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1986 United States Senate election in Illinois

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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%

Dixon:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      <90%
Koehler:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election

Alan J. Dixon
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Alan J. Dixon
Democratic

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]

Background

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The 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

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Candidates

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Results

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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

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Candidates

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Withdrew

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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

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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

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References

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  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.[permanent dead link]
  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.