1990 United States Senate election in Illinois

1990 United States Senate election in Illinois
Turnout	53.90%
	; Simon: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90%; Martin: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% ; Tie: 50%
U.S. senator before election; Paul Simon; Democratic	Elected U.S. Senator ; Paul Simon; Democratic

The 1990 United States Senate election in Illinois was held on November 6, 1990. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Paul Simon sought re-election to a second term in office. Simon was opposed by Republican nominee Lynn Morley Martin, a U.S. Congresswoman from Illinois's 16th congressional district, whom he easily defeated to win a second and final term in the Senate.

Primaries were held March 20, 1990.^[1]

Background

The primaries and general elections coincided with those for House, as well as those for state offices.

For the primaries, turnout was 23.02%, with 1,384,324 votes cast.^[1] For the general election, turnout was 53.90%, with 3,251,005 votes cast.^[2]

Democratic primary

Democratic primary results^[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Paul Simon (incumbent)	811,329	100.00%
Total votes			811,329	100.00%

Republican primary

Republican primary results^[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Lynn Martin	572,995	100.00%
Total votes			572,995	100.00%

General election

Candidates

Paul Simon (D), incumbent United States Senator
Lynn Morley Martin (R), United States Congresswoman from Illinois's 16th congressional district

Election

At the start of the election, Martin was considered a formidable challenger, but her campaign floundered – in ads, Martin poked fun at Simon's signature bow tie, but the ad campaign, an attempt at humor, was seen by some as petty and mean-spirited. Martin's campaign suffered from poor fundraising as well, being outspent by Simon by a margin of two-to-one. Simon's popularity proved too much to overcome, and he won with 65 percent of the vote, carrying all but two counties in the state; Edwards County in the southeast and McHenry County outside Chicago, in the heart of the district Martin represented for most of the 1980s. In a midterm favorable to Democrats, Martin was further hurt by negative campaign tactics deployed by advisor Roger Ailes, as well as a number of gaffes. Including, referencing downstate voters as "rednecks".^[3] Martin raised the most campaign funds out of any Republican Senate challenger that cycle.^[3]

Results

United States Senate election in Illinois, 1990^[2]^[4]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Paul Simon (incumbent)	2,115,377	65.07%	+15.00%
	Republican	Lynn Martin	1,135,628	34.93%	−13.28%
Total votes			3,251,005	100.00%	N/A
	Democratic hold

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Michaelson, Ronald D. (Executive Director) (June 13, 1990). "Official Vote Cast at the Primary Election Held on March 20, 1990". Illinois State Board of Elections. p. 16. Retrieved June 17, 2024 – via Internet Archive.
^ ^a ^b Michaelson, Ronald D. (Executive Director) (January 17, 1991). "Official Vote Cast at the General Election November 6, 1990". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved June 17, 2024 – via Internet Archive.
^ ^a ^b Oreskes, Michael (October 19, 1990). "High Hopes of Defeating Simon Are Being Deflated". The New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
^ Dendy, Dallas L. "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 1990" (PDF).

[primary-1] Michaelson, Ronald D. (Executive Director) (June 13, 1990). "Official Vote Cast at the Primary Election Held on March 20, 1990". Illinois State Board of Elections. p. 16. Retrieved June 17, 2024 – via Internet Archive.

[general-2] Michaelson, Ronald D. (Executive Director) (January 17, 1991). "Official Vote Cast at the General Election November 6, 1990". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved June 17, 2024 – via Internet Archive.

[High_Hopes-3] Oreskes, Michael (October 19, 1990). "High Hopes of Defeating Simon Are Being Deflated". The New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2024.

[4] Dendy, Dallas L. "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 1990" (PDF).

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