In the 1839 Iowa Territory Council elections, electors selected councilors to serve in the second Iowa Territory Council.[2] All 13 members of the Territory Council were elected.[b] Councilors served one-year terms.

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 of Representatives).[4]

Following the organization of the first Territory Council in 1838, Democrats held a majority with seven seats to Whigs' six seats.[5]

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

The Democrats maintained a majority of seats in the Council following the 1839 general election with the balance of power remaining unchanged with the Democrats holding seven seats and the Whigs having six seats.[3] Democratic Councilor Stephen P. Hempstead was chosen as the President of the second Territory Council to succeed Whig Councilor Jesse B. Browne in that leadership position.[a]

Summary of Results

Iowa Territory Council District Incumbent Party Elected Councilor Party Outcome
1st[c] George Hepner Dem George Hepner[d] Dem Dem Hold
Arthur Inghram Dem Arthur Inghram[e] Dem Dem Hold
Robert Ralston Dem Robert Ralston[f] Dem Dem Hold
2nd[g] Jesse B. Browne Whig Jesse B. Browne[h] Whig Whig Hold
3rd[i] Lawson B. Hughes Whig Lawson B. Hughes[j] Whig Whig Hold
Jesse D. Payne Whig Jesse D. Payne[k] Whig Whig Hold
4th[l] E. A. M. Swazy Dem E. A. M. Swazy[m] Dem Dem Hold
Isham Keith Whig Isham Keith[n] Whig Whig Hold
5th[o] James M. Clark Whig James M. Clark[p] Whig Whig Hold
6th[q] Charles Whittlesey Whig Charles Whittlesey[r] Whig Whig Hold
7th[s] Jonathan W. Parker Dem Jonathan W. Parker[t] Dem Dem Hold
8th[u] Stephen Hempstead[a] Dem Stephen Hempstead[a] Dem Dem Hold
Warner Lewis Dem Warner Lewis[v] Dem Dem Hold

Source:[18]

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Councilor Hempstead of Dubuque County was chosen to be the President of the second Iowa Territory Council.[1]
  2. ↑ At the time, the Council had several multi-member districts.[3]
  3. ↑ The 1st was a 3-member district.
  4. ↑ Councilor Hepner resided in Des Moines County during the second Iowa Territory Council.[6]
  5. ↑ Councilor Inghram resided in Des Moines County during the second Iowa Territory Council.[7]
  6. ↑ Councilor Ralston resided in Des Moines County during the second Iowa Territory Council.[8]
  7. ↑ The 2nd was a 1-member district.
  8. ↑ Councilor Browne resided in Lee County during the second Iowa Territory Council.[9]
  9. ↑ The 3rd was a 2-member district.
  10. ↑ Councilor Hughes resided in Henry County during the second Iowa Territory Council.[10]
  11. ↑ Councilor Payne resided in Henry County during the second Iowa Territory Council.[11]
  12. ↑ The 4th was a 2-member district.
  13. ↑ Councilor Swazy resided in Van Buren County during the second Iowa Territory Council.[12]
  14. ↑ Councilor Keith resided in Van Buren County during the second Iowa Territory Council.[13]
  15. ↑ The 5th was a 1-member district.
  16. ↑ Councilor Clark resided in Louisa County during the second Iowa Territory Council.[14]
  17. ↑ The 6th was a 1-member district.
  18. ↑ Councilor Whittlesey resided in Cedar County during the second Iowa Territory Council.[15]
  19. ↑ The 7th was a 1-member district.
  20. ↑ Councilor Parker resided in Scott County during the second Iowa Territory Council.[16]
  21. ↑ The 8th was a 2-member district.
  22. ↑ Councilor Lewis resided in Dubuque County during the second Iowa Territory Council.[17]

Detailed Results

  • NOTE: The Iowa General Assembly does not contain detailed vote totals for Territory Council elections in 1839.

See also

District boundaries for the Iowa Territory Council in 1839:

References

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1839_Iowa_Council_election