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In the 1901 Iowa State Senate electionsIowa voters elected state senators in 21 of the state senate's 50 districts. State senators traditionally serve four-year terms in the Iowa State Senate. However, under the Biennial Elections law enacted in 1904 by the Iowa General Assembly, the senators elected in 1901 served an additional fifth year (until the 1906 elections) to accommodate the transition to holding elections on even-numbered years.
A statewide map of the 50 state Senate districts in the 1901 elections is provided by the Iowa General Assembly.
The 1901 elections occurred before primary elections were established in Iowa by the Primary Election Law in 1907. The general election took place on November 5, 1901.
Following the previous election, Republicans had control of the Iowa Senate with 35 seats to Democrats' 15 seats.
To claim control of the chamber from Republicans, the Democrats needed to net 11 Senate seats.
Republicans maintained control of the Iowa State Senate following the 1901 general election with the balance of power shifting to Republicans holding 39 seats and Democrats having 11 seats (a net gain of 4 seats for Republicans). However, during the twenty-ninth session of the Iowa General Assembly, the senators decided in March 1902 to decertify Democrat Joseph Martin Emmert of district eighteen and replace Emmert with Republican James E. Bruce, thus flipping the seat from Democratic to Republican control. Therefore, Republicans held an advantage of 40 seats to Democrats' 10 seats in 1902 following the installation of Mr. Bruce.
Summary of Results
Note: The 29 holdover Senators not up for re-election are not listed on this table.
J. M. Emmert received certificate of election. James E. Bruce contested the election of Mr. Emmert and the Senate, on March 14, 1902, decided the contest in favor of Mr. Bruce. Therefore, Mr. Emmert was unseated and Mr. Bruce was installed.
The twenty-ninth Iowa General Assembly enacted the Joint Resolution No. 5: Biennial Elections law in 1904 moving general elections to even-numbered years. Prior to this amendment to the Iowa constitution, elections to the state senate were held in odd-numbered years. The law stipulates: "Add as section 16, to article 12 of the constitution (of the state of Iowa), the following: The first general election after the adoption of this amendment shall be held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November in the year one thousand nine hundred and six, and general elections shall be held biennially thereafter...members of the general assembly whose successors would otherwise be chosen at the general election in the year one thousand nine hundred and five, are hereby extended one year and until their successors are elected and qualified. The terms of office of senators whose successors would otherwise be chosen in the year one thousand nine hundred and seven are hereby extended one year and until their successors are elected and qualified..."
Democrat J. M. Emmert was originally declared the winner of the 1901 general election in the eighteenth senatorial district. Emmert received certificate of election and served until March 1902. However, Republican James E. Bruce contested the election of Mr. Emmert and the Senate, on March 14, 1902, decided the contest in favor of Mr. Bruce. The senators thereby removed Mr. Emmert and replaced him with Mr. Bruce, flipping the seat from Democratic to Republican control.
^ Originally, incumbent Democrat Joseph Martin Emmert was declared the victor of the general election in the 18th senatorial district. Emmert would continue to serve in the Iowa Senate until March 13, 1902. However, Republican James E. Bruce contested the election results. The state senators decided in Bruce's favor, removed Emmert, and installed Bruce in the seat, thereby flipping the seat from Democratic to Republican control.
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