Iowa 2012 legislative election results

The tabs below contain analysis of election results in the 2012 legislative elections for Iowa.

• Senate
• House
• National Partisan Trends

2012 Legislative Election Results
State-by-State Analysis
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Other 2012 Election information
State legislative elections • State legislative election results • Statewide elections, 2012 • State Senate elections • State House elections

Iowa State Senate Election Results

This page contains macro-level election results and analysis for the Iowa State Senate 2012 elections. For results in individual contests see our Iowa State Senate elections, 2012 page. The following is a breakdown of the state senate before and after the election:

Iowa State Senate
Party		As of November 5, 2012	After the 2012 Election'
	Democratic Party	26	26
	Republican Party	24	23
	Vacancy		1
Total		50	50

What You'll See on This Page

This page will display the following lists of candidates

• Incumbents running on November 6
• Defeated incumbents
• Challengers who defeated an incumbent
• Newly elected senators
• List of all winners
• Unopposed candidates
• Third party candidates

State Senate Overview:

• A total of 26 of the state's Senate seats were up for election in 2012.

Incumbents

Incumbents running in November 6

The following is a list of all of the incumbents running on the November 6 general election ballot:

1. Brad Zaun
2. Brian Schoenjahn
3. Dick Dearden
4. Jeff Danielson
5. Jerry Behn
6. Joni Ernst
7. Liz Mathis
8. Mary Jo Wilhelm
9. Merlin Bartz
10. Michael Gronstal
11. Pam Jochum
12. Randy Feenstra
13. Ryan Flood
14. Shawn Hamerlinck
15. Steven Sodders
16. Thomas Courtney
17. Tim Kapucian

Incumbents defeated

The followings is a list of incumbents defeated in 2012:

General election

Candidate	Party	District
Merlin Bartz	Republican	Iowa State Senate District 6
Ryan Flood	Republican	Iowa State Senate District 34
Shawn Hamerlinck	Republican	Iowa State Senate District 42

Primary election

Candidate	Party	District
James Hahn	Republican	Iowa State Senate District 40

Challengers who beat an incumbent

The following is a list of challengers who defeated an incumbent in 2012:

General election

Candidate	Party	District
Chris Brase	Democratic	Iowa State Senate District 46
Janet Petersen	Democratic	Iowa State Senate District 18

Primary election

Results will display after the election on November 6.

New State Senators and General Election Winners

Newly elected senators

The following list will display the newly-elected members of the Iowa State Senate:

Democratic

1. Chris Brase
2. Janet Petersen
3. Rich Taylor
4. Rita Hart

Republican

1. Amy Sinclair
2. Dan Zumbach
3. Dennis Guth
4. Jake Chapman
5. Ken Rozenboom
6. Mark Segebart
7. Michael Breitbach

Open Seat Winners

The following will display a list of candidates who won election in seats where no incumbent was running:

Democratic

1. Rich Taylor
2. Rita Hart

Republican

1. Amy Sinclair
2. Dan Zumbach
3. Dennis Guth
4. Jake Chapman
5. Ken Rozenboom
6. Mark Segebart
7. Michael Breitbach

Candidates who won election

The following will be a list of all candidates elected to the Iowa State Senate:

Democratic

1. Brian Schoenjahn
2. Chris Brase
3. Dick Dearden
4. Janet Petersen
5. Jeff Danielson
6. Liz Mathis
7. Mary Jo Wilhelm
8. Michael Gronstal
9. Pam Jochum
10. Rich Taylor
11. Rita Hart
12. Steven Sodders
13. Thomas Courtney

Republican

1. Amy Sinclair
2. Brad Zaun
3. Dan Zumbach
4. Dennis Guth
5. Jake Chapman
6. Jerry Behn
7. Joni Ernst
8. Ken Rozenboom
9. Mark Segebart
10. Michael Breitbach
11. Randy Feenstra
12. Tim Kapucian

Competitiveness

Unopposed candidates in general election

The following candidates will not face major party competition:

Democratic

No candidates have been added to this category yet.

