Iowa State Senate seat · lines in effect since 2022
Iowa Senate District 38
A district of about 50,000 people, 39% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes R+3.6 relative to the nation for president.
2024 election
Nov 5, 2024- Dave Sires (R) · won50.5%
- Eric Giddens (D)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
16 races since 1968. 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 | Dave Sires (R) | Eric Giddens (D) | 1.1 |
| Lines first used in 2012 | |||
| 2020 | Dawn Driscoll (R) | Ivy Schuster (D) | 28.0 |
| 2016 | Tim Kapucian (R) | Dennis Mathahs (D) | 26.0 |
| 2012 | Tim Kapucian (R) | Shelley Parbs (D) | 9.5 |
| Lines first used in 2002 | |||
| 2008 | Thomas J. Rielly (D) | Michael C. Hadley (R) | 13.7 |
| 2004 | Thomas J. Rielly (D) | Neal C. Schuerer (R) | 3.1 |
| Lines first used in 1992 | |||
| 2000 | O. Gene Maddox (R) | Michael J. Cataldo (D) | 29.5 |
| 1996 | O. Gene Maddox (R) | Frank Steinbach (D) | 29.6 |
| 1992 | O. Gene Maddox (R) | Marlene K. Kavan (D) | 19.1 |
| Lines first used in 1982 | |||
| 1988 | Emil J. Husak (D) | Burtwin L. Day (R) | 21.7 |
| 1984 | Emil J. Husak (D) | — | Unopposed |
| Lines first used in 1972 | |||
| 1980 | Richard F. Drake (R) | Tom Tucker (D) | 21.8 |
| 1976 | Richard F. Drake (R) | Jim Paulding (D) | 11.1 |
| 1972 | W. R. Rabedeaux (R) | Eleanor Anstey (D) | 19.9 |
| Lines first used in 1962 | |||
| 1970 | Edward E. Nicholson (R) | — | Unopposed |
| 1968 | Leslie C. Klink (R) | Adolph W. Elvers (D) | 4.7 |
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 38
The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 38's area in each.
Every race on these lines
Results recomputed from precinct returns as if today's boundaries had always existed, so years compare like for like.
| 2024 | |
|---|---|
| President | R+23.3 |
Outlined: the race for this seat itselfBlank: no race that year
Source: 99chambers results archive: precinct results allocated to current lines; 2026: civicAPIUpdated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
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 38.
Higher than 78% of seats.
Lower than 61% of seats.
Lower than 98% of seats.
Lower than 61% of seats.
Higher than 65% of seats.
Denser than 57% 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 4637% college gradsR+12.7Not up in 2026District 42
33% college gradsR+18.0Not up in 2026District 36
36% college gradsD+4.7Not up in 2026District 23
48% college gradsR+15.9Held R
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