1980 Iowa Senate election

The 1980 Iowa State Senate elections took place as part of the biennial 1980 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 1980 is provided by the Iowa General Assembly here.

1980 Iowa Senate election
November 4, 1980
25 out of 50 seats in the Iowa State Senate
26 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Calvin Hultman Lowell Junkins
Party Republican Democratic
Leader's seat 49th 43rd
Last election 28 22
Seats before 29[lower-alpha 1] 21
Seats after 29 21
Seat change
Majority Leader before election

Calvin Hultman
Republican

 Elected Majority Leader

Calvin Hultman
Republican

Elections in Iowa
Federal government
Presidential elections
Presidential caucuses
Democratic
1976
1992
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
Republican
2000
2008
2012
2016
2020
United States Senate elections
United States House elections
State government
General elections
Gubernatorial elections
Iowa Senate elections
Iowa House elections
Iowa special elections
Des Moines
Mayoral elections

The primary election on June 3, 1980 determined which candidates appeared on the November 4, 1980 general election ballot. Primary election results can be obtained here.[2] General election results can be obtained here.[3]

Following the previous elections in 1978, Republicans had control of the Iowa state Senate with 28 seats to Democrats' 22 seats. In 1979, Democratic Senator Earl Willits resigned and Republican Gary Baugher won a special election to fill the seat, thereby increasing Republicans' seats to 29.[lower-alpha 1]

To take control of the chamber from Republicans, the Democrats needed to net 5 Senate seats.

Republicans maintained their control of the Iowa State Senate following the 1980 general election with the balance of power remaining unchanged with Republicans holding 29 seats and Democrats having 21 seats after the election.

Summary of Results
  • NOTE: The 25 odd-numbered districts did not have elections in 1980 so they are not listed here.
State Senate District Incumbent Party Elected Senator Party
2nd Irvin L. Bergman Rep Richard Vande Hoef Republican
4th Berl Priebe Dem Berl Priebe Democratic
6th Alvin V. Miller Dem Alvin V. Miller Democratic
8th Rolf V. Craft Rep Rolf V. Craft Republican
10th Robert M. "Bob" Carr Dem Robert M. "Bob" Carr Democratic
12th Merlin Hulse Rep Merlin Hulse Republican
14th Cloyd E. Robinson Dem James D. Wells Democratic
16th James V. Gallagher Dem James V. Gallagher Democratic
18th Bill Hansen Rep Ted J. Anderson Democratic
20th Elizabeth Ruby Miller Rep Michael R. Lura Republican
22nd Jack Nystrom Rep Jack Nystrom Republican
24th John R. Scott Dem Elvie C. Dreeszen Republican
26th James Calhoon Dem Donald V. Doyle Democratic
28th Charles W. Hutchins Dem Charles W. Hutchins Democratic
30th David Readinger Rep David Readinger Republican
32nd William D. Palmer Dem William D. Palmer Democratic
34th George Kinley Dem George Kinley Democratic
36th Joan Yessler Orr Dem Emil J. Husak Democratic
38th Richard F. Drake Rep Richard F. Drake Republican
40th Edgar Holden Rep Edgar Holden Republican
42nd Charles Peter Miller Dem Charles Peter Miller Democratic
44th Forrest Schwengels Rep Forrest Schwengels Republican
46th Bass Van Gilst Dem Bass Van Gilst Democratic
48th James E. Briles Rep James E. Briles Republican
50th Tom L. Slater Dem Tom L. Slater Democratic

Source:[4]

Detailed Results
  • Reminder: Only even-numbered Iowa Senate seats were up for election in 1980; therefore, odd-numbered seats did not have elections in 1980 & are not shown.

District 2 • District 4 • District 6 • District 8 • District 10 • District 12 • District 14 • District 16 • District 18 • District 20 • District 22 • District 24 • District 26 • District 28 • District 30 • District 32 • District 34 • District 36 • District 38 • District 40 • District 42 • District 44 • District 46 • District 48 • District 50

  • 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 Republican Primary Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Richard Vande Hoef 3,134 54.7
Republican Leon Triggs 2,598 45.3
Total votes 5,732 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 2 General Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Richard Vande Hoef 13,912 59.1
Democratic John E. van der Linden 9,612 40.9
Total votes 23,524 100.0
Republican hold

District 4
Iowa Senate, District 4 General Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Berl Priebe (incumbent) 15,459 100.0
Total votes 15,459 100.0
Democratic hold

District 6
Iowa Senate, District 6 General Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Alvin V. Miller (incumbent) 13,467 54.5
Republican Patrick J. Breheny 11,218 45.5
Total votes 24,685 100.0
Democratic hold

District 8
Iowa Senate, District 8 General Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rolf V. Craft (incumbent) 15,254 100.0
Total votes 15,254 100.0
Republican hold

District 10
Iowa Senate, District 10 General Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bob Carr (incumbent) 12,588 54.9
Republican John M. Walsh 10,359 45.1
Total votes 22,947 100.0
Democratic hold

District 12
Iowa Senate, District 12 General Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Merlin Hulse (incumbent) 13,407 62.0
Democratic Michael L. Richards 8,217 38.0
Total votes 21,624 100.0
Republican hold