Republican

1. Brad Zaun
2. Jake Chapman
3. Joni Ernst
4. Ken Rozenboom
5. Randy Feenstra

Ballot Access

Third party candidates

The following is a list of third party and independent candidates who are running in 2012:

1. Michael Garmoe

2012 Legislative Election Results
State-by-State Analysis
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Other 2012 Election information
State legislative elections • State legislative election results • Statewide elections, 2012 • State Senate elections • State House elections

Iowa State House Election Results

This page contains macro-level election results and analysis for the Iowa House of Representatives elections in 2012. For results in individual contests, see our Iowa House of Representatives elections, 2012. The following is a breakdown of the state house before and after the election:

Iowa House of Representatives
Party		As of November 5, 2012	After the 2012 Election
	Democratic Party	40	47
	Republican Party	59	53
	Vacancy	1	0
Total		100	100

What You'll See on This Page

This page will display the following lists of candidates

• Incumbents running on November 6
• Defeated incumbents
• Challengers who defeated an incumbent
• Newly elected representatives
• List of all winners
• Unopposed candidates
• Third party candidates

State House Overview

• All 100 of the state's House seats were up for election in 2012.

Incumbency Analysis

Incumbents who ran on November 6

The following is a list of all of the incumbents who are running on the November 6 general election ballot:

1. Ako Abdul-Samad
2. Anesa Kajtazovic
3. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell
4. Bob Hager
5. Bob Kressig
6. Brian Moore, Iowa politician
7. Brian Quirk
8. Bruce Hunter
9. Cecil Dolecheck
10. Charles Isenhart
11. Chip Baltimore
12. Chris Hagenow
13. Chris Hall
14. Chuck Soderberg
15. Cindy Winckler
16. Clel Baudler
17. Curt Hanson
18. Dan Kelley
19. Dan Muhlbauer
20. Daniel Huseman
21. Dave Deyoe
22. David Heaton
23. David Jacoby
24. Dawn Pettengill
25. Deborah Berry
26. Dennis Cohoon
27. Dwayne Alons
28. Gary Worthan
29. Greg Forristall
30. Guy Vander Linden
31. Helen Miller
32. Henry Rayhons
33. Jack Drake
34. Jarad Klein
35. Jason Schultz
36. Jeff Smith (Iowa Politician)
37. Jeremy Taylor
38. Jerry Kearns
39. Jim Lykam
40. Jo Oldson
41. Joel Fry
42. John Wittneben
43. Josh Byrnes
44. Julian B. Garrett
45. Kevin Koester
46. Kevin McCarthy (Iowa)
47. Kirsten Running-Marquardt
48. Kraig Paulsen
49. Lee Hein
50. Linda Miller
51. Linda Upmeyer
52. Lisa Heddens
53. Mark A. Brandenburg
54. Mark S. Lofgren
55. Mark Smith (Iowa)
56. Mary Ann Hanusa
57. Mary Gaskill
58. Mary Mascher
59. Mary Wolfe
60. Matt Windschitl
61. Nick Wagner
62. Pat Grassley
63. Patrick Murphy (Iowa)
64. Peter Cownie
65. Phyllis Thede
66. Ralph Watts
67. Renee Schulte
68. Rick Olson
69. Roger Thomas
70. Ron Jorgensen
71. Ross C. Paustian
72. Ruth Ann Gaines
73. Sharon Steckman
74. Steven Olson
75. Thomas Sands
76. Todd Taylor
77. Tom W. Shaw
78. Tyler Olson
79. Vicki Lensing
80. Walt Rogers

Incumbents defeated

The followings will display a a list of incumbents defeated in 2012:

General election

Candidate	Party	District
Bob Hager	Republican	Iowa House of Representatives District 16
Jeremy Taylor	Republican	Iowa House of Representatives District 1
John Wittneben	Democratic	Iowa House of Representatives District 7
Nick Wagner	Republican	Iowa House of Representatives District 36
Renee Schulte	Republican	Iowa House of Representatives District 37
Ross C. Paustian	Republican	Iowa House of Representatives District 84

Primary election

Candidate	Party	District
Annette Sweeney	Republican	Iowa House of Representatives District 44
Erik Helland	Republican	Iowa House of Representatives District 69

Challengers who beat an incumbent

The following will display a list of challengers who defeated an incumbent in 2012:

