In the 1854 Iowa State Senate elections,
Iowa voters elected state senators to serve in the fifth
Iowa General Assembly. Elections were held for 19 of the state senate's 31 seats.[c] State senators serve four-year terms in the
Iowa State Senate.
To claim control of the chamber from
Democrats, the
Whigs needed to net 5 Senate seats.
Democrats maintained control of the
Iowa State Senate following the 1854 general election with the balance of power shifting to
Democrats holding 17 seats and
Whigs having 14 seats (a net gain of 3 seats for Whigs). Democratic Senator Maturin L. Fisher was chosen as the President of the Iowa Senate for the fifth General Assembly, succeeding Democratic Senator William E. Leffingwell in that leadership position.[b][a]
Summary of Results
Note: The holdover Senators not up for re-election are not listed on this table.
^
abSenator William E. Leffingwell of
Clinton County was chosen to be the fifth President of the
Iowa Senate. He served during the fourth Iowa General Assembly, succeeding Senator
Enos Lowe in that leadership position.[1]
^
abSenator Maturin L. Fisher of
Clayton County was chosen to be the sixth President of the
Iowa Senate. He served during the fifth Iowa General Assembly, succeeding Senator William E. Leffingwell in that leadership position.[2]
^The first district was a 3-member district at the time.
^Senator
Love was a holdover senator not up for re-election. However, on July 1, 1856, during the next term, he resigned, causing a vacancy in this seat that was filled by special election.[5]
^The second district was a 2-member district at the time. However, only one of the seats in the district was contested in the election. The other was held by a holdover senator not up for re-election.
^The third district was a 2-member district at the time. However, only one of the seats in the district was contested in the election. The other was held by a holdover senator not up for re-election.
^The fifth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The sixth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The seventh district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The ninth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The tenth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The twelfth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The thirteenth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The sixteenth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The seventeenth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The eighteenth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The nineteenth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The twentieth district was a 1-member district at the time.
^Senator Bryan was originally deemed to be elected to the seat.[6] However, on January 7, 1855, during the next term, he was removed by a vote of the members of the
Iowa Senate and replaced by Senator Jordan of the
Whig Party.[7]
^Senator Bryan was originally deemed to be elected to the seat.[8] However, on January 7, 1855, during the next term, he was removed by a vote of the members of the
Iowa Senate and replaced by Senator Jordan of the
Whig Party.[9]
^The twenty-second district was a 1-member district at the time.
^The twenty-fourth district was a 3-member district at the time. Senator Fisher was a holdoverincumbentnot up for re-election. Senator Shields was a holdoverincumbentnot up for re-election; however, on June 25, 1856, during the next term, Shields died, causing a vacancy in his seat. Senator Lewis was up for re-election and was succeeded by Senator Hamilton.
^Senator Shields was a holdoverincumbentnot up for re-election; however, on June 25, 1856, during the next term, Shields died, causing a vacancy in his seat.[10]