1978 United States Senate election in Illinois

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1978 United States Senate election in Illinois
Flag of Illinois.svg
←  1972 November 7, 1978 1984  →
Turnout54.82%
  Sen. Charles Percy (3x4).jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Charles Percy Alex Seith
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote1,698,7111,448,187
Percentage53.34%45.47%
1978 United States Senate election in Illinois results map by county.svg
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.

Contents

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, 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

Results

Democratic primary results [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Alex Seith 483,196 69.49
Democratic Anthony R. Martin-Trigona 212,10530.51
Write-in Others110.00
Total votes695,312 100

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Charles H. Percy (incumbent) 401,409 84.25
Republican Lar "America First" Daly 74,73915.69
Write-in Others2840.06
Total votes476,432 100

General election

Candidates

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]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Charles H. Percy (incumbent) 1,698,711 53.34% −8.88%
Democratic Alex Seith 1,448,18745.47%+8.13%
Libertarian Bruce Lee Green16,3200.51%
Socialist Workers Patricia Grogan15,9220.50%
Socialist Labor Gerald Rose5,4650.18%
Write-in Others1590.00%
Majority250,5247.87%−17.00%
Turnout 3,184,764
Republican hold Swing

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 7, 1978" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved June 25, 2020.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. 1 2 3 4 "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. 1 2 "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.com. 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.
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