In the 1848 Iowa State Senate elections, Iowa voters elected state senators to serve in the second Iowa General Assembly. Elections were held for 10 of the state senate's 19 seats.[d] State senators serve four-year terms in the Iowa State Senate.
To claim control of the chamber from Democrats, the Whigs needed to net two Senate seats.
Democrats maintained control of the Iowa State Senate following the 1848 general election with the balance of power remaining unchanged with Democrats holding 11 seats and Whigs having eight seats. Democratic Senator John Jackson Selman was chosen as the President of the Iowa Senate for the second General Assembly.[c]
Summary of Results
Note: The holdover Senators not up for re-election are unlisted on this table.
^Senator Thomas Baker of Polk County was chosen to be the first President of the Iowa Senate. He served during the first Iowa General Assembly.[1]
^Senator Thomas Hughes of Johnson County was chosen to be the second President of the Iowa Senate. He served during the first Iowa General Assembly, succeeding Senator Thomas Baker in that leadership position.[2]
^ abcSenator John Jackson Selman of Davis County was chosen to be the third President of the Iowa Senate. He served during the second Iowa General Assembly, succeeding Senator Thomas Hughes in that leadership position.[3]
^The first district was a 2-member district at the time. However, only one of the seats in the district was contested in the 1848 election. The other was held by a holdover senator not up for re-election until 1850.
^The second district was a 2-member district at the time. However, only one of the seats in the district was contested in the 1848 election. The other was held by a holdover senator not up for re-election until 1850.
^The third district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The fourth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^In September 1850, Senator Royston died, causing a vacancy in this seat that would be filled by special election during the next session.[6]
^The fifth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The sixth district was a 2-member district at the time. However, only one of the seats in the district was contested in the 1848 election. The other was held by a holdover senator not up for re-election until 1850.
^During the next session, Senator Fear resigned, causing a vacancy in this seat that would be filled by special election in the 1850 election.[7]
^The eighth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^On January 2, 1848, Senator Brown resigned, causing a vacancy.[8] That vacant seat was filled by Senator John Howell.[9]
^ abOn January 2, 1848, Senator Brown resigned, causing a vacancy.[10] That vacant seat was filled by Senator John Howell. Senator Howell was re-elected to a full term in 1848.[11]
^The eleventh district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The Thirteenth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The fifteenth district was a 2-member district at the time. However, only one of the seats in the district was contested in the 1848 election. The other was held by a holdover senator not up for re-election until 1850.
.svg){kind=small}
