In the1856 Iowa State Senate elections,Iowa voters elected state senators to serve in the sixthIowa General Assembly. Following the expansion of theIowa Senate from 31 to 36 seats in 1856, elections were held for 21 of the state senate's 36 seats.[f] State senators serve four-year terms in theIowa State Senate.
Following theprevious election in 1854,Democrats had control of the Iowa Senate with 17 seats toWhigs' 14 seats. However, three changes occurred during the fifth general assembly. In thefirst district, Democratic SenatorJames M. Love resigned on July 1, 1856, causing a vacancy in his seat that was filled by special election.[12] Democrat David Trowbridge Brigham succeeded Senator Love, holding the seat for the Democrats.[13] In thetwentieth district, Democratic Senator Theophilus Bryan wasoriginally declared the winner.[14] However, the members of theIowa Senate voted on January 7, 1855, to remove Senator Bryan and replace him with his Whig opponent, Senator James Cunningham Jordan, thereby flipping the seat to Whig control.[15] In thetwenty-fourth district, Democratic Senator John G. Shields died on June 25, 1856, causing a vacancy in his seat.[16] Therefore, by election day in 1856, the Democrats held 15 seats, the Whigs held 15 seats, and one seat was vacant (the seat that had been held by Democratic Senator John Shields).
Prior to the 1856 election, nearly allWhigs switched political party affiliation to becomeRepublicans.
To claim control of the chamber fromDemocrats, theRepublicans needed to garner 19 Senate seats.
Republicans claimed control of theIowa State Senate following the 1856 general election with the balance of power shifting toRepublicans holding 23 seats,Democrats having 12 seats, and a lone seat for theKnow Nothing Party[g] (a net gain of 23 seats for Republicans[c] and 1 seat for Know Nothings). This was thefirst time Democrats lost control of the chamber. Republican Senator William W. Hamilton was chosen as the President of the Iowa Senate for the sixth General Assembly, succeeding Democratic Senator Maturin L. Fisher in that leadership position.[e][d]
The 1856 general election was the first in which theIowa Senate's districts expanded to cover all the land area currently recognized asIowa.
^abcdTheIowa Senate expanded from 31 seats to 36 seats following the 1856 general election.[6]
^abFollowing the1854 Iowa Senate election, Democrats held 17 seats to Whigs' 14. However, three changes occurred during the fifth general assembly. In the first district, Democratic SenatorJames M. Love resigned on July 1, 1856, causing a vacancy in his seat that was filled by special election.[1] Democrat David Trowbridge Brigham succeeded Senator Love, holding the seat for the Democrats.[2] In the twentieth district, Democratic Senator Theophilus Bryan wasoriginally declared the winner.[3] However, the members of theIowa Senate voted on January 7, 1855 to remove Senator Bryan and replace him with his Whig opponent, Senator James Cunningham Jordan, thereby flipping the seat to Whig control.[4] In the twenty-fourth district, Democratic Senator John G. Shields died on June 25, 1856, causing a vacancy in his seat.[5] Therefore, by election day in 1856, the Democrats held 15 seats, the Whigs held 15 seats, and one seat was vacant (the seat that had been held by Democratic Senator John Shields).
^abSenator Maturin L. Fisher ofClayton County was chosen to be the sixth President of theIowa Senate. He served during the fifth Iowa General Assembly, succeeding Senator William E. Leffingwell in that leadership position.[7]
^abRepublican Senator William W. Hamilton ofDubuque County was chosen to be the seventh President of theIowa Senate. He served during the sixth Iowa General Assembly, succeeding Democratic Senator Maturin L. Fisher in that leadership position.[8] Senator Hamilton was the first Republican to serve as President of the Senate (all the previous Senate Presidents had been Democrats). Following Hamilton's one term as President of theIowa Senate, Article IV, section 18, of the Constitution of Iowa was enacted & established that theLieutenant Governor of Iowa shall perform the duties of the President of the Senate. The Lieutenant Governor performed the duties of President of the Senate from January 11, 1858 through January 14, 1991. As of 1991, duties of Iowa's Lieutenant Governor no longer include presiding over the state Senate.[9]
^Senator George W. Wilkinson was aholdoverincumbent senatornot up for re-election. Nonetheless, he switched political parties fromWhig toKnow Nothing.[17]
^The second district transitioned from a 2- to 1-member district.
^Senator Browning was redistricted from district 2 to 4.
