# 1986 Iowa Senate election

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The 1986 Iowa State Senate elections took place as part of the biennial 1986 United States elections. Iowa voters elected state senators in half of the state senate's districts—the 25 odd-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 1986 is provided by the Iowa General Assembly here.
The primary election on June 3, 1986, determined which candidates appeared on the November 4, 1986 general election ballot. Primary election results can be obtained here. General election results can be obtained here.
Following the previous election in 1984, Democrats had control of the Iowa state Senate with 29 seats to Republicans' 21 seats.
To take control of the chamber from Democrats, the Republicans needed to net 5 Senate seats.
Democrats expanded their control of the Iowa State Senate following the 1986 general election, with Democrats holding 30 seats and Republicans having 20 seats after the election (a net gain of 1 seat for the Democrats).

## Summary of Results

* NOTE: The 25 even-numbered districts did not have elections in 1986 so they are not listed here.
| State Senate District | Incumbent | Party | Elected Senator | Party |
| 1st | Milo Colton | Dem | Al Sturgeon | Democratic |
| 3rd | Douglas J. Ritsema | Rep | Wilmer Rensink | Republican |
| 5th | Arne F. Waldstein | Rep | Linn Fuhrman | Republican |
| 7th | C. Joseph Coleman | Dem | C. Joseph Coleman | Democratic |
| 9th | Ray Taylor | Rep | Ray Taylor | Republican |
| 11th | John Jensen | Rep | John Jensen | Republican |
| 13th | Jim Lind | Rep | Jim Lind | Republican |
| 15th | Arthur Gratias | Rep | Kenneth Daniel Scott | Democratic |
| 17th | Joseph J. Welsh | Dem | Joseph J. Welsh | Democratic |
| 19th | Norman J. Goodwin | Rep | Norman J. Goodwin | Republican |
| 21st | Patrick J. Deluhery | Dem | Patrick J. Deluhery | Democratic |
| 23rd | Arthur A. Small | Dem | Jean Hall Lloyd-Jones | Democratic |
| 25th | Wally Horn | Dem | Wally Horn | Democratic |
| 27th | Joe Brown | Dem | Richard J. Varn | Democratic |
| 29th | Jack Rife | Rep | Jack Rife | Republican |
| 31st | Gene Fraise | Dem | Gene Fraise | Democratic |
| 33rd | Donald Gettings | Dem | Donald Gettings | Democratic |
| 35th | Bill Dieleman | Dem | Bill Dieleman | Democratic |
| 37th | Charles Hughes Bruner | Dem | Charles Hughes Bruner | Democratic |
| 39th | William D. Palmer | Dem | William D. Palmer | Democratic |
| 41st | Julia Gentleman | Rep | Julia Gentleman | Republican |
| 43rd | Thomas Mann | Dem | Thomas Mann | Democratic |
| 45th | James R. Riordan | Dem | James R. Riordan | Democratic |
| 47th | Calvin Hultman | Rep | Calvin Hultman | Republican |
| 49th | Jack W. Hester | Rep | Jack W. Hester | Republican |
Source:

## Detailed Results

* Reminder: Only odd-numbered Iowa Senate seats were up for election in 1986; therefore, even-numbered seats did not have elections in 1986 & 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 1

Iowa Senate, District 1 General Election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Al Sturgeon | 8,983 | 52.7 |
| | Republican | Chuck Thomas | 8,053 | 47.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,036 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 3

Iowa Senate, District 3 General Election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Wilmer Rensink | 11,489 | 63.7 |
| | Democratic | Randy A. Riediger | 6,533 | 36.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,022 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 5

Iowa Senate, District 5 Republican Primary Election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Linn Fuhrman | 1,839 | 51.9 |
| | Republican | Blaine Donaldson | 1,707 | 48.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,546 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 5 Democratic Primary Election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Donald L. Schossow | 1,012 | 51.6 |
| | Democratic | Andy Lynn Statz | 950 | 48.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,962 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 5 General Election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Linn Fuhrman | 9,376 | 51.3 |
| | Democratic | Donald L. Schossow | 8,903 | 48.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,279 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 7

