1968 Iowa Senate election

The 1968 Iowa State Senate elections took place as part of the biennial 1968 United States elections. Iowa voters elected state senators in 33 of the state senate's 61 districts. At this time, the Iowa Senate still had several multi-member districts. State senators serve four-year terms in the Iowa State Senate.

1968 Iowa Senate election

← 1966 November 5, 1968 1970 →

33 out of 61 seats in the Iowa State Senate
31 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Robert R. Rigler Andrew G. Frommelt
Party Republican Democratic
Leader's seat 40th 30th
Last election 29 32
Seats after 45 16
Seat change Increase16 Decrease16

Majority Leader before election

Andrew G. Frommelt
Democratic

Elected Majority Leader

David M. Stanley
Republican

A statewide map of the 61 state Senate districts in the year 1968 is provided by the Iowa General Assembly here.

The primary election on September 3, 1968, determined which candidates appeared on the November 5, 1968 general election ballot. Primary election results can be obtained here.[1] General election results can be obtained here.[2]

Following the previous election, Democrats had control of the Iowa state Senate with 32 seats to Republicans' 29 seats.

To claim control of the chamber from Democrats, the Republicans needed to net 2 Senate seats.

Republicans flipped control of the Iowa State Senate following the 1968 general election with the balance of power shifting to Republicans holding 45 seats and Democrats having 16 seats (a net gain of 16 seats for Republicans).

Summary of Results

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  • Note: The 28 holdover Senators not up for re-election are listed here with asterisks (*). A list of these holdover state senators is provided here.[3]
State Senate District Incumbent Party Incoming Senator Party
1st Seeley G. Lodwick* Rep Seeley G. Lodwick* Rep
2nd Max E. Reno Dem Charles G. Mogged Rep
3rd Donald Sherman McGill Dem Donald Sherman McGill Dem
4th Franklin S. Main Dem Quentin V. Anderson Rep
5th James E. Briles Rep James E. Briles Rep
6th Charles Vernon "Vern" Lisle* Rep Charles Vernon "Vern" Lisle* Rep
7th Robert R. Dodds* Dem Robert R. Dodds* Dem
8th Richard Lytle Stephens* Rep Richard Lytle Stephens* Rep
9th Gene W. Glenn* Dem Gene W. Glenn* Dem
10th Bass Van Gilst Dem Bass Van Gilst Dem
11th Stanley M. Heaberlin Dem Charles O. Laverty Rep
12th Joseph B. Flatt Rep Joseph B. Flatt Rep
13th Thomas J. "T. J." Frey* Rep Thomas J. "T. J." Frey* Rep
Gilbert E. Klefstad Dem Jim Griffin Rep
14th David M. Stanley* Rep David M. Stanley* Rep
15th Joseph W. Cassidy Dem Edward E. Nicholson* Rep
Roger W. Jepsen Rep Harold A. Thordsen Rep
16th Roger John Shaff* Rep Roger John Shaff* Rep
17th Robert J. Burns Dem Minnette Doderer Dem
18th Kenneth Benda* Rep Kenneth Benda* Rep
19th Eugene Marshall Hill* Dem Eugene Marshall Hill* Dem
20th Howard Reppert Dem William D. Palmer Dem
George E. O'Malley* Dem George E. O'Malley* Dem
William F. Denman* Dem William F. Denman* Dem
Lee H. Gaudineer Dem Lee H. Gaudineer Dem
William J. "Bill" Reichardt* Dem William J. "Bill" Reichardt* Dem
21st Edwin Alan Shirley Dem Edwin Alan Shirley Dem
22nd James F. Schaben Dem James F. Schaben Dem
23rd Clifton C. Lamborn* Rep Clifton C. Lamborn* Rep
24th John M. Ely Dem Ralph Wilson Potter Rep
Ernest Kosek* Rep Ernest Kosek* Rep
Tom Riley Rep Jesse Donald "J. Don" Weimer Dem
25th Charles F. Balloun* Rep Charles F. Balloun* Rep
26th Max Milo Mills Rep John L. Mowry Rep
27th Pearle P. DeHart* Rep Pearle P. DeHart* Rep
28th Warren J. Kruck Dem R. Dean Arbuckle Rep
29th Arthur A. Neu* Rep Arthur A. Neu* Rep
30th Andrew G. Frommelt* Dem Andrew G. Frommelt* Dem
John M. Walsh* Rep John M. Walsh* Rep
31st John W. Patton Dem Kenneth Lawrence Parker Rep
32nd Francis L. Messerly* Rep Francis L. Messerly* Rep
Chester O. Hougen* Rep Chester O. Hougen* Rep
Gene F. Condon Dem W. Charlene Conklin Rep
33rd James A. Potgeter* Rep James A. Potgeter* Rep
34th Hugh H. Clarke* Rep Hugh H. Clarke* Rep
35th C. Joseph Coleman Dem C. Joseph Coleman Dem
36th Elmer F. Lange* Rep Elmer F. Lange* Rep
37th Charles S. Van Eaton Rep Charles K. Sullivan Rep
Alden J. Erskine* Rep Alden J. Erskine* Rep
38th Adolph W. Elvers Dem Leslie C. Klink Rep
39th Hilarius Louis "H. L." Heying Dem Floyd Gilley Rep
40th Robert R. Rigler* Rep Robert R. Rigler* Rep
41st Vernon Kyhl Rep Vernon Kyhl Rep
42nd Delbert W. Floy Dem Leigh Raymond Curran Rep
43rd John L. Buren Dem Herbert Luther "H.L." Ollenburg Rep
44th Donald W. Murray Dem Wayne D. Keith Rep
45th John P. "Jack" Kibbie Dem Walter B. Hammer Rep
46th Merle W. Hagedorn Dem J. Leslie Leonard Rep
47th J. Henry Lucken Rep J. Henry Lucken Rep
48th H. Kenneth Nurse Dem Marvin Wesley Smith Rep
49th Lucas DeKoster Rep Lucas DeKoster Rep