General election

Candidate	Party	District
Art Staed	Democratic	Iowa House of Representatives District 66
Daniel Lundby	Democratic	Iowa House of Representatives District 68
Dean Fisher	Republican	Iowa House of Representatives District 72
Frank Wood	Democratic	Iowa House of Representatives District 92
John Landon	Republican	Iowa House of Representatives District 37
Larry Sheets	Republican	Iowa House of Representatives District 80
Patti Ruff	Democratic	Iowa House of Representatives District 56
Rob Taylor	Republican	Iowa House of Representatives District 44
Robert Bacon, Iowa	Republican	Iowa House of Representatives District 48
Sandy Salmon	Republican	Iowa House of Representatives District 63
Tedd Gassman	Republican	Iowa House of Representatives District 7

Primary election

No candidates have been added to this category yet.

New Representatives and General Election Winners

Newly elected representatives

The following will list the newly-elected members of the Iowa House of Representatives:

Democratic

1. Art Staed
2. Bruce Bearinger
3. Daniel Lundby
4. David Dawson
5. Frank Wood
6. Joe Riding
7. John Forbes
8. Marti Anderson
9. Nancy Dunkel
10. Patti Ruff
11. Sally Stutsman
12. Scott Ourth

Republican

1. Bobby Kaufmann
2. David Maxwell
3. Dean Fisher
4. Greg Heartsill
5. Jake Highfill
6. John Landon
7. Larry Sheets
8. Mark Costello (Iowa)
9. Megan Hess
10. Quentin Stanerson
11. Rob Taylor
12. Robert Bacon, Iowa
13. Sandy Salmon
14. Tedd Gassman

Open Seat Winners

The following will list candidates who won election in seats where no incumbent was running:

Democratic

1. Bruce Bearinger
2. David Dawson
3. Joe Riding
4. John Forbes
5. Marti Anderson
6. Nancy Dunkel
7. Sally Stutsman
8. Scott Ourth

Republican

1. Bobby Kaufmann
2. David Maxwell
3. Greg Heartsill
4. Jake Highfill
5. Mark Costello (Iowa)
6. Megan Hess
7. Quentin Stanerson

Candidates who won election

The following will list all candidates elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in 2012:

Democratic

1. Ako Abdul-Samad
2. Anesa Kajtazovic
3. Art Staed
4. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell
5. Bob Kressig
6. Brian Quirk
7. Bruce Bearinger
8. Bruce Hunter
9. Charles Isenhart
10. Chris Hall
11. Cindy Winckler
12. Curt Hanson
13. Dan Kelley
14. Dan Muhlbauer
15. Daniel Lundby
16. David Dawson
17. David Jacoby
18. Deborah Berry
19. Dennis Cohoon
20. Frank Wood
21. Helen Miller
22. Jerry Kearns
23. Jim Lykam
24. Jo Oldson
25. Joe Riding
26. John Forbes
27. Kevin McCarthy (Iowa)
28. Kirsten Running-Marquardt
29. Lisa Heddens
30. Mark Smith (Iowa)
31. Marti Anderson
32. Mary Gaskill
33. Mary Mascher
34. Mary Wolfe
35. Nancy Dunkel
36. Patrick Murphy (Iowa)
37. Patti Ruff
38. Phyllis Thede
39. Rick Olson
40. Roger Thomas
41. Ruth Ann Gaines
42. Sally Stutsman
43. Scott Ourth
44. Sharon Steckman
45. Todd Taylor
46. Tyler Olson
47. Vicki Lensing

Republican

1. Bobby Kaufmann
2. Brian Moore, Iowa politician
3. Cecil Dolecheck
4. Chip Baltimore
5. Chris Hagenow
6. Chuck Soderberg
7. Clel Baudler
8. Daniel Huseman
9. Dave Deyoe
10. David Heaton
11. David Maxwell
12. Dawn Pettengill
13. Dean Fisher
14. Dwayne Alons
15. Gary Worthan
16. Greg Forristall
17. Greg Heartsill
18. Guy Vander Linden
19. Henry Rayhons
20. Jack Drake
21. Jake Highfill
22. Jarad Klein
23. Jason Schultz
24. Jeff Smith (Iowa Politician)
25. Joel Fry
26. John Landon
27. Josh Byrnes
28. Julian B. Garrett
29. Kevin Koester
30. Kraig Paulsen
31. Larry Sheets
32. Lee Hein
33. Linda Miller
34. Linda Upmeyer
35. Mark A. Brandenburg
36. Mark Costello (Iowa)
37. Mark S. Lofgren
38. Mary Ann Hanusa
39. Matt Windschitl
40. Megan Hess
41. Pat Grassley
42. Peter Cownie
43. Quentin Stanerson
44. Ralph Watts
45. Rob Taylor
46. Robert Bacon, Iowa
47. Ron Jorgensen
48. Sandy Salmon
49. Steven Olson
50. Tedd Gassman
51. Thomas Sands
52. Tom W. Shaw
53. Walt Rogers

