Click here to live chat with one of our writers between 9am-5pm CST.
Iowa State Senate elections, 2012
 Iowa's 2012 elections: • U.S. House • State Senate • State House |
|
← 2010
|
 |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was March 16, 2012. The primary election day will be June 5, 2012.
Impact of redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in Iowa
Compared with other states, Iowa features a uniquely non-partisan approach to redrawing legislative districts. The Iowa Legislative Services Agency uses computer software to generate a proposed redistricting map, disregarding all factors except population. Although the legislature must still approve the final maps, lawmakers are not permitted to revise a plan until two previous plans have been rejected. In 2011, lawmakers approved the first plan submitted by the Agency.
Due to population shifts, the legislative plan draws a number of incumbents into neighboring districts where they may face other sitting legislators. The Senate plan involves seven of these matchups, including one Democratic pairing, two bi-partisan matchups, and three Republican pairings. Notably, the plan draws Senate President Jack Kibbie (D) and incumbent David Johnson (R) into the same district. The House plan includes one bi-partisan matchup, three Democratic pairings, and 9 Republican pairings. The plan also leaves 14 of the state's 100 House districts without an incumbent. Some incumbents may retire or re-locate to avoid facing a fellow party member or entrenched incumbent.
| Iowa Redistricting: 2000 vs. 2010 Census Maps |
|---|
|
Majority control
- See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Heading into the November 6 election, the Democratic Party holds the majority in the Iowa State Senate:
| Iowa State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of May 2012 | After the 2012 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 26 | Pending | |
| Republican Party | 24 | Pending | |
| Total | 50 | 50 | |
Incumbents retiring
A total of 8 incumbents are not running for re-election in 2012. Those incumbents are:
| Name: | Party: | Current office: |
|---|---|---|
| Gene Fraise |  Democratic | Iowa State Senate District 46 |
| James Seymour |  Republican | Iowa State Senate District 28 |
| John Kibbie | Democratic | Iowa State Senate District 4 |
| Paul McKinley | Republican | Iowa State Senate District 36 |
| Robert Bacon | Republican | Iowa State Senate District 5 |
| Steve Kettering | Republican | Iowa State Senate District 26 |
| Tom Hancock | Democratic | Iowa State Senate District 16 |
| Tom Rielly | Democratic | Iowa State Senate District 38 |
Campaign contributions
This chart shows how many candidates ran for state senate in Iowa in past years and the cumulative amount of campaign contributions in state senate races, including contributions in both primary and general election contests. All figures come from Follow The Money.[1]
| Year | Number of candidates | Total contributions |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 55 | $5,058,528 |
| 2008 | 79 | $6,045,502 |
| 2006 | 75 | $7,456,412 |
| 2004 | 74 | $7,217,102 |
| 2002 | 98 | $4,266,190 |
In 2010, a total of $5,058,528 was raised in campaign contributions by those running for state senate. The top donors were: [2]
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| Iowa Democratic Party | $1,540,045 |
| Iowa Republican Party | $607,907 |
| Iowans for Tax Relief | $112,250 |
| Associated General Contractors of Iowa | $89,750 |
| Iowa Credit Union League | $80,000 |
| Iowa Dental Association | $71,550 |
| Iowa Bankers Association | $69,500 |
| Iowa Farm Bureau | $66,779 |
| Iowa Health Care Association | $66,250 |
| Butler County Republican Central Cmte | $61,300 |
Qualifications
The Iowa Constitution states, "Senators shall be chosen for the term of four years, at the same time and place as representatives; they shall be twenty-five years of age, and possess the qualifications of representatives as to residence and citizenship." [3]
List of candidates
District 2
June 5 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
June 5 GOP primary:
- Randy Feenstra - Incumbent Feenstra was first elected in 2008.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 4
Note: Incumbent Democrat John Kibbie did not seek re-election.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- June 5 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 6
Note: Incumbent Republican Merlin Bartz is running for re-election in District 26 due to redistricting.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- June 5 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 8
note: Incumbent Democrat Mary Jo Wilhelm is running for re-election in District 26 due to redistricting.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- Michael E. Gronstal - Incumbent Gronstal was first elected to Senate District 50 in 1984.