Source:[4]

Detailed Results

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District 2District 3District 4District 5District 10District 11District 12District 13District 15District 17District 20District 21District 24District 26District 28District 31District 32District 35District 37District 38District 39District 41District 42District 43District 44District 45District 46District 47District 48District 49

  • 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

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Iowa Senate, District 2 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Charles G. Mogged 7,955 55.5
Democratic Max E. Reno (incumbent) 6,384 44.5
Total votes 14,339 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 3

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Iowa Senate, District 3 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Donald S. McGill (incumbent) 7,978 50.7
Republican Delmont Moffitt 7,754 49.3
Total votes 15,732 100.0
Democratic hold

District 4

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Iowa Senate, District 4 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Quentin V. Anderson 8,700 55.5
Democratic Franklin S. Main (incumbent) 6,982 44.5
Total votes 15,682 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 5

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Iowa Senate, District 5 Republican Primary Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican James E. Briles (incumbent) 4,239 62.3
Republican Edward A. Wearin 2,565 37.7
Total votes 6,804 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 5 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican James E. Briles (incumbent) 12,918 67.6
Democratic Orval C. Walter 6,188 32.4
Total votes 19,106 100.0
Republican hold

District 10

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Iowa Senate, District 10 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bass Van Gilst (incumbent) 7,861 50.4
Republican Lake M. Crookham 7,744 49.6
Total votes 15,605 100.0
Democratic hold

District 11

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Iowa Senate, District 11 Republican Primary Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Charles O. Laverty 1,661 35.5
Republican Wallace F. McKee 1,243 26.6
Republican Julian B. Garrett 945 20.2
Republican Bruce Shawver Glenn 828 17.7
Total votes 4,677 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 11 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Charles O. Laverty 10,846 50.5
Democratic Stanley M. Heaberlin (incumbent) 10,636 49.5
Total votes 21,482 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 12

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Iowa Senate, District 12 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joseph B. Flatt (incumbent) 11,146 65.5
Democratic Jay E. Howe 5,872 34.5
Total votes 17,018 100.0
Republican hold

