Iowa State House District 85
Tue, Nov 3 · Represented by Amy Nielsen Democratic · Member list as of Oct 28
Amy NielsenDemocratic · Incumbent4 years since first win
One candidate on the printed ballot.
- Last election
- Amy Nielsen (Democratic) was unopposed, 2024
- On the 2026 ballot
- 1 candidate
More about this race
Candidates on the ballot
Uncontested
One candidate on the printed ballot.
- Amy NielsenIncumbentDemocratic
Source: sos.iowa.gov (PDF), dated Aug 19
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History (28 elections for this seat)
- Votes for listed candidates
- 14,120
- Election day
- November 5, 2024
- District map
- Older district map (2022 to 2024)
Iowa House of Representatives District 85, 1970 to 2024, 2024, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticAmy NielsenWon Democratic 13,79497.7% Scattered write-ins Write-in 3262.3% - Votes for listed candidates
- 14,385
- Election day
- November 8, 2022
- District map
- Older district map (2022)
Iowa House of Representatives District 85, 1970 to 2024, 2022, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticAmy NielsenWon(incumbent) Democratic 9,15463.6% RepublicanWayne Grell Republican 4,74233.0% LibertarianJacob Wenck Libertarian 4843.4% Scattered write-ins Write-in 50.0% - Votes for listed candidates
- 15,302
- Election day
- November 3, 2020
- District map
- Older district map (2012 to 2021)
Iowa House of Representatives District 85, 1970 to 2024, 2020, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticChristina BohannanWon Democratic 15,10798.7% Scattered write-ins Write-in 1951.3% - Votes for listed candidates
- 14,183
- Election day
- November 6, 2018
- District map
- Older district map (2012 to 2021)
Iowa House of Representatives District 85, 1970 to 2024, 2018, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticVicki LensingWon(incumbent) Democratic 14,183100.0% - Votes for listed candidates
- 15,422
- Election day
- November 8, 2016
- District map
- Older district map (2012 to 2021)
Iowa House of Representatives District 85, 1970 to 2024, 2016, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticVicki LensingWon(incumbent) Democratic 15,21398.6% Scattered write-ins Write-in 2091.4% - Votes for listed candidates
- 9,915
- Election day
- November 4, 2014
- District map
- Older district map (2012 to 2021)
Iowa House of Representatives District 85, 1970 to 2024, 2014, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticVicki LensingWon(incumbent) Democratic 9,78098.6% Scattered write-ins Write-in 1351.4% - Votes for listed candidates
- 14,475
- Election day
- November 6, 2012
- District map
- Older district map (2012 to 2021)
Iowa House of Representatives District 85, 1970 to 2024, 2012, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticVicki LensingWon(incumbent) Democratic 14,24198.4% Scattered write-ins Write-in 2341.6% - Votes for listed candidates
- 7,002
- Election day
- November 2, 2010
- District map
- Older district map (2002 to 2011)
Iowa House of Representatives District 85, 1970 to 2024, 2010, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticJim LykamWon(incumbent) Democratic 6,82697.5% Scattered write-ins Write-in 1762.5% - Votes for listed candidates
- 15,222
- Election day
- November 4, 2008
- District map
- Older district map (2002 to 2011)
Iowa House of Representatives District 85, 1970 to 2024, 2008, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticJim LykamWon(incumbent) Democratic 9,89265.0% RepublicanLinda Greenlee Republican 5,33035.0% - Votes for listed candidates
- 10,138
- Election day
- November 7, 2006
- District map
- Older district map (2002 to 2011)
Iowa House of Representatives District 85, 1970 to 2024, 2006, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticJim LykamWon(incumbent) Democratic 5,62355.5% RepublicanRoby Smith Republican 4,51544.5% - Votes for listed candidates
- 14,825
- Election day
- November 2, 2004
- District map
- Older district map (2002 to 2011)