Competitiveness

Unopposed candidates in general election

The following candidates will not face major party competition:

Democratic

1. Brian Quirk
2. Charles Isenhart
3. David Jacoby
4. Deborah Berry
5. Kirsten Running-Marquardt
6. Mary Mascher
7. Mary Wolfe
8. Nancy Dunkel
9. Rick Olson
10. Sharon Steckman
11. Todd Taylor
12. Tyler Olson
13. Vicki Lensing

Republican

1. Cecil Dolecheck
2. Chuck Soderberg
3. Daniel Huseman
4. David Heaton
5. Dwayne Alons
6. Gary Worthan
7. Greg Forristall
8. Henry Rayhons
9. Jarad Klein
10. Jeff Smith (Iowa Politician)
11. Joel Fry
12. John Landon
13. Lee Hein
14. Linda Upmeyer
15. Mark Costello (Iowa)
16. Matt Windschitl
17. Pat Grassley
18. Ron Jorgensen
19. Tom W. Shaw

Ballot Access

Third party candidates

The following is a list of third party and independent candidates running in 2012:

1. Carolyn Grimes
2. Craig Clark
3. Dan Cahill
4. N. John Boehm
5. Ruth Eileen Smith

2012 Legislative Election Results
State-by-State Analysis
Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Maine Massachusetts • Michigan• Minnesota • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming
Other 2012 Election information
State legislative elections • State legislative election results • Statewide elections, 2012 • State Senate elections • State House elections

National Partisan Trends

The following tables will detail the partisan breakdown of national election results.

Incumbents who were defeated in the general election

In the 44 states with elections, there were 4,534 incumbents who ran in the general election. The following is a breakdown of incumbent defeats in the 2012 general election:

Incumbents defeated in 2012 legislative general election
Party	Senate	House	Total
Democratic	21	49	70
Republican	37	182	219
Third Party	2	3	5
TOTALS	60	234	294

Total new legislators elected

In total, 1,707 (28.4%) new legislators were elected in 2012. Of these 1,707, 849 (50.0%) were Republicans and 854 (50.0%) were Democrats.

The following is the breakdown of new legislators.

New Legislators after the 2012 legislative elections
Party	Senate	House	Total
Democratic	165	684	849
Republican	202	652	854
Independent	0	4	4
TOTALS	367	1,340	1,707

Winners of Open Seats

Open seats contests made up 705 (11.7%) of the 6,015 seats in 2012. Of these 705 open seats, Republicans won 401 (56.9%) while Democrats won 304 (43.1%). Going into the election, the number of open seats formerly held by each party was quite similar. Estimates prior to the election suggested that approximately 52% of the open seats were previously held by Republicans and 48% were held by Democrats.

The following is the breakdown of open seat winners.

Open Seat Winners in 2012 legislative elections
Party	Senate	House	Total
Democratic	82	220	302
Republican	105	296	401
Third Party	0	0	0
TOTALS	187	516	703

Impact on legislative majorities

See also: Partisan balance of state legislatures

Partisan Balance of Chambers with 2012 Elections
	Pre-election				Post-election
Legislative chamber
State senates	17	24	1	1	18	24	0	1
State houses	15	27	1	0	19	24	0	0
Totals:	32	51	2	1	37	48	0	1

Partisan Balance of All 99 Chambers Before and After 2012 Elections
	Pre-election				Post-election
Legislative chamber
State senates	19	28	2	1	20	28	1	1
State houses	17	31	1	0	21	28	0	0
Totals:	35	60	3	1	41	56	1	1