The 1982 Iowa State Senate elections took place as part of the 1982 United States elections. Iowa voters elected state senators in 29 of the state senate's 50 districtsâÂÂall 25 of the odd-numbered seats were up for regularly scheduled elections to four-year terms and, due to the oddities of redistricting following the 1980 Census, four of the even-numbered seats were up as well. State senators serve four-year terms in the Iowa State Senate, with half of the seats traditionally up for election each cycle.
The Iowa General Assembly provides statewide maps of each district. To compare the effect of the 1981 redistricting process on the location of each district, contrast the previous map with the map used for 1982 elections.
The primary election on June 8, 1982, determined which candidates appeared on the November 2, 1982 general election ballot. Primary election results can be obtained here. General election results can be obtained here.
Following the previous election in 1980, Republicans had control of the Iowa state Senate with 29 seats to Democrats' 21 seats.
To take control of the chamber from Republicans, the Democrats needed to net 5 Senate seats.
Democrats flipped control of the Iowa State Senate following the 1982 general election, with Democrats holding 28 seats and Republicans having 22 seats after the election (a net gain of 7 seats for the Democrats).
In 1982, after winning his election in the forty-third senatorial district, Thomas Mann became the first Black person elected to the Iowa Senate.
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