1842 Iowa Council election

In the 1842 Iowa Territory Council elections, electors selected councilors to serve in the fifth Iowa Territory Council. All 13 members of the Territory Council were elected.[c] Councilors served one-year terms.

1842 Iowa Council election

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All 13 seats in the Iowa Territory Council
7 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Thomas Cox[a] John D. Elbert[b]
Party Democratic Whig
Leader's seat 10th-Jackson County 2nd-Van Buren County
Last election 8 5
Seats after 7 6
Seat change Decrease1 Increase1

     Democratic hold      Whig hold
     Democratic gain      Whig gain

President of the Iowa Territory Council before election

Jonathan W. Parker
Democratic

Elected President of the Iowa Territory Council

John D. Elbert[b]
Whig

The Iowa Territory existed from July 4, 1838, until December 28, 1846, when Iowa was admitted to the Union as a state. At the time, the Iowa Territory had a Legislative Assembly consisting of an upper chamber (i.e., the Territory Council) and a lower chamber (i.e., the Territory House).

Following the previous election in 1841, Democrats held a majority with eight seats to Whigs' five seats.

To claim a majority of seats, the Whigs needed to net two seats from Democrats.

Democrats maintained a majority of seats in the Iowa Territory Council following the 1842 general election with the balance of power shifting to Democrats holding seven seats and Whigs having six seats (a net gain of 1 seat for Whigs). Whig Councilor John D. Elbert was chosen as the President of the fifth Territory Council to succeed Democratic Councilor Jonathan W. Parker in that leadership position.[b]

Summary of Results edit

Iowa Territory Council District Incumbent Party Elected Councilor Party Outcome
1st[d] Jesse B. Browne Whig Robert M. G. Patterson Whig Whig Hold
Edward Johnstone Dem William Patterson Dem Dem Hold
2nd[e] Gideon Smith Bailey Dem John D. Elbert[b] Whig Whig Gain
James Hall Dem James H. Jenkins Dem Dem Hold
3rd[f] Shepherd Leffler Dem Shepherd Leffler Dem Dem Hold
4th[g] William Henson Wallace Whig William Henson Wallace Whig Whig Hold
5th[h] William Greyer Coop Dem Joseph B. Teas Dem Dem Hold
6th[i] Francis Springer Whig Francis Springer Whig Whig Hold
7th[j] Serranus Clinton Hastings Dem Pleasant Harris Dem Dem Hold
8th[k] George Greene Dem John Parsons Cook Whig Whig Gain
9th[l] Jonathan W. Parker Dem Robert Christie Whig Whig Gain
10th[m] Mortimer Phillips Bainbridge Whig Thomas Cox[a] Dem Dem Gain
Joseph S. Kirkpatrick Whig Francis Gehon Dem Dem Gain

Source:[4]

  1. ^ a b Councilor Cox of Jackson County.[1]
  2. ^ a b c d Councilor Elbert of Van Buren County was chosen to be the President of the fifth Iowa Territory Council.[2]
  3. ^ At the time, the Iowa Territory Council had several multi-member districts.[3]
  4. ^ The 1st was a 2-member district.
  5. ^ The 2nd was a 2-member district.
  6. ^ The 3rd was a 1-member district.
  7. ^ The 4th was a 1-member district.
  8. ^ The 5th was a 1-member district.
  9. ^ The 6th was a 1-member district.
  10. ^ The 7th was a 1-member district.
  11. ^ The 8th was a 1-member district.
  12. ^ The 9th was a 1-member district.
  13. ^ The 10th was a 2-member district.

Detailed Results edit

  • NOTE: The Iowa General Assembly does not contain detailed vote totals for Territory Council elections in 1842.

See also edit

External links edit

District boundaries for the Iowa Territory Council in 1842:

References edit

  1. ^ "Councilor Thomas Cox". Iowa Legislature. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  2. ^ "Councilor John D. Elbert". Iowa Legislature. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  3. ^ "Legislative Assembly: 4 (12/06/1841 - 12/04/1842)". Iowa Legislature. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  4. ^ "Legislators". Iowa State Senate. Retrieved July 15, 2021.