District 14
Iowa Senate, District 14 General Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James D. Wells 14,215 94.3
Libertarian Rich Newell 867 5.7
Total votes 15,082 100.0
Democratic hold

District 16
Iowa Senate, District 16 General Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James V. Gallagher (incumbent) 12,782 56.9
Republican Maurice Stoneman 9,669 43.1
Total votes 22,451 100.0
Democratic hold

District 18
Iowa Senate, District 18 Republican Primary Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jerry E. Jorgensen 3,653 69.6
Republican Gordon B. Denton 1,595 30.4
Total votes 5,248 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 18 General Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ted Anderson 13,356 51.1
Republican Jerry E. Jorgensen 12,801 48.9
Total votes 26,157 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

District 20
Iowa Senate, District 20 Republican Primary Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mick Lura 4,016 51.7
Republican Virtus Brockman 3,752 48.3
Total votes 7,768 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 20 General Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mick Lura 13,296 54.6
Democratic Ralph Howe 11,049 45.4
Total votes 24,345 100.0
Republican hold

District 22
Iowa Senate, District 22 Democratic Primary Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Doris Van Sickle 881 53.1
Democratic Robert E. Eide 778 46.9
Total votes 1,659 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 22 General Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jack Nystrom (incumbent) 15,168 61.5
Democratic Doris Van Sickle 9,482 38.5
Total votes 24,650 100.0
Republican hold

District 24
Iowa Senate, District 24 General Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Elvie Dreeszen 11,813 57.6
Democratic Howard Heisterkamp 8,221 40.1
Libertarian Frank Hanisch 481 2.3
Total votes 20,515 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 26
Iowa Senate, District 26 Republican Primary Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Leonard C. Andersen 1,534 51.2
Republican William W. Douglass, Jr. 1,462 48.8
Total votes 2,996 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 26 General Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Donald V. Doyle 10,803 53.0
Republican Leonard C. Andersen 9,575 47.0
Total votes 20,378 100.0
Democratic hold

District 28
Iowa Senate, District 28 General Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bill Hutchins (incumbent) 12,449 55.8
Republican George Opperman 9,848 44.2
Total votes 22,297 100.0
Democratic hold

District 30
Iowa Senate, District 30 General Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David Readinger (incumbent) 17,024 56.5
Democratic Robert J. Marks 13,092 43.5
Total votes 30,116 100.0
Republican hold

District 32
Iowa Senate, District 32 General Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William D. Palmer (incumbent) 15,228 68.8
Republican Ray C. Stiles 6,890 31.2
Total votes 22,118 100.0
Democratic hold

District 34
Iowa Senate, District 34 General Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic George Kinley (incumbent) 14,927 67.9
Republican Gary E. Cozad 6,807 31.0
Independent Tex Allen 259 1.1
Total votes 21,993 100.0
Democratic hold

District 36
Iowa Senate, District 36 Republican Primary Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bruce Ostrom 1,527 29.7
Republican Charles V. Dunham 1,445 28.1
Republican Dean L. Morse 1,228 23.9
Republican C. Eugene Long 946 18.3
Total votes 5,146 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 36 General Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Emil J. Husak 11,475 51.8
Republican Charles V. Dunham 10,671 48.2
Total votes 22,146 100.0
Democratic hold

District 38
Iowa Senate, District 38 General Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Richard F. Drake (incumbent) 13,837 60.9
Democratic Tom Tucker 8,887 39.1
Total votes 22,724 100.0
Republican hold

District 40
Iowa Senate, District 40 General Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Edgar H. Holden (incumbent) 16,157 55.8
Democratic Mary Johnson 12,777 44.2
Total votes 28,934 100.0
Republican hold

District 42
Iowa Senate, District 42 General Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Charles P. Miller (incumbent) 12,631 56.8
Republican Ralph L. Caston, III 9,589 43.2
Total votes 22,220 100.0
Democratic hold

District 44
Iowa Senate, District 44 Democratic Primary Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic R.W. Gustafson 1,157 64.2
Democratic Cynthia Hesseltine 644 35.8
Total votes 1,801 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 44 General Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Forrest Schwengels (incumbent) 14,690 67.0
Democratic R.W. Gustafson 7,224 33.0
Total votes 21,914 100.0
Republican hold

District 46
Iowa Senate, District 46 General Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bass Van Gilst (incumbent) 12,384 52.0
Republican James M. Bellamy 11,443 48.0
Total votes 23,827 100.0
Democratic hold

District 48
Iowa Senate, District 48 General Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican James E. Briles (incumbent) 12,590 52.9
Democratic Dave Schweers 11,189 47.1
Total votes 23,779 100.0
Republican hold

District 50
Iowa Senate, District 50 General Election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tom Slater (incumbent) 8,664 50.5
Republican Jim Griffin 8,503 49.5
Total votes 17,167 100.0
Democratic hold
  1. Democratic Senator Earl Willits resigned from his seat in district 31 in 1979. Republican Gary L. Baugher won a special election to fill the remainder of the term, thus gaining an additional seat for his party.[1]

See also

References
  1. "4-year AIDS battle conquers lawyer Willits" (PDF). Iowa General Assembly. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  2. "Primary Election 1980 Canvass Summary" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  3. "General Election 1980 Canvass Summary" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  4. "Legislators". Iowa State Senate. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.