1974 United States Senate election in Illinois

1974 United States Senate election in Illinois

←  1970 (special) November 5, 1974 1980  →
Turnout	49.35%
Nominee Adlai Stevenson III George Burditt Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,811,496 1,084,884 Percentage 62.15% 37.22%
County results Stevenson:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Burditt:     50–60%     60–70%
U.S. senator before election Adlai Stevenson III Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson III Democratic

The 1974 United States Senate election in Illinois took place on November 5, 1974. ^[1] Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson III, who was first elected in a special election in 1970, was re-elected to a full term in office, defeating Republican George Burditt by a landslide margin of 62% to 37%.

Background

The primaries (held March 19) and general elections coincided with those for House and those for state offices. ^[1]

Turnout in the primary elections was 24.88%, with a total of 1,502,852 votes cast. ^[1] Turnout during the general election was 49.35%, with 2,914,666 votes cast. ^[1]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Adlai Stevenson III, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1970
• Walter Dakin Williams, candidate for Senate in 1972 and brother of playwright Tennessee Williams

Results

Democratic primary results ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Adlai Stevenson III (incumbent)	822,248	82.90%
	Democratic	W. Dakin Williams	169,662	17.11%
Total votes			991,910	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• George Burditt, attorney and former state representative from Western Springs ^[2]
• Lawrence Daly, perennial candidate

Declined

• John B. Anderson, U.S. representative from Rockford ^[3]
• Donald Rumsfeld, U.S. ambassador to NATO and former U.S. representative from Wilmette ^[3]

Results

Republican primary results ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	George Burditt	432,796	84.71%
	Republican	Lawrence Daly	78,146	15.29%
Total votes			510,942	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• George Burditt, attorney and former state representative from Western Springs ^[2] (Republican)
• Edward Heisler (Socialist Workers)
• Ishmael Flory, civil rights activist and trade union organizer (Communist)
• Adlai Stevenson III, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1970 (Democratic)

Results

1974 United States Senate election in Illinois ^{[1] [4]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Adlai Stevenson III (Incumbent)	1,811,496	62.15%	4.77
	Republican	George Burditt	1,084,884	37.22%	5.00
	Socialist Workers	Edward Heisler	12,413	0.43%	0.18
	Communist	Ishmael Flory	5,873	0.20%	N/A
Total votes			2,914,666	100.00%
	Democratic hold		Swing

See also

• 1974 United States Senate elections

References

1. "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 5, 1974 JUDICIAL PRIMARY ELECTION GENERAL PRIMARY, MARCH, 19, 1974" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved June 26, 2020.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
2. "George Miller Burditt Jr., former Illinois state representative, 1922-2013". Chicago Tribune. March 28, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
3. "Illinois Republican Finds Watergate and Prices Hurting G.O.P. (Published 1973)". August 22, 1973. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
4. "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1970" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. p. 7. Retrieved March 13, 2015.