1986 United States Senate election in Illinois
← 1980 November 4, 1986 1992 →
Turnout52.01%
 
Nominee Alan Dixon Judy Koehler
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,033,783 1,053,734
Percentage 65.13% 33.74%
County results
Dixon:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Koehler:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
U.S. senator before election

Alan J. Dixon
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Alan J. Dixon
Democratic

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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.

Primaries were held March 18, 1986.[1]

Election information

The primaries and general elections coincided with those for House, as well as those for state offices.[1][2]

Turnout

For the primaries, 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

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary[1]
Party 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

Candidates

Withdrew

Republican primary[1]
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

Dixon 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]

Illinois United States Senate election, 1986[2]
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

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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]
  3. ^ Green, Paul M. "Party politics in Illinois: Republicans v. Democrats et al.", Illinois Issues, August & September 1986. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  4. ^ Dold, R. Bruce (January 7, 1986). "Corcoran Drops Out of Senate Race". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  5. ^ 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.
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