Iowa House of Representatives District 85, 1970 to 2024, 2004, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticJim LykamWon(incumbent) Democratic 8,67358.5% RepublicanDot Richards Republican 6,15241.5% - Votes for listed candidates
- 9,544
- Election day
- November 5, 2002
- District map
- Older district map (2002 to 2011)
Iowa House of Representatives District 85, 1970 to 2024, 2002, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticJim LykamWon Democratic 5,56658.3% RepublicanNancy Glawe Republican 3,97841.7% - Votes for listed candidates
- 12,072
- Election day
- November 7, 2000
- District map
- Older district map (1992 to 2001)
Iowa House of Representatives District 85, 1970 to 2024, 2000, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanHubert HouserWon(incumbent) Republican 7,88565.3% DemocraticChuck Larson Democratic 4,18734.7% - Votes for listed candidates
- 6,762
- Election day
- November 3, 1998
- District map
- Older district map (1992 to 2001)
Iowa House of Representatives District 85, 1970 to 2024, 1998, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanHubert HouserWon(incumbent) Republican 6,762100.0% - Votes for listed candidates
- 10,040
- Election day
- November 5, 1996
- District map
- Older district map (1992 to 2001)
Iowa House of Representatives District 85, 1970 to 2024, 1996, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanHubert HouserWon(incumbent) Republican 8,49584.6% OtherDale V. Dresher Other 1,54515.4% - Votes for listed candidates
- 7,004
- Election day
- November 8, 1994
- District map
- Older district map (1992 to 2001)
Iowa House of Representatives District 85, 1970 to 2024, 1994, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanHubert HouserWon(incumbent) Republican 7,004100.0% - Votes for listed candidates
- 7,880
- Election day
- November 3, 1992
- District map
- Older district map (1992 to 2001)
Iowa House of Representatives District 85, 1970 to 2024, 1992, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanHubert HouserWon Republican 7,880100.0% - Votes for listed candidates
- 7,841
- Election day
- November 6, 1990
- District map
- Older district map (1982 to 1991)
Iowa House of Representatives District 85, 1970 to 2024, 1990, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticTom BakerWon Democratic 5,24866.9% RepublicanVirgil Waters Republican 2,59333.1% - Votes for listed candidates
- 10,547
- Election day
- November 8, 1988
- District map
- Older district map (1982 to 1991)
Iowa House of Representatives District 85, 1970 to 2024, 1988, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticFlorence BuhrWon(incumbent) Democratic 7,52471.3% RepublicanVirgil Waters Republican 3,01928.6% Scattered write-ins Write-in 40.0% - Votes for listed candidates
- 7,130
- Election day
- November 4, 1986
- District map
- Older district map (1982 to 1991)
Iowa House of Representatives District 85, 1970 to 2024, 1986, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticFlorence BuhrWon(incumbent) Democratic 4,73966.5% RepublicanJames M. Clausen Republican 2,38333.4% Scattered write-ins Write-in 80.1% - Votes for listed candidates
- 11,596
- Election day
- November 6, 1984
- District map
- Older district map (1982 to 1991)
Iowa House of Representatives District 85, 1970 to 2024, 1984, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticFlorence BuhrWon(incumbent) Democratic 7,53465.0% RepublicanGeorge L. Falk Republican 4,06235.0% - Votes for listed candidates
- 9,649
- Election day
- November 2, 1982
- District map
- Older district map (1982 to 1991)
Iowa House of Representatives District 85, 1970 to 2024, 1982, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticFlorence BuhrWon Democratic 6,03762.6% RepublicanBev Wilson Republican 3,61237.4% - Votes for listed candidates
- 11,267
- Election day
- November 4, 1980
- District map
- Older district map (1972 to 1981)
Iowa House of Representatives District 85, 1970 to 2024, 1980, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticClay SpearWon(incumbent) Democratic 6,70659.5% RepublicanPhillip E. Prickett Republican 4,56140.5% - Votes for listed candidates
