In the 1839 Iowa Territory Council elections, electors selected councilors to serve in the second Iowa Territory Council. All 13 members of the Territory Council were elected. 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).

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

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. 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.

Summary of Results Iowa Territory Council DistrictIncumbent PartyElected Councilor PartyOutcome1st George Hepner Dem George Hepner Dem Dem Hold Arthur Inghram Dem Arthur Inghram Dem Dem Hold Robert Ralston Dem Robert Ralston Dem Dem Hold 2nd Jesse B. Browne Whig Jesse B. Browne Whig Whig Hold3rd Lawson B. Hughes Whig Lawson B. Hughes Whig Whig Hold Jesse D. Payne Whig Jesse D. Payne Whig Whig Hold4th E. A. M. Swazy Dem E. A. M. Swazy Dem Dem Hold Isham Keith Whig Isham Keith Whig Whig Hold 5th James M. Clark Whig James M. Clark Whig Whig Hold 6th Charles Whittlesey Whig Charles Whittlesey Whig Whig Hold 7th Jonathan W. Parker Dem Jonathan W. Parker Dem Dem Hold8th Stephen Hempstead Dem Stephen Hempstead Dem Dem Hold Warner Lewis Dem Warner Lewis Dem Dem Hold

Source:

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

See also Elections in Iowa

External links District boundaries for the Iowa Territory Council in 1839: Iowa Territory Council Districts 1838-1840 map

References