Elections were held in 30 of the state senate's 50 districts.

[1] Following the previous election, Republicans had control of the Iowa Senate with 36 seats to Democrats' 10 seats and four members of the Anti-Monopoly Party.

To claim control of the chamber from Republicans, the Democrats needed to net 16 Senate seats.

Republicans maintained control of the Iowa State Senate following the 1875 general election with the balance of power shifting to Republicans holding 40 seats and Democrats having 10 seats (a net gain of 4 seats for Republicans).

Source:[10] District boundaries for the Iowa Senate in 1875: