1986 United States Senate election in Illinois
The 1986 United States Senate election in Illinois was held on November 4, 1986. The incumbent Democrat U.S. Senator Alan J. Dixon won re-election to a second term. Until 2022, this was the most recent election in which an incumbent Senator won re-election to Illinois' Class 3 seat and was elected to more than one full term.
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Turnout | 52.01% | ||||||||||||||||
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Dixon: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% <90% Koehler: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% | |||||||||||||||||
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Primaries were held March 18, 1986.[1]
Background
editThe primaries and general elections coincided with those for House, as well as those for state offices.[1][2]
For the primaries, the turnout was 21.84%, with 1,333,989 votes were cast.[1]
For the general election, turnout was 52.01%, with 3,122,833 votes cast.[2]
Democratic primary
editCandidates
edit- Alan J. Dixon, incumbent U.S. Senator
- Sheila Jones, perennial candidate
Results
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Alan J. Dixon (incumbent) | 720,571 | 84.77 | |
Democratic | Sheila Jones | 129,474 | 15.23 | |
Write-in | Others | 4 | 0.00 | |
Total votes | 850,049 | 100 |
Republican primary
editCandidates
edit- Judy Koehler, state representative
- George Ranney, executive at Inland Steel Company[3]
Withdrew
edit- Tom Corcoran, former congressman (1977–1985)[4]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Judy Koehler | 266,214 | 55.01 | |
Republican | George Ranney | 217,720 | 44.99 | |
Write-in | Others | 6 | 0.00 | |
Total votes | 483,940 | 100 |
General election
editDixon easily won the senate race. Koehler fared poorly throughout most parts of the state, only winning 10 of the state's 102 counties.[2]
Koehler's campaign was regarded as underfinanced.[5]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Alan J. Dixon (incumbent) | 2,033,783 | 65.13% | +9.12% | |
Republican | Judy Koehler | 1,053,734 | 33.74% | −8.76% | |
Illinois Solidarity | Einar V. Dyhrkopp | 15,804 | 0.51% | ||
Libertarian | Donald M. Parrish, Jr. | 13,891 | 0.44% | −0.20% | |
Socialist Workers | Omari Musa | 5,671 | 0.18% | +0.12% | |
Total votes | 3,122,833 | 100 | |||
Democratic hold | Swing |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the PRIMARY ELECTION GENERAL PRIMARY, MARCH 18, 1986" (PDF). www.elections.il.gov. Illinois Secretary of State. Retrieved April 10, 2020.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c d "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 4, 1986" (PDF). www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved April 10, 2020.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Green, Paul M. "Party politics in Illinois: Republicans v. Democrats et al.", Illinois Issues, August & September 1986. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
- ^ Dold, R. Bruce (January 7, 1986). "Corcoran Drops Out of Senate Race". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
- ^ Green, Paul M. (June 1992). "Braun's dazzling win as downstate fails Dixon; Bush and Clinton pile up delegates". Illinois Issues. Retrieved December 20, 2020.