2012 Iowa Senate election

Iowa State Senate elections, 2012

← 2010 November 6, 2012 2014 →

26 out of 50 seats in the Iowa State Senate
26 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Jack Kibbie Jerry Behn
Party Democratic Republican
Leader's seat 4th district
(retired)
24th district
Last election 26 24
Seats before 26 24
Seats after 26 24
Seat change Steady Steady

Results of the elections:
     Democratic gain      Republican gain
     Democratic hold      Republican hold
     No election

President of the Senate before election

Jack Kibbie
Democratic

Elected President of the Senate

Pam Jochum[1]
Democratic

The 2012 Iowa State Senate elections took place as part of the biennial 2012 United States elections. Iowa voters elected state senators in 26 of the state senate's 50 districts—the 25 even-numbered state senate districts and the 49th district.[2] State senators serve four-year terms in the Iowa State Senate, with half of the seats up for election each cycle. This was the first election cycle following the 2010 census and 2011 redistricting process.

As a result of redistricting, many state senators were redrawn into new seats. This explains some incumbents being reelected, but into districts with new numbers following the redistricting process.

The primary election on June 5, 2012, determined which candidates appeared on the November 6, 2012 general election ballot. Primary election results can be obtained here.[3]

Following the previous 2010 Iowa Senate election, Democrats maintained control of the Iowa state Senate with 26 seats.

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

Democrats kept control of the Iowa State Senate following the 2012 general election as the chamber's partisan composition remained unchanged with 26 Democrats to 24 Republicans.

State Senator Pat Ward was running in district 22 when she died on October 15, 2012, less than a month before the general election.[4] A special election on Dec. 11, 2012 saw her seat retained by the Republicans.[5]

Summary of Results

[edit]
  • NOTE: Only even-numbered Iowa Senate seats were up for regularly-scheduled election in 2012, so most of the odd-numbered seats are not included here. District 49 had a special election to fill a vacancy created by Senator Bacon's resignation.[2]
  • Also note, an asterisk (*) after a senator's name indicates they were an incumbent re-elected, but to a new district number due to redistricting.
State Senate District Incumbent Party Elected Senator Party
2nd Randy Feenstra Rep Randy Feenstra Republican
4th Jack Kibbie Dem Dennis Guth Republican
6th Merlin Bartz Rep Mark Segebart Republican
8th Mary Jo Wilhelm Dem Michael E. Gronstal*[6] Democratic
10th Jeff Danielson Dem Jake Chapman Republican
12th Brian Schoenjahn Dem Joni Ernst*[7] Republican
14th Pam Jochum Dem Amy Sinclair Republican
16th Tom Hancock Dem Dick Dearden*[8] Democratic
18th Liz Mathis Dem Janet Petersen Democratic
20th Tim Kapucian Rep Brad Zaun*[9] Republican
22nd Steve Sodders Dem Charles Schneider[10] Republican
24th Jerry Behn Rep Jerry Behn Republican
26th Steve Kettering Rep Mary Jo Wilhelm*[11] Democratic
28th James A. Seymour Rep Michael Breitbach Republican
30th Pat Ward Rep Jeff Danielson*[12] Democratic
32nd Brad Zaun Rep Brian Schoenjahn*[13] Democratic
34th Dick Dearden Dem Liz Mathis*[14] Democratic
36th Paul McKinley Rep Steve Sodders*[15] Democratic
38th Tom Rielly Dem Tim Kapucian*[16] Republican
40th James F. Hahn Rep Ken Rozenboom Republican
42nd Shawn Hamerlinck Rep Rich Taylor Democratic
44th Thomas G. Courtney Dem Thomas G. Courtney Democratic
46th Gene Fraise Dem Chris Brase Democratic
48th Joni Ernst Rep Dan Zumbach Republican
49th Hubert Houser Rep Rita Hart Democratic
50th Michael Gronstal Dem Pam Jochum*[17] Democratic

Source:[18][19]

Detailed Results

[edit]

District 2District 4District 6District 8District 10District 12District 14District 16District 18District 20District 22District 24District 26District 28District 30District 32District 34District 36District 38District 40District 42District 44District 46District 48District 49District 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

[edit]
Iowa Senate, District 2 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Randy Feenstra (incumbent) 26,030 100.0
Total votes 26,030 100.0
Republican hold

District 4

[edit]
Iowa Senate, District 4 Republican Primary, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dennis Guth 2,581 52.5
Republican James E. Black 2,333 47.5
Total votes 4,914 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 4 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dennis Guth 16,033 52.9
Democratic Bob Jennings 14,299 47.1
Total votes 30,332 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 6

[edit]
Iowa Senate, District 6 Republican Primary, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Segebart 1,273 47.0
Republican Adam Schweers 1,082 40.0
Republican Matthew Biede 352 13.0
Total votes 2,707 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 6 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Segebart 16,023 57.1
Democratic Mary C. Bruner 12,058 42.9
Total votes 28,081 100.0
Republican hold