- 7,061
- Election day
- November 7, 1978
- District map
- Older district map (1972 to 1981)
Iowa House of Representatives District 85, 1970 to 2024, 1978, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticClay SpearWon(incumbent) Democratic 3,65551.8% RepublicanPhil Dunshee Republican 3,40648.2% - Votes for listed candidates
- 11,263
- Election day
- November 2, 1976
- District map
- Older district map (1972 to 1981)
Iowa House of Representatives District 85, 1970 to 2024, 1976, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticClay SpearWon(incumbent) Democratic 6,22255.2% RepublicanFred E. Holsteen Republican 5,04144.8% - Votes for listed candidates
- 8,331
- Election day
- November 4, 1974
- District map
- Older district map (1972 to 1981)
Iowa House of Representatives District 85, 1970 to 2024, 1974, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticClay SpearWon Democratic 4,51154.1% RepublicanDarlene Allen Republican 3,82045.9% - Votes for listed candidates
- 11,454
- Election day
- November 7, 1972
- District map
- Older district map (1972 to 1981)
Iowa House of Representatives District 85, 1970 to 2024, 1972, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticAdrian BrinckWon Democratic 5,79050.5% RepublicanDarlene Allen Republican 5,66449.5% - Votes for listed candidates
- 8,070
- Election day
- November 3, 1970
- District map
- Older district map (1970 to 1971)
Iowa House of Representatives District 85, 1970 to 2024, 1970, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticNorman RodgersWon(incumbent) Democratic 4,27853.0% RepublicanWilliam H. Joy Republican 3,79247.0%
- 2024: MEDSL 2024 official precinct returns (individual_states zips), retrieved Oct 28, 2026. Compiled by MIT Election Data and Science Lab (MEDSL) from official returns; not an official source
- 1970 to 2022: State Legislative Election Returns, 1967-2022 (Carl Klarner, Harvard Dataverse), retrieved Oct 28, 2026. Compiled by Carl Klarner (Harvard Dataverse) from official returns; not an official source
Last contest in this district on file: 2024.
Download and cite
Cite this page
Election Wrld. (2026). Iowa State House District 85, election results 1970 to 2024. https://www.electionwrld.com/ia/house/85. Retrieved October 31, 2026.
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Sources
Sources: Census TIGERweb Legislative MapServer (120th CDs layer 0, 119th CDs layer 4, 2026 SLD upper layer 1 and lower layer 2) (US Census Bureau, public domain), retrieved Oct 28, 2026; Open Civic Data division identifiers (census_autogenerated us_sldl/us_sldu and openstates state files); also (sld-recent.json): Open Civic Data division identifiers (country-us) (CC0 (repository); also (sld-recent.json): CC0 1.0), retrieved Oct 28, 2026; Open States people (current) CSVs (CC0-1.0 (Open States people data)), retrieved Oct 28, 2026, compiled by Open States volunteers and staff (rosters from state legislature sites) from official returns, not an official source; MEDSL 2024 official precinct returns (individual_states zips) (Not stated in the GitHub repository (an earlier label said "MIT (repo)", which the repository does not support). MEDSL's Harvard Dataverse records are CC0 1.0, but these GitHub files were not checksum-matched to the Dataverse files, so CC0 is not claimed for them.), retrieved Oct 28, 2026, compiled by MIT Election Data and Science Lab (MEDSL) from official returns, not an official source; State Legislative Election Returns, 1967-2022 (Carl Klarner, Harvard Dataverse) (CC0 1.0), retrieved Oct 28, 2026, compiled by Carl Klarner (Harvard Dataverse) from official returns, not an official source.
District id: ocd-division/country:us/state:ia/sldl:85
DataState data (JSON)Sources: State Legislative Election Returns, 1967-2022 (Carl Klarner, Harvard Dataverse), DIME (ODC-BY), MEDSL 2024 official precinct returnsData as of Oct 28, 2026