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. 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).

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.

Summary of Results Iowa Territory Council DistrictIncumbent PartyElected Councilor PartyOutcome1st Jesse B. Browne Whig Robert M. G. Patterson Whig Whig Hold Edward Johnstone Dem William Patterson Dem Dem Hold2nd Gideon Smith Bailey Dem John D. ElbertWhigWhig Gain James Hall Dem James H. Jenkins Dem Dem Hold 3rd Shepherd Leffler Dem Shepherd Leffler Dem Dem Hold 4th William Henson Wallace Whig William Henson Wallace Whig Whig Hold 5th William Greyer Coop Dem Joseph B. Teas Dem Dem Hold 6th Francis Springer Whig Francis Springer Whig Whig Hold 7th Serranus Clinton Hastings Dem Pleasant Harris Dem Dem Hold 8th George Greene Dem John Parsons CookWhigWhig Gain 9th Jonathan W. Parker Dem Robert ChristieWhigWhig Gain10th Mortimer Phillips Bainbridge Whig Thomas Cox DemDem Gain Joseph S. Kirkpatrick Whig Francis Gehon DemDem Gain

Source:

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

1842 Iowa Council election

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