District 8

[edit]
Iowa Senate, District 8 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael E. Gronstal (incumbent)[a] 12,632 55.3
Republican Al Ringgenberg 10,198 44.7
Total votes 22,830 100.0
Democratic hold

District 10

[edit]
Iowa Senate, District 10 Republican Primary, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jake Chapman 1,800 65.5
Republican Matthew T. Mardesen 949 34.5
Total votes 2,749 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 10 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jack Chapman 22,594 100.0
Total votes 22,594 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 12

[edit]
Iowa Senate, District 12 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joni Ernst (incumbent) [b] 22,205 100.0
Total votes 22,205 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 14

[edit]
Iowa Senate, District 14 Republican Primary, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Amy Sinclair 2,652 66.1
Republican Steven Everly 1,116 27.8
Republican Stephanie Jones 247 6.1
Total votes 4,015 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 14 Democratic Primary, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dick Schrad 775 67.4
Democratic Jason Demichelis 375 32.6
Total votes 1,150 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 14 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Amy Sinclair 17,141 60.9
Democratic Dick Schrad 11,011 39.1
Total votes 28,152 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 16

[edit]
Iowa Senate, District 16 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dick Dearden (incumbent) [c] 16,065 65.5
Republican David Scott Edwards 8,469 34.5
Total votes 24,534 100.0
Democratic hold

District 18

[edit]
Iowa Senate, District 18 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Janet Petersen 18,954 69.2
Republican Vicki Stogdill 8,455 30.8
Total votes 27,409 100.0
Democratic hold

District 20

[edit]
Iowa Senate, District 20 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brad Zaun (incumbent) [d] 24,236 100.0
Total votes 24,236 100.0
Republican hold

District 22

[edit]
Iowa Senate, District 22 Republican Primary, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Pat Ward (incumbent)[e] 1,818 58.0
Republican Jeff Mullen 1,314 42.0
Total votes 3,132 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 22 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Pat Ward (incumbent)[e] 19,067 56.6
Democratic Desmund Adams 14,626 43.4
Total votes 33,693 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic
  • Senator Ward died less than a month before the 2012 general election and, since the ballots had already been printed, won this election after having already deceased. A special election was held due to these circumstances.
Iowa Senate, District 22 Special Election, December 11, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Charles Schneider[f] 5,378 56.5
Democratic Desmund Adams 4,136 43.5
Total votes 9,514 100.0
Republican hold

District 24

[edit]
Iowa Senate, District 24 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jerry Behn (incumbent) 17,035 54.8
Democratic Shelly Stotts 14,049 45.2
Total votes 31,084 100.0
Republican hold

District 26

[edit]
Iowa Senate, District 26 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary Jo Wilhelm (incumbent)[g] 15,530 50.2
Republican Merlin Bartz (incumbent)[h] 15,404 49.8
Total votes 30,934 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

District 28

[edit]
Iowa Senate, District 28 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Michael Breitbach 14,867 50.06
Democratic John Beard 14,833 49.94
Total votes 29,700 100.0
Republican hold

District 30

[edit]
Iowa Senate, District 30 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jeff Danielson (incumbent)[i] 16,946 51.0
Republican Matt Reisetter 16,265 49.0
Total votes 33,211 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

District 32

[edit]
Iowa Senate, District 32 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Brian Schoenjahn (incumbent)[j] 16,338 53.2
Republican Elliott Henderson 14,346 46.8
Total votes 30,684 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

District 34

[edit]
Iowa Senate, District 34 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Liz Mathis (incumbent)[k] 21,178 61.2
Republican Ryan Flood 13,401 38.8
Total votes 34,579 100.0
Democratic hold

District 36

[edit]
Iowa Senate, District 36 Republican Primary, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jane A. Jech 1,880 58.8
Republican Larry McKibben 1,316 41.2
Total votes 3,196 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 36 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Steve Sodders (incumbent)[l] 15,733 54.1
Republican Jane A. Jech 13,360 45.9
Total votes 29,093 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

District 38

[edit]
Iowa Senate, District 38 Democratic Primary, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Shelley Parbs 735 57.9
Democratic Nicholas G. Volk 299 23.6
Democratic LaForest Sherman 235 18.5
Total votes 1,269 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 38 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tim Kapucian (incumbent)[m] 17,124 54.8
Democratic Shelley Parbs 14,137 45.2
Total votes 31,261 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 40

[edit]
Iowa Senate, District 40 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ken Rozenboom 17,628 60.2
Democratic Tim Tripp 11,670 39.8
Total votes 29,298 100.0
Republican hold

District 42

[edit]
Iowa Senate, District 42 Democratic Primary, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rich Taylor 1,446 49.8
Democratic Donna Amandus 1,032 35.6
Democratic Bob Morawitz 423 14.6
Total votes 2,901 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 42 Republican Primary, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Larry W. Kruse 2,324 71.1
Republican Lee Harder 943 28.9
Total votes 3,267 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 42 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rich Taylor 15,058 50.6
Republican Larry W. Kruse 13,281 44.7
Independent Michael Garmoe 1,396 4.7
Total votes 29,735 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