- June 5 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 10
Note: Incumbent Democrat Jeff Danielson is running for re-election in District 30 due to redistricting.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 5 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 12
Note: Incumbent Democrat Brian Schoenjahn is running for re-election in District 32 due to redistricting.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 5 GOP primary:
- Joni K. Ernst - Incumbent Ernst was first elected to Senate District 48 in 2011.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 14
Note: Incumbent Democrat Pam Jochum is running for re-election in District 50 due to redistricting.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- June 5 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 16
Note: Incumbent Democrat Tom Hancock did not seek re-election.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- Dick L. Dearden - Incumbent Dearden was first elected to Senate District 34 in 1994.
- June 5 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 18
Note: Incumbent Democrat Liz Mathis is running for re-election in District 34 due to redistricting.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- Janet Petersen Petersen has served in the Iowa House of Representatives since 2001.
- June 5 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 20
Note: Incumbent Republican Tim Kapucian is running for re-election in District 38 due to redistricting.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 5 GOP primary:
- Brad Zaun - Incumbent Zaun was first elected to Senate District 32 in 2004.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 22
Note: Incumbent Democrat Steven Sodders is running for re-election in District 36 due to redistricting.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- June 5 GOP primary:
- Jeff Mullen
- Pat Ward - Incumbent Ward was first elected to Senate District 30 in 2004.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 24
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- June 5 GOP primary:
- Jerry Behn - Incumbent Behn was first elected in 1996.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 26
Note: Incumbent Republican Steve Kettering did not seek re-election.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- Mary Jo Wilhelm - Incumbent Wilhelm was first elected to Senate District 8 in 2008.
- June 5 GOP primary:
- Merlin Bartz - Incumbent Bartz was first elected to Senate District 6 in 2008.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 28
Note: Incumbent Republican James Seymour did not seek re-election.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- June 5 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 30
Note: Incumbent Republican Pat Ward is running for re-election in District 22 due to redistricting.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- Jeff Danielson - Incumbent Danielson was first elected to Senate District 10 in 2004.
- June 5 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 32
Note: Incumbent Republican Brad Zaun is running for re-election in District 20 due to redistricting.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- Brian Schoenjahn - Incumbent Schoenjahn was first elected to Senate District 12 in 2004.
- June 5 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 34
Note: Incumbent Democrat Dick Dearden is running for re-election in District 16 due to redistricting.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- Liz Mathis - Incumbent Mathis was first elected to Senate District 18 in 2011.
- June 5 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 36
Note: Incumbent Republican Paul McKinley did not seek re-election.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- Steve Sodders - Incumbent Sodders was first elected to Senate District 22 in 2008.
- June 5 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 38
Note: Incumbent Democrat Tom Rielly did not seek re-election.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- June 5 GOP primary:
- Tim Kapucian - Incumbent Kapucian was first elected to Senate District 20 in 2008.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 40
Note: Incumbent Republican James Hahn is running for re-election in District 46 due to redistricting.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 5 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 42
Note: Incumbent Republican Shawn Hamerlinck is running for re-election in District 46 due to redistricting.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- June 5 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 44
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- Thomas G. Courtney - Incumbent Courtney was first elected in 2002.
- June 5 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 46
Note: Incumbent Democrat Gene Fraise did not seek re-election.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- June 5 GOP primary:
- Jim Hahn - Incumbent Hahn was first elected to Senate District 40 in 2004.
- Shawn Hamerlinck - Incumbent Hamerlinck was first elected to Senate District 42 in 2008.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 48
Note: Incumbent Republican Joni Ernst is running for re-election in District 12 due to redistricting.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- Nate Willems Willems has served in the Iowa House of Representatives since 2009.
- June 5 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 49
Note: Due to redistricting, the new District 49 is an open seat. Incumbent Republican Hubert Houser, who represents old District 49 was moved into District 11 and is not up for election in 2012.[4]
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- June 5 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 50
Note: Incumbent Democrat Michael Gronstal is running for re-election in District 8 due to redistricting.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- Pam Jochum - Incumbent Jochum was first elected to Senate District 14 in 2008.
- June 5 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
External links
See also
References
| ||||||||||||||||