^Democrat David Trowbridge Brigham succeeded SenatorJames M. Love to fill the remainder of an unexpired term. As anincumbent, Brigham was redistricted from district 1 to 2. The first district transitioned from a 3- to 2-member district, and the other two senators in the first district wereholdover senatorsnot up for re-election. Brigham was elected to a full term in 1856 to represent the second district.[18]
^The fourth district was a 2-member district at the time.
^Senator Coop was redistricted from district 4 to 6.
^The fifth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^abSenatorAlvin Saunders was anincumbentholdover senatornot up for re-election. Instead, he wasredistricted from district 5 to 7. He switched parties from Whig to Republican.
^The sixth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^abSenator Ramsey was anincumbentholdover senatornot up for re-election. Instead, he wasredistricted from district 6 to 8.
^The seventh district was a 1-member district at the time.
^abSenator Anderson was anincumbentholdover senatornot up for re-election. Instead, he wasredistricted from district 7 to 9. He switched parties from Whig to Republican.
^The eighth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^Senator McAchran was redistricted from district 8 to 5.
^The ninth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^Senator Udell was redistricted from district 9 to 10.
^The tenth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^abSenator Test was anincumbentholdover senatornot up for re-election. Instead, he wasredistricted from district 10 to 12.
^The eleventh district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The twelfth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^abSenator Cleaver was anincumbentholdover senatornot up for re-election. Instead, he wasredistricted from district 12 to 13. He switched parties from Democrat to Republican.
^The thirteenth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^abSenator Hogin was anincumbentholdover senatornot up for re-election. Instead, he wasredistricted from district 13 to 15. He switched parties from Whig to Republican.
^The fourteenth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The fifteenth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^Senator Hillis wasredistricted from district 15 to 17.
^The sixteenth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^Senator Fulton wasredistricted from district 16 to 21.
^The seventeenth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^abSenator Wilkinson was anincumbentholdover senatornot up for re-election. Instead, he wasredistricted from district 17 to 19. He switched parties from Whig to Know Nothing.
^The eighteenth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^abSenator Matthews was anincumbentholdover senatornot up for re-election. Instead, he wasredistricted from district 18 to 23. He switched parties from Whig to Republican.
^The nineteenth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^Senator Workman wasredistricted from district 19 to 20.
^The twentieth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^Senator Bryan wasoriginally deemed to be elected to the seat.[19] However, on January 7, 1855, he was removed by a vote of the members of theIowa Senate and replaced by Senator Jordan of theWhig Party.[20]
^Senator Bryan wasoriginally deemed to be elected to the seat.[21] However, on January 7, 1855, he was removed by a vote of the members of theIowa Senate and replaced by Senator Jordan of theWhig Party.[22]
^abSenator Jordan was anincumbentholdover senatornot up for re-election. Instead, he wasredistricted from district 20 to 27. He switched parties from Whig to Republican.
^The twenty-first district was a 1-member district at the time.
^Senator Clark was redistricted from district 21 to 28/29.
^The twenty-second district was a 1-member district at the time.
^abSenator Birge was anincumbentholdover senatornot up for re-election. Instead, he wasredistricted from district 22 to 29.
^The twenty-third district was a 1-member district at the time.
^Senator Preston was redistricted from district 23 to 24/25.
^The twenty-fourth district transitioned from a 3- to 1-member district. Senator Fisher was redistricted from district 24 to 32. Senator Shields died on June 25, 1856, causing a vacancy in his seat. Senator Hamilton was anincumbentholdover senatornot up for re-election. Instead, he wasredistricted from district 24 to 31. He switched parties from Whig to Republican.
^Senator Fisher was redistricted from district 24 to 32.
^Senator Shields died on June 25, 1856, causing a vacancy in his seat.[23]
^abSenator Hamilton was anincumbentholdover senatornot up for re-election. Instead, he wasredistricted from district 24 to 31. He switched parties from Whig to Republican.[24]
^The twenty-fifth district was anewly created 1-member district.
^The twenty-sixth district was anewly created 1-member district.
^The twenty-seventh district was anewly created 1-member district.
^The twenty-eighth district was anewly created 1-member district.
^The twenty-ninth district was anewly created 1-member district.
^The thirtieth district was anewly created 1-member district.
^The thirty-first district was anewly created 1-member district.
^The thirty-second district was anewly created 1-member district.
^The thirty-third district was anewly created 1-member district.
^The thirty-fourth district was anewly created 1-member district.
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