District 44

[edit]
Iowa Senate, District 44 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Thomas G. Courtney (incumbent) 16,125 57.0
Republican Brad Bourn 12,168 43.0
Total votes 28,293 100.0
Democratic hold

District 46

[edit]
Iowa Senate, District 46 Republican Primary, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Shawn Hamerlinck (incumbent)[n] 1,476 60.9
Republican James F. Hahn (incumbent)[o] 947 39.1
Total votes 2,423 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 46 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Chris Brase 15,960 53.4
Republican Shawn Hamerlinck (incumbent)[n] 13,950 46.6
Total votes 29,910 100.0
Democratic hold

District 48

[edit]
Iowa Senate, District 48 Republican Primary, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dan Zumbach 1,479 78.8
Republican Brian W. Cook 399 21.2
Total votes 1,878 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 48 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dan Zumbach 16,415 50.9
Democratic Nate Willems 15,858 49.1
Total votes 32,273 100.0
Republican hold

District 49

[edit]
Iowa Senate, District 49 Democratic Primary, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rita Hart 1,289 53.5
Democratic Dorothy O'Brien 1,121 46.5
Total votes 2,410 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 49 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rita Hart 17,305 54.6
Republican Andrew Naeve 14,398 45.4
Total votes 31,703 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

District 50

[edit]
Iowa Senate, District 50 Republican Primary, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William Johnson 745 56.1
Republican John E. Hulsizer, Jr. 584 43.9
Total votes 1,329 100.0
Iowa Senate, District 50 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Pam Jochum (incumbent)[p] 20,808 68.0
Republican William Johnson 9,790 32.0
Total votes 30,598 100.0
Democratic hold
  1. ^ Redistricted from district 50 to 8.
  2. ^ Redistricted from district 48 to 12.
  3. ^ Redistricted from district 34 to 16.
  4. ^ Redistricted from district 32 to 20.
  5. ^ a b Redistricted from district 30 to 22.
  6. ^ Won a special election in district 22 following the death of Senator Ward.
  7. ^ Redistricted from district 8 to 26.
  8. ^ Redistricted from district 6 to 26.
  9. ^ Redistricted from district 10 to 30.
  10. ^ Redistricted from district 12 to 32.
  11. ^ Redistricted from district 18 to 34.
  12. ^ Redistricted from district 22 to 36.
  13. ^ Redistricted from district 20 to 38.
  14. ^ a b Redistricted from district 42 to 46.
  15. ^ Redistricted from district 40 to 46.
  16. ^ Redistricted from district 14 to 50.

Source:[20][21][22]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Incumbent Democratic Leader Jack Kibbie retired and did not seek re-election. Iowa Senate Democrats selected Pam Jochum to be their new leader following the 2012 elections.[1]
  2. ^ a b Incumbent Republican Robert Bacon resigned halfway through his term, opening up an additional seat for election in 2012.[2] Typically, only the 25 even-numbered seats would have been up for regularly scheduled elections in the 2012 cycle.
  3. ^ "Primary Election 2012 Canvass Summary" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  4. ^ Pat Ward (District 30), an incumbent Republican, had been redistricted from district 30 to district 22 and was re-elected to district 22 posthumously.[3]
  5. ^ Charles Schneider elected to Iowa Senate in special election to succeed deceased Senator Pat Ward.[4]
  6. ^ Michael E. Gronstal redistricted from district 50 to 8.
  7. ^ Joni Ernst redistricted from district 48 to 12.
  8. ^ Dick Dearden redistricted from district 34 to district 16.
  9. ^ Brad Zaun redistricted from district 32 to district 20.
  10. ^ Republican Pat Ward, incumbent state senator from district 30, had been redistricted to district 22. She died in October, but, as her name was already on the printed ballots, she 'won' the general election for district 22. A special election in December saw the seat retained by Republicans and assumed by new member, Senator Schneider.
  11. ^ Mary Jo Wilhelm redistricted from district 8 to 26.
  12. ^ Jeff Danielson redistricted from district 10 to district 30.
  13. ^ Brian Schoenjahn redistricted from district 12 to district 32.
  14. ^ Liz Mathis redistricted from district 18 to 34.
  15. ^ Steve Sodders redistricted from district 22 to district 36.
  16. ^ Tim Kapucian redistricted from district 20 to district 38.
  17. ^ Pam Jochum redistricted from district 14 to district 50.
  18. ^ "Legislators". Iowa State Senate. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  19. ^ "Iowa State Senate elections, 2012". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  20. ^ "Primary Election 2012 Canvass Summary" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  21. ^ "General Election 2012 Canvass Summary" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  22. ^ "2012 Special Election Canvass Summary" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved April 2, 2020.