1978 Illinois elections

1978 Illinois elections

←  1976 November 7, 1978 1980  →
Turnout	57.55%

Elections were held in Illinois on Tuesday, November 7, 1978. ^[1]

Primaries were held on March 21, 1978. ^[2]

This was the first election that the 1970 Constitution of Illinois' change took effect that all statewide executive offices would be elected in national midterm years.

Election information

1978 was a midterm election year in the United States.

This was the first election that the 1970 Constitution of Illinois' change took effect that all statewide executive offices would be elected in national midterm years. ^[3] To accommodate this, in 1976, all statewide executive offices that were up for election were elected to two-year terms that would expire following the 1978 elections.

Turnout

Turnout in the primary election was 25.14%, with a total of 1,482,034 ballots cast. 911,290 Democratic and 570,744 Republican primary ballots were cast. ^[2]

Turnout during the general election was 57.55%, with 3,342,985 ballots cast. ^[1]

Federal elections

United States Senate

Main article: 1978 United States Senate election in Illinois

See also: 1978 United States Senate elections

Incumbent Republican Charles H. Percy was reelected to a third term.

United States House

Main article: 1978 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois

See also: 1978 United States House of Representatives elections

All 24 Illinois seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 1978. The Republican Party flipped one seat, leaving the composition of Illinois' House delegation to consist of 13 Republicans and 11 democrats.

State elections

Governor and Lieutenant Governor

Main article: 1978 Illinois gubernatorial election

1978 Illinois gubernatorial election

←  1976 November 7, 1978 1982  →
Turnout	54.23% [1]
Nominee James R. Thompson Michael Bakalis Party Republican Democratic Running mate David C. O'Neal Dick Durbin Popular vote 1,859,684 1,263,134 Percentage 59.0% 40.1%
County Results Thompson:     50-60%     60-70%     70-80% Bakalis:     40–50%     50–60%
Governor before election James R. Thompson Republican Elected Governor James R. Thompson Republican

Incumbent Governor James R. Thompson and Lieutenant Governor David C. O'Neal, Republicans, jointly won reelection to a second term.

1978 gubernatorial election, Illinois ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	James Thompson / Dave O'Neal (incumbents)	1,859,684	59.04
	Democratic	Michael Bakalis / Dick Durbin	1,263,134	40.10
	Libertarian	Georgia Shields	11,420	0.36
	Socialist Workers	Cecil Lampkin	11,026	0.35
	U.S. Labor	Melvin Klenetsky	4,737	0.15
	Write-in	Others	106	0.00
Total votes			3,150,107

Attorney General

1978 Illinois Attorney General election

←  1976 November 7, 1978 1982  →
Turnout	52.85% [1]
Nominee William J. Scott Richard J. Troy Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,989,758 1,050,085 Percentage 64.81% 34.20%
County results Scott:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Troy:     40–50%     50–60%
Attorney General before election William J. Scott Republican Elected Attorney General William J. Scott Republican

Incumbent Attorney General William J. Scott, a Republican, was elected to a fourth term.

Democratic primary

Richard J. Troy, a Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, ^[5] won the Democratic primary, running unopposed.

Attorney General Democratic primary ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Richard J. Troy	538,632	100
	Write-in	Others	24	0.01
Total votes			538,656	100

Republican primary

Incumbent William J. Scott won the Republican primary, running unopposed.

Attorney General Republican primary ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	William J. Scott (incumbent)	444,505	100
	Write-in	Others	35	0.01
Total votes			444,540	100

General election

Attorney General election ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	William J. Scott (incumbent)	1,989,758	64.81
	Democratic	Richard J. Troy	1,050,085	34.20
	Socialist Workers	Guy C. Miller	13,366	0.44
	Libertarian	Sheldon Waxman	11,917	0.39
	U.S. Labor	Richard D. Leebove	4,874	0.16
	Write-in	Others	31	0.00
Total votes			3,070,031	100

Secretary of State

1978 Illinois Secretary of State election

←  1976 November 7, 1978 1982  →
Turnout	53.98% [1]
Nominee Alan J. Dixon Sharon Sharp Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,314,546 797,560 Percentage 73.82% 25.44%
County results Dixon:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Secretary of State before election Alan J. Dixon Democratic Elected Secretary of State Alan J. Dixon Democratic

Incumbent Secretary of State Alan J. Dixon, a Democrat, was reelected to a second term.

Dixon's margin-of victory was considered to be a landslide. ^[6]

Democratic primary

Incumbent Alan J. Dixon won the Democratic primary, running unopposed.

Secretary of State Democratic primary ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Alan J. Dixon (incumbent)	602,852	100
	Write-in	Others	9	0.00
Total votes			602,861	100

Republican primary

Sharon Sharp, the Clerk of Elk Grove Township, was nominated in the Republican primary without opposition. ^[6]

Secretary of State Republican primary ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Sharon Sharp	415,789	100
	Write-in	Others	9	0.00
Total votes			415,799	100

General election

Secretary of State election ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Alan J. Dixon (incumbent)	2,314,546	73.82
	Republican	Sharon Sharp	797,560	25.44
	Socialist Workers	Marie Cobbs	10,247	0.33
	Libertarian	Ed May	9,104	0.29
	U.S. Labor	Edward Waffle	4,058	0.13
	Write-in	Others	12	0.00
Total votes			3,135,527	100

Comptroller

1978 Illinois State Comptroller election

←  1976 November 7, 1978 1982  →
Turnout	51.40%
Nominee Roland Burris John W. Castle Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,542,983 1,389,049 Percentage 51.67% 46.52%
County results Burris:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Castle:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
State Comptroller before election Michael Bakalis Democratic Elected State Comptroller Roland Burris Democratic

Incumbent Comptroller Michael Bakalis, a Democrat, did not seek a second term, instead opting to run for governor. Democrat Roland Burris was elected to succeed him. In winning the election, Burris became the first American American to be elected to statewide office in Illinois. ^[7]

Democratic primary

With more than 64% of the vote, Roland Burris defeated State Representative Richard Luft in the Democratic primary. ^{[1] [8]}

Burris was a Chicago attorney that had formerly served as director of the Department of General Services under Governor Dan Walker. ^[8] Luft had been the early favorite for the party to slate, but at the last minute was beaten out by Burris when the party finally slated candidates. ^[8] It was reported that black Chicago Democrats had pressured the party to slate a black candidate for statewide office. ^[8]

During the campaign, Burris and Luft argued over Burris' record as director of the Department of General Services. ^[8]

Secretary of State Democratic primary ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Roland W. Burris	418,735	64.03
	Democratic	Richard N. Luft	235,192	35.97
Total votes			653,927	100

Republican primary

With more than 52% of the vote, John W. Castle, director of the Department of Local Government Affairs, defeated W. Robert Blair, former Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, in the Republican primary. ^{[1] [8]} Governor James R. Thompson, who had convinced Castle to abandon his declared plans to run for treasurer and instead run for comptroller, publicly endorsed Castle. ^[8] Blair criticized Castle for this endorsement, alleging that he would not be able to operate the comptroller's office independently of the governor, while Castle denied that his decisions would be influenced by his political ties to Thompson. ^[8]

Secretary of State Republican primary ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John W. Castle	238,086	52.02
	Republican	W. Robert Blair	219,570	47.98
	Write-in	Others	2	0.00
Total votes			457,656	100

General election

Comptroller election ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Roland W. Burris	1,542,983	51.67
	Republican	John W. Castle	1,389,049	46.52
	Libertarian	Mark B. Wallace	21,645	0.72
	Socialist Workers	John Eriksen	17,116	0.57
	U.S. Labor	Carol Leebove	15,181	0.51
	Write-in	Others	14	0.00
Total votes			2,985,988	100

Treasurer

1978 Illinois State Treasurer election

←  1974 November 7, 1978 1982  →
Turnout	51.32% [1]
Nominee Jerome Cosentino James M. Skelton Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,548,605 1,383,966 Percentage 51.95% 46.42%
County results Cosentino:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Skelton:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Treasurer before election Donald R. Smith Republican Elected Treasurer Jerome Cosentino Democratic

Incumbent Treasurer was Donald R. Smith, a Republican who had been appointed in 1977, did not seek reelection. Democrat Jerome Cosentino was elected to succeed him in office. This election made Cosentino the first Italian-American to be elected to statewide office in Illinois. ^[9]

Democratic primary

In the Democratic primary, the party establishment had slated Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago commissioner Jerome Cosentino as its preferred candidate. ^[8] He won the primary with 60% of the vote, defeating Nina T. Shepherd, a trustee of the University of Illinois. ^[8] Shepherd received the endorsement of Independent Voter of Illinois in the primary. ^[8] She ran largely due to the failure of the party of slate a woman for any statewide office. ^[8] The primary was not overly heated. ^[8] One issue that haunted Cosentino was that his trucking firm was under investigation by the Interstate Commerce Commission for possible violations of the Interstate Commerce Act. ^[8] While the investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing, it was not completed until after the primary was over. ^[8]

Treasurer Democratic primary ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jerome A. Cosentino	402,489	60.71
	Democratic	Nina T. Shepherd	260,512	39.29
	Write-in	Others	1	0.00
Total votes			663,002	100

Republican primary

James M. Skelton, the incumbent county treasurer of Champaign County, ^[10] won a narrow 52% victory over Bradley M. Glass in the Republican primary. ^[8] With Skelton being a downstate politician, and Glass being an upstate politician, the race had the dynamics of "downstate vs. upstate". ^[8] John W. Castle had originally announced that he would run for the Republican nomination for Treasurer, before being convinced by Governor James R. Thompson to instead run for comptroller. ^[8]

County map of the 1978 Illinois Republican Treasurer primary
Skelton:     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%     80-90%     90-100%
Glass:     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%

Treasurer Republican primary ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	James M. Skelton	236,802	52.82
	Republican	Brad Glass	211,591	47.19
	Write-in	Others	1	0.00
Total votes			448,394	100

General election

Treasurer election ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jerome A. "Jerry" Cosentino	1,548,605	51.95
	Republican	James M. Skelton	1,383,966	46.42
	Libertarian	Everett Moffat	17,496	0.59
	U.S. Labor	John H. Brown, Jr.	15,682	0.53
	Socialist Workers	Randi Lawrence	15,411	0.52
	Write-in	Others	22	0.00
Total votes			2,981,182	100

State Senate

One-third of the seats of the Illinois Senate were up for election in 1982. Democrats retained control of the chamber.

State House of Representatives

All of the seats in the Illinois House of Representatives were up for election in 1978. Democrats retained control of the chamber.

Trustees of University of Illinois

1978 Trustees of University of Illinois election

←  1976 November 7, 1978 1980  →

An election was held for three of nine seats for Trustees of University of Illinois system.

The election saw the reelection incumbent second-term Republican Ralph Crane Hahn and the election of new members, Democrats Edmund Roche Donoghue and Paul Stone. ^{[1] [11]}

Incumbent Republican Park Livingston and incumbent first-term Republican Jane Hayes Rader lost reelection. ^{[1] [11]}

Trustees of the University of Illinois election ^{[1] [11]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Paul Stone	1,409,086	17.04
	Democratic	Edmund R. Donoghue	1,348,011	16.30
	Republican	Ralph C. Hahn (incumbent)	1,324,857	16.02
	Democratic	Robert J. "Bob" Webb	1,302,741	15.75
	Republican	Jane Hayes Rader (incumbent)	1,285,296	15.54
	Republican	Park Livingston (incumbent)	1,281,284	15.49
	U.S. Labor	Suzanne Rose	53,630	0.65
	Socialist Workers	Jo-Ann Della-Guistina	47,191	0.57
	Libertarian	William Mitchell	44,303	0.54
	Libertarian	James McCawley	37,298	0.45
	Libertarian	John Adrian	34,514	0.42
	Socialist Workers	John Pottinger	29,480	0.36
	U.S. Labor	Mitchell F. Hirsch	28,220	0.34
	U.S. Labor	Maureen Ravenscroft	25,424	0.31
	Socialist Workers	Lee Kail	20,071	0.24
	Write-in	Others	15	0.00
Total votes			8,271,421	100

Judicial elections

Multiple judicial positions were up for election in 1978. ^[1]

Ballot measures

Illinois voters voted on a two legislatively referred constitutional amendment ballot measures in 1978. ^[12] In order to be approved, the measures required either 60% support among those specifically voting on the measure or 50% support among all ballots cast in the elections. ^[12]

Personal Property Tax Amendment

The Personal Property Tax Amendment (also known as "Amendment 1") was a legislatively referred constitutional amendment which would have amended Article IX, Section 5 of the Constitution of Illinois to eliminate the provision that required the legislature to abolish the personal property tax by January 1, 1979. ^{[12] [13]} It failed to meet either threshold to amend the constitution. ^[12]

Personal Property Tax Amendment [1] [12] [13]
Option	Votes	% of votes on measures	% of all ballots cast
Yes	952,416	56.48	28.49
No	733,845	43.52	21.95
Total votes	1,686,261	100	50.44
Voter turnout	29.03%

Exempt Veterans' Organizations from Property Taxes Amendment

The Exempt Veterans' Organizations from Property Taxes Amendment (also known as "Property Tax Exemption for Veterans' Organizations Amendment" and "Amendment 2") was a legislatively referred constitutional amendment which would have amended Article IX, Section 6 of the Constitution of Illinois to exempt veterans' associations from paying property taxes on their meeting halls. ^{[12] [14]} It failed to meet either threshold to amend the constitution. ^[12]

Exempt Veterans' Organizations from Property Taxes Amendment [1] [12] [14]
Option	Votes	% of votes on measures	% of all ballots cast
Yes	747,907	48.11	22.37
No	806,579	51.89	24.13
Total votes	1,554,486	100	46.50
Voter turnout	26.76%

Local elections

Local elections were held.

References

1. "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 7, 1978" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved June 25, 2020.^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
2. "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL PRIMARY ELECTION MARCH 21, 1978" (PDF). www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 27, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
3. "Illinois Constitution - Article V". www.ilga.gov. Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
4. "1978 Gubernatorial General Election Results - Illinois". uselectionatlas.org. Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Elections. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
5. "Opponent demands tax". videttearchive.ilstu.edu. Vol. 90, no. 91. UPI. January 13, 1978.
6. "Former Illinois Lottery director Sharon Sharp dies". The State Journal-Register. July 7, 2009. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
7. Kimmel, Leigh (March 14, 2019). "Roland Burris: The First African-American National Bank Examiner". www.occ.treas.gov. Office of the Comptroller of Currency. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
8. Maher, Sharon (August 1978). "Comptroller, treasurer races — too close to call". Illinois Issues. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
9. Illinois Blue Book: 1989-1990. Springfield, Ill.: Illinois Secretary of State. 1990. p. 33.
10. Easterwood, Ray (March 15, 1978). "GOP State Treasurer's race hotly contested". The Post. Vol. 40, no. 81. Loves Park, Illinois. p. 26. Retrieved October 17, 2024– via Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections.
11. "Trustees, University of Illinois Board of Trustees" (PDF). University of Illinois. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
12. "Illinois Constitution - Amendments Proposed". www.ilga.gov. Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
13. "Illinois Personal Property Tax Amendment (1978)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
14. "Illinois Property Tax Exemption for Veterans' Organizations (1978)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved March 29, 2020.