District 13

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  • The 13th was a 2-member district in 1968. The first subdistrict had a holdover Senator.
Iowa Senate, District 13 Subdistrict No. 2 Republican Primary Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jim Griffin 832 59.9
Republican Alvin B. Moore 557 40.1
Total votes 1,389 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 13 Subdistrict No. 2 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jim Griffin 5,612 50.9
Democratic Gilbert E. Klefstad (incumbent) 5,417 49.1
Total votes 11,029 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 15

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  • The 15th was a 2-member district in 1968. Both subdistricts held elections.
Iowa Senate, District 15 Subdistrict No. 1 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Harold A. Thordsen 11,939 50.1
Democratic Joseph W. Cassidy (incumbent) 11,889 49.9
Total votes 23,828 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic
Iowa Senate, District 15 Subdistrict No. 2 Special Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Edward E. Nicholson 2,623 65.7
Democratic Karl H. Hellman 1,371 34.3
Total votes 3,994 100.0
Republican hold

District 17

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Iowa Senate, District 17 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Minnette Doderer 14,034 56.2
Republican D. C. Nolan 10,946 43.8
Total votes 24,980 100.0
Democratic hold

District 20

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  • The 20th was a 5-member district in 1968. Subdistricts Nos. 2, 3, & 5 had holdover Senators. Subdistricts Nos. 1 & 4 held elections.
Iowa Senate, District 20 Subdistrict No. 1 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William D. Palmer 13,182 57.1
Republican James R. Maggert 9,892 42.9
Total votes 23,074 100.0
Democratic hold
Iowa Senate, District 20 Subdistrict No. 4 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Lee H. Gaudineer, Jr. (incumbent) 8,122 60.8
Republican Joseph G. Bertroche 5,232 39.2
Total votes 13,354 100.0
Democratic hold

District 21

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Iowa Senate, District 21 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Alan Shirley (incumbent) 10,443 51.0
Republican Leroy H. Petersen 10,014 49.0
Total votes 20,457 100.0
Democratic hold

District 24

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  • The 24th was a 3-member district in 1968. Subdistrict No. 2 had a holdover Senator. Subdistricts Nos. 1 & 3 held elections.
Iowa Senate, District 24 Subdistrict No. 1 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ralph W. Potter 11,488 54.7
Democratic Myron B. Oxley 9,500 45.3
Total votes 20,988 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic
Iowa Senate, District 24 Subdistrict No. 3 Special Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic J. Don Weimer 10,247 57.9
Republican Roger D. Patton 7,457 42.1
Total votes 17,704 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

District 26

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Iowa Senate, District 26 Republican Primary Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John L. Mowry 2,515 56.5
Republican Vernon J. Ferguson 1,940 43.5
Total votes 4,455 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 26 Democratic Primary Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic LaVern Hoelscher 581 56.1
Democratic Robert E. Rider, Sr. 454 43.9
Total votes 1,035 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 26 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John L. Mowry 9,091 58.0
Democratic LaVern Hoelscher 6,589 42.0
Total votes 15,680 100.0
Republican hold

District 28

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Iowa Senate, District 28 Democratic Primary Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic George E. Uthe 1,065 55.2
Democratic Warren J. Kruck (incumbent) 864 44.8
Total votes 1,929 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 28 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dean Arbuckle 8,692 55.6
Democratic George E. Uthe 6,948 44.4
Total votes 15,640 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 31

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Iowa Senate, District 31 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kenneth Parker 8,169 52.4
Democratic John W. Patton (incumbent) 7,419 47.6
Total votes 15,588 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 32

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  • The 32nd was a 3-member district in 1968. Subdistricts Nos. 1 & 2 had holdover Senators. Subdistrict No. 3 held an election.
Iowa Senate, District 32 Subdistrict No. 3 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican W. Charlene Conklin 9,479 52.9
Democratic James V. Gallagher 8,435 47.1
Total votes 17,914 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 35

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Iowa Senate, District 35 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic C. Joseph Coleman (incumbent) 10,303 56.8
Republican DeVere A. Freeman 7,848 43.2
Total votes 18,151 100.0
Democratic hold

