Iowa State Senate seat · lines in effect since 2022
Iowa Senate District 36
A district of about 66,000 people, 36% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes D+4.7 relative to the nation for president.
2024 election
Nov 5, 2024- Tom Townsend (D) · won50.5%
- Nicholas Molo (R)49.4%
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 12:13 PM ET
Where it sits among all 50 seats
Every Iowa State Senate seat by partisan lean, from most Democratic to most Republican. Lean is the seat's presidential vote on current lines, relative to the nation.
Democratic
Source: 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET
Every election for this seat
15 races since 1970; the seat changed party 1 time. District numbers are redrawn after each census: each group is one set of lines.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Won by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lines first used in 2022 | |||
| 2024 | Tom Townsend (D) | Nicholas Molo (R) | 1.0 |
| Lines first used in 2012 | |||
| 2020 | Jeff Edler (R) | David Degner (D) | 21.1 |
| 2016 | Jeff Edler (R)Flip | Steve Sodders (D) | 5.8 |
| 2012 | Steve Sodders (D) | Jane A. Jech (R) | 8.1 |
| Lines first used in 2002 | |||
| 2008 | Paul McKinley (R) | Deb Ballalatak (D) | 26.6 |
| 2004 | Paul McKinley (R) | Dave Sextro (D) | 20.7 |
| Lines first used in 1992 | |||
| 2000 | Jack Holveck (D) | Ronald N. Langston (R) | 19.8 |
| 1996 | Elaine Szymoniak (D) | Ronald N. Langston (R) | 6.0 |
| 1992 | Elaine Szymoniak (D) | Kathryn R. Freilinger (R) | 19.5 |
| Lines first used in 1982 | |||
| 1988 | John Soorholtz (R) | Bert Permar (D) | 7.7 |
| 1984 | John Soorholtz (R) | Bert Permar (D) | 13.2 |
| Lines first used in 1972 | |||
| 1980 | Emil J. Husak (D) | Charles V. Dunham (R) | 3.6 |
| 1976 | Joan Orr (D) | Judith Dierenfeld (R) | 23.8 |
| 1972 | Joan Orr (D) | Charles F. Balloun (R) | 9.5 |
| Lines first used in 1962 | |||
| 1970 | W. R. Rabedeaux (R) | W. Minard Thomas (D) | 11.7 |
Won by: the winner's lead over the runner-up, in points of the vote. Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Districts that overlap District 36
The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 36's area in each.
- U.S. House
- IA-2 100%
Who lives here, compared
Grey bars show the spread of all 50 seats. Small marks are other seats in Iowa. The black marker is District 36.
Higher than 73% of seats.
Lower than 55% of seats.
Lower than 94% of seats.
Higher than 71% of seats.
Higher than 55% of seats.
Denser than 69% of seats.
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current linesUpdated Oct 13, 2026, 5:06 AM ET
Seats most like this one
Nearest seats on demographics, density and lean.
District 3739% college gradsD+12.1Held DDistrict 38
39% college gradsR+3.6Not up in 2026District 40
34% college gradsD+13.7Not up in 2026District 20
29% college gradsR+3.4Not up in 2026
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current lines; 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET