1954 United States Senate election in Illinois

1954 United States Senate election in Illinois

←  1948 November 2, 1954 1960  →
Turnout	63.69%
Nominee Paul Douglas Joseph T. Meek Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,804,338 1,563,683 Percentage 53.57% 46.43%
County results Douglas:     50–60%     60–70% Meeks:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
U.S. senator before election Paul Douglas Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Paul Douglas Democratic

The United States Senate election in Illinois of 1954 took place on November 2, 1954. ^[1] Incumbent Democratic United States Senator Paul Douglas was reelected to a second term.

Background

The primary (held on April 13) and general election coincided with those for House and those for state elections. ^[1]

Turnout in the primaries was 27.07%, with a total of 1,431,554 votes cast. ^{[1] [2]} Despite a crowded field for the Republican nomination, the primaries experienced what The New York Times reporter Richard J. H. Johnston referred to as, "one of the lightest primary votes of recent years," in Illinois. ^[3]

Turnout during the general election was 63.69%, with 3,368,021 votes cast. ^{[1] [4]} This election saw fewer votes cast than were cast in either of the two coinciding races for statewide executive offices in Illinois. ^[1]

Democratic primary

Incumbent Paul Douglas was renominated, running unopposed.

Candidates

• Paul Douglas, incumbent U.S. Senator

Results

Democratic primary results ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Paul H. Douglas (incumbent)	587,084	100
	Write-in		5	0.00
Total votes			587,089	100

Republican primary

Joseph T. Meek won a crowded Republican primary.

Candidates

• John B. Crane
• Edgar M. Elbert, businessman and President of Lions Club International ^[5]
• Lawrence Daly, perennial candidate
• Herbert F. Geisler, Chicago alderman ^[6]
• Edward A. Hayes, former Commander of The American Legion
• Julius Klein, business executive, journalist, former spy and former United States Army general
• Park Livingston, Trustee of University of Illinois and 1952 Illinois gubernatorial candidate
• Joseph T. Meek, President of the Illinois Federation of Retail Associations ^[3]
• Deneen A. Watson
• Austin L. Wyman, attorney ^[7]

Results

Republican primary results ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Joseph T. Meek	283,843	33.61
	Republican	Edward A. Hayes	181,490	21.49
	Republican	Austin L. Wyman	103,202	12.22
	Republican	Park Livingston	74,965	8.48
	Republican	John B. Crane	56,086	6.64
	Republican	Julius Klein	48,764	5.78
	Republican	Edgar M. Elbert	31,420	3.72
	Republican	Herbert F. Geisler	27,563	3.26
	Republican	Lar "America First" Daly	18,585	2.20
	Republican	Deenen A. Watson	18,496	2.19
	Write-in		51	0.01
Total votes			844,465	100

General election

Results

United States Senate election in Illinois, 1966 ^{[1] [8]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Paul H. Douglas (incumbent)	1,804,338	53.57
	Republican	Joseph T. Meek	1,563,683	46.43
Total votes			3,368,021	100

See also

• United States Senate elections, 1954

References

1. "OFFICIAL VOTE of the STATE OF ILLINOIS Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION, NOVEMBER 2, 1954 JUDICIAL ELECTION, 1953, 1954 SPECIAL ELECTION, 1953 • PRIMARY ELECTION GENERAL PRIMARY, APRIL, 13, 1954" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 7, 2020.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
2. "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the PRIMARY ELECTION MARCH 16, 1982" (PDF). www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 4, 2020.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
3. Johnston, Richard J. H. (April 14, 1954). "G. O. P. PICKS MEEK IN ILLINOIS RACE; He Will Oppose Douglas for Senate -- Velde, Chiperfield Are Primary Victors". The New York Times. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
4. "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 2, 1982" (PDF). www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 4, 2020.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
5. "EDGAR M. ELBERT". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. January 26, 1999. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
6. "Senatorial Candidates-4". Freeport Journal-Standard. March 22, 1954. p. 8. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
7. "AUSTIN L. WYMAN JR". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. January 5, 2001. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
8. "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 8, 1960" (PDF). Clerk.house.gov. Retrieved April 30, 2019.