1843 Iowa Council election

In the 1843 Iowa Territory Council elections, electors selected councilors to serve in the sixth 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 1842, 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 Democrats.

Democrats maintained a majority of seats in the Iowa Territory Council following the 1843 general election with the balance of power remaining unchanged with Democrats holding seven seats and Whigs having six seats. Democratic Councilor Thomas Cox was chosen as the President of the sixth Territory Council to succeed Whig Councilor John D. Elbert in that leadership position.

However, during the session, Democratic Councilor Thomas Cox died on November 9, 1844, causing a vacancy. Following Cox's death, Democrats and Whigs were tied with six seats each.

Summary of Results Iowa Territory Council DistrictIncumbent PartyElected Councilor PartyOutcome1st Robert M. G. Patterson Whig Robert M. G. Patterson Whig Whig Hold William Patterson Dem William Patterson Dem Dem Hold2nd John D. Elbert Whig John D. Elbert Whig Whig Hold James H. Jenkins 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 Joseph B. Teas Dem Joseph B. Teas Dem Dem Hold 6th Francis Springer Whig Francis Springer Whig Whig Hold 7th Pleasant Harris Dem Pleasant Harris Dem Dem Hold 8th John Parsons Cook Whig John Parsons Cook Whig Whig Hold 9th Robert Christie Whig Robert Christie Whig Whig Hold10thThomas CoxDem Thomas Cox Dem Dem HoldVacancy after Cox's death Francis Gehon Dem Francis Gehon Dem Dem Hold

Source:

Detailed Results NOTE: The Iowa General Assembly does not contain detailed vote totals for Territory Council elections in 1843.

1843 Iowa Council election

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