District 37

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  • The 37th was a 2-member district in 1968. Subdistrict No. 2 had a holdover Senator. Subdistrict No. 1 held an election.
Iowa Senate, District 37 Subdistrict No. 1 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Charles K. Sullivan 10,073 50.04
Democratic Vincent S. Burke 10,057 49.96
Total votes 20,130 100.0
Republican hold

District 38

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Iowa Senate, District 38 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Leslie C. Klink 8,011 52.3
Democratic Adolph W. Elvers (incumbent) 7,299 47.7
Total votes 15,310 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 39

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Iowa Senate, District 39 Republican Primary Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Floyd Gilley 3,306 63.1
Republican Jesse W. Wepler 1,933 36.9
Total votes 5,239 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 39 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Floyd Gilley 10,662 52.6
Democratic H. L. Heying (incumbent) 9,599 47.4
Total votes 20,261 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 41

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Iowa Senate, District 41 Republican Primary Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Vernon H. Kyhl (incumbent) 3,008 58.0
Republican Harry J. Eastman 2,181 42.0
Total votes 5,189 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 41 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Vernon H. Kyhl (incumbent) 13,986 100.0
Total votes 13,986 100.0
Republican hold

District 42

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Iowa Senate, District 42 Republican Primary Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Leigh Curran 3,178 78.4
Republican Glen E. Bandel 873 21.6
Total votes 4,051 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 42 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Leigh R. Curran 11,436 58.3
Democratic James T. Shannon 8,196 41.7
Total votes 19,632 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 43

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Iowa Senate, District 43 Republican Primary Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican H. L. Ollenburg 2,147 50.7
Republican C. E. Judd 2,084 49.3
Total votes 4,231 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 43 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican H. L. Ollenburg 9,005 58.1
Democratic John L. Buren (incumbent) 6,491 41.9
Total votes 15,496 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 44

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Iowa Senate, District 44 Republican Primary Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Wayne Keith 1,946 50.9
Republican Jean M. Kleve 1,874 49.1
Total votes 3,820 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 44 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Wayne Keith 8,102 54.0
Democratic Donald W. Murray (incumbent) 6,903 46.0
Total votes 15,005 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 45

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Iowa Senate, District 45 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Walter B. Hammer 8,675 52.2
Democratic John P. "Jack" Kibbie (incumbent) 7,932 47.8
Total votes 16,607 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 46

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Iowa Senate, District 46 Republican Primary Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican J. Leslie Leonard 2,158 55.2
Republican Wayne J. Simington 1,753 44.8
Total votes 3,911 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 46 Democratic Primary Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Merle W. Hagedorn (incumbent) 652 58.6
Democratic Chris Lauritsen 461 41.4
Total votes 1,113 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 46 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican J. Leslie Leonard 8,669 56.2
Democratic Merle W. Hagedorn (incumbent) 6,747 43.8
Total votes 15,416 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 47

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Iowa Senate, District 47 Republican Primary Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican J. Henry Lucken (incumbent) 2,565 62.0
Republican Jack D. McDougall 1,574 38.0
Total votes 4,139 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 47 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican J. Henry Lucken (incumbent) 10,569 63.4
Democratic Charles Wiley 6,091 36.6
Total votes 16,660 100.0
Republican hold

District 48

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Iowa Senate, District 48 Democratic Primary Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic H. Kenneth Nurse (incumbent) 1,128 62.4
Democratic Raymond H. Van Kekerix 679 37.6
Total votes 1,807 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 48 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Marvin W. Smith 10,581 62.3
Democratic H. Kenneth Nurse (incumbent) 6,414 37.7
Total votes 16,995 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 49

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Iowa Senate, District 49 General Election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lucas J. DeKoster (incumbent) 14,211 100.0
Total votes 14,211 100.0
Republican hold
  1. ^ Districts 15, 20, and 24 elected 2 senators. Remember, in 1968, multi-member districts still existed in the Iowa Senate.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Primary Election 1968 For State Senator". Iowa Official Register. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  2. ^ "General Election 1968 For State Senator". Iowa Official Register. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  3. ^ "Holdover State Senators". Iowa Official Register. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  4. ^ "Legislators". Iowa State Senate. Retrieved May 3, 2020.