In 1936 Utterback gave up a chance at re-election to his House seat, choosing instead to run for the U.S. Senate, but was defeated in the Democratic Primary by Iowa Governor Clyde L. Herring. That year, Dowell recaptured the House seat, defeating Harry Dunlap. Two years later, in 1938, Utterback tried unsuccessfully to win back his House seat, but Dowell easily won the rematch. The district would not send another Democrat to Congress until 1956, when Merwin Coad defeated James I. Dolliver by 198 votes, in one of Iowa's closest Congressional elections.