Iowa Senate, District 7 General Election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | C. Joseph Coleman (incumbent) | 10,432 | 65.2 |
| | Republican | Lawrence Anderson | 5,573 | 34.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 16,005 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 9

Iowa Senate, District 9 General Election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ray Taylor (incumbent) | 10,743 | 59.6 |
| | Democratic | John Clemons | 7,286 | 40.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,029 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 11

Iowa Senate, District 11 Republican Primary Election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John W. Jensen (incumbent) | 2,392 | 53.4 |
| | Republican | Ralph Juhl | 2,085 | 46.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,477 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 11 General Election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John W. Jensen (incumbent) | 11,157 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,157 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 13

Iowa Senate, District 13 General Election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jim Lind (incumbent) | 10,477 | 56.3 |
| | Democratic | Charles P. Beard | 8,127 | 43.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,604 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 15

Iowa Senate, District 15 Republican Primary Election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Paul Bunge | 1,969 | 56.1 |
| | Republican | Susie Darland | 1,040 | 29.7 |
| | Republican | Gerald W. Slessor | 500 | 14.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,509 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 15 Democratic Primary Election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Kenneth D. Scott | 1,390 | 54.3 |
| | Democratic | Richard Goings | 1,170 | 45.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,560 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 15 General Election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Kenneth D. Scott | 9,726 | 50.6 |
| | Republican | Paul Bunge | 9,481 | 49.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,207 | 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, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joe J. Welsh (incumbent) | 10,663 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,663 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 19

Iowa Senate, District 19 General Election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Norman J. Goodwin (incumbent) | 9,492 | 57.7 |
| | Democratic | Robert Ryan | 6,950 | 42.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 16,442 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 21

Iowa Senate, District 21 General Election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Patrick J. Deluhery (incumbent) | 8,930 | 66.3 |
| | Republican | Carter LeBeau | 4,530 | 33.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,460 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 23

Iowa Senate, District 23 General Election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jean Hall Lloyd-Jones | 12,308 | 68.0 |
| | Republican | Michael McDonald | 5,780 | 32.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,088 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 25

Iowa Senate, District 25 General Election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Wally Horn (incumbent) | 12,071 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,071 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 27

Iowa Senate, District 27 Republican Primary Election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Peggy Pinder | 1,430 | 61.4 |
| | Republican | Michael R. Jay | 898 | 38.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,328 | 100.0 |
Iowa Senate, District 27 General Election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Richard J. Varn | 10,611 | 57.6 |
| | Republican | Peggy Pinder | 7,824 | 42.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,435 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 29

Iowa Senate, District 29 General Election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jack Rife (incumbent) | 7,933 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 7,933 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 31

Iowa Senate, District 31 General Election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Gene Fraise (incumbent) | 11,201 | 60.6 |
| | Republican | Guy W. Chase | 7,293 | 39.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,494 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 33

Iowa Senate, District 33 General Election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Donald Gettings (incumbent) | 11,721 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,721 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 35

Iowa Senate, District 35 General Election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bill Dieleman (incumbent) | 13,236 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,236 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 37

Iowa Senate, District 37 General Election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Charles Bruner (incumbent) | 10,647 | 60.7 |
| | Republican | Richard R. Vander Mey | 6,888 | 39.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,535 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 39

Iowa Senate, District 39 General Election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | William D. Palmer (incumbent) | 13,759 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,759 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 41

Iowa Senate, District 41 General Election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Julia Gentleman (incumbent) | 11,885 | 56.6 |
| | Democratic | Denise J. Essman | 9,107 | 43.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,992 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 43

Iowa Senate, District 43 General Election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Tom Mann (incumbent) | 11,539 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,539 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 45

Iowa Senate, District 45 General Election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | James R. Riordan (incumbent) | 10,969 | 56.3 |
| | Republican | Thomas J. Gratias | 8,503 | 43.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,472 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 47

Iowa Senate, District 47 General Election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Calvin Hultman (incumbent) | 11,756 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,756 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 49

Iowa Senate, District 49 General Election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jack W. Hester (incumbent) | 10,991 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,991 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |