1978 United States Senate election in Illinois

1978 United States Senate election in Illinois

←  1972 November 7, 1978 1984  →
Turnout	54.82%
Nominee Charles Percy Alex Seith Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,698,711 1,448,187 Percentage 53.34% 45.47%
County results Percy:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Seith:     50–60%     60–70%
U.S. senator before election Charles H. Percy Republican Elected U.S. Senator Charles H. Percy Republican

The 1978 United States Senate election in Illinois took place on November 7, 1978. ^[1] Incumbent Republican United States Senator Charles H. Percy ran for re-election to a third term in the United States Senate. Percy was opposed by Democratic nominee Alex Seith, an attorney who had been appointed to several local government positions.

Though Percy had been originally been expected to have an easy to reelection over Seith, a first-time candidate, the election quickly became competitive.

As of 2023 ^[update] , this was the last time the Republicans won the Class 2 Senate seat in Illinois, and also the last time a Republican Senate candidate has carried Cook County.

Background

The primary (held on March 21) and general election coincided with those for House and state elections. ^{[1] [2]}

Turnout in the primaries was 19.88%, with a total of 1,171,744 votes cast. ^[2]

Turnout during the general election was 54.82%, with 3,184,764 votes cast. ^[1]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Anthony R. Martin-Trigona, political activist
• Alex Seith, Chairman of the Cook County Zoning Board of Appeals ^[3]

Results

Democratic primary results ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Alex Seith	483,196	69.49
	Democratic	Anthony R. Martin-Trigona	212,105	30.51
	Write-in		11	0.00	{{{change}}}
Total votes			695,312	100

Republican primary

Candidates

• Lawrence Joseph Sarsfield Daly, perennial candidate
• Charles H. Percy, incumbent

Results

Republican primary results ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Charles H. Percy (incumbent)	401,409	84.25
	Republican	Lar "America First" Daly	74,739	15.69
	Write-in		284	0.06	{{{change}}}
Total votes			476,432	100

General election

Candidates

• Bruce Lee Green (Libertarian)
• Patricia Grogan (Socialist Workers)
• Charles H. Percy, incumbent (Republican)
• Gerald Rose (Socialist Labor)
• Alex Seith, Chairman of the Cook County Zoning Board of Appeals ^[3] (Democratic)

Campaign

Though Percy had been expected to coast to re-election over Seith, a first-time candidate, the election quickly became competitive. In the last few days of the campaign, a desperate Percy ran a television advertisement that featured him apologizing and acknowledging that, "I got your message and you're right." ^[4] Percy's last-ditch effort appeared to have paid off, as he was able to edge out Seith to win what would end up being his third and final term in the Senate.

Results

According to an NBC News exit poll, Percy won 50% of black voters, 54% of voters 35 years old or younger, and 58% of Jewish voters. ^[5]

United States Senate election in Illinois, 1978 ^{[1] [6]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Charles H. Percy (incumbent)	1,698,711	53.34%	−8.88%
	Democratic	Alex Seith	1,448,187	45.47%	+8.13%
	Libertarian	Bruce Lee Green	16,320	0.51%
	Socialist Workers	Patricia Grogan	15,922	0.50%
	Socialist Labor	Gerald Rose	5,465	0.18%
	Write-in		159	0.00%
Majority			250,524	7.87%	−17.00%
Turnout			3,184,764
	Republican hold		Swing

See also

• 1978 United States Senate elections

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. "Alex R. Seith". www.lib.niu.edu. Archived from the original on September 8, 2006. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
4. "The Message of the 1978 Off-Year Elections". Time. November 20, 1978. Archived from the original on October 14, 2010. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
5. "NBC News – Live Election Night Coverage, November 7, 1978". YouTube. April 24, 2017. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
6. "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 1978" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved July 2, 2014.