9,356 | 44.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,870 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 49

Iowa Senate, District 49 General Election, 1974 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Calvin Hultman (incumbent) | 10,829 | 63.2 |
| | Democratic | Ambrose Doyle | 6,295 | 36.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,124 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
* ↑ Special election.