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Iowa, State Senate, District 47

Iowa State Senate District 47
Current incumbentRoby Smith Republican Party

Iowa's forty-seventh state senate district is represented by Republican Senator Roby Smith.

Iowa state senators represent an average of 60,927 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 58,586 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the Iowa State Senate serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Half of the senate is up for re-election every two years. Iowa legislators assume office the first day of January after their election.

Qualifications

The Iowa Constitution states, "Senators shall be chosen for the term of four years, at the same time and place as representatives; they shall be twenty-five years of age, and possess the qualifications of representatives as to residence and citizenship."

Salaries

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$25,000/year$168/day

Vacancies

If a vacancy occurs in the Senate, the governor must call for a special election within five days of the vacancy. If the vacancy happens while the Senate is in session, the governor can call the election to be held as soon as possible. However, a minimum 18-day notice is required. All other special elections require a 45-day notice as long as there are no school elections scheduled on the same day.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Iowa State Senate will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for June 2, 2020. The filing deadline is March 13, 2020.

2018

General election
General election for Iowa State Senate District 47

Incumbent Roby Smith (R) defeated Marie Gleason (D) in the general election for Iowa State Senate District 47 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Roby Smith (R)
52.8
16,125

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Marie Gleason (D)
47.2
14,418
Other/Write-in votes
0.1
17

Total votes: 30,560
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Iowa State Senate District 47

Marie Gleason advanced from the Democratic primary for Iowa State Senate District 47 on June 5, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Marie Gleason (D)
100
3,150

Total votes: 3,150
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Iowa State Senate District 47

Incumbent Roby Smith advanced from the Republican primary for Iowa State Senate District 47 on June 5, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Roby Smith (R)
100
1,741

Total votes: 1,741

2014

Elections for the Iowa State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 14, 2014. Maria Bribriesco was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while incumbent Roby Smith was unopposed in the Republican primary. Bribriesco faced Smith in the general election. Incumbent Smith defeated challenger Bribiesco in the general election.

Iowa State Senate, District 47 General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngRoby Smith Incumbent 56.4% 14,988
Democratic Maria Bribriesco 43.6% 11,580
Write-in Write-in 0.1% 19
Total Votes 26,587

2010

Elections for the office of Iowa State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 8, 2010, and a general election on November 2, 2010. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 19, 2010. Mark Chelgren (R) defeated incumbent Keith Kreiman (D) in the general election. Neither candidate faced opposition in their primary.

Iowa State Senate, District 47, General Election, 2010

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngMark Chelgren 50% 9,582
Democratic Keith Kreiman Incumbent 50% 9,572
Total Votes 19,154

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2014, candidates for Iowa State Senate District 47 raised a total of $567,234. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $40,517 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Iowa State Senate District 47

Year Amount Candidates Average
2014 $251,442 2 $125,721
2012 * $6,375 1 $6,375
2010 $63,579 2 $31,790
2008 $13,114 1 $13,114
2006 $146,281 3 $48,760
2004 $5,308 1 $5,308
2002 $68,247 3 $22,749
2000 $12,888 1 $12,888
Total $567,234 14 $40,517
* Campaign finance data for 2012 is incomplete for this district.