1980 United States Senate election in Illinois

1980 United States Senate election in Illinois

←  1974 November 4, 1980 1986  →
Turnout	73.51%
Nominee Alan Dixon Dave O'Neal Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,565,302 1,946,296 Percentage 56.01% 42.50%
County results Dixon:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70% O'Neal:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%
U.S. senator before election Adlai Stevenson III Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Alan J. Dixon Democratic

The 1980 United States Senate election in Illinois was held on November 4, 1980. Incumbent Democrat U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson III decided to retire. Democrat Alan J. Dixon won the open seat.

Background

The primaries and general elections coincided with those for other federal offices (President and House), as well as those for state offices. ^{[1] [2]}

Incumbent Democrat Adlai Stevenson III opted not to seek reelection to a third-term. This was the first open-race for this senate seat since 1938.

Turnout in the primary elections was 35.36%, with a total of 2,026,814 votes cast. ^{[1] [3]}

Turnout during the general election was 73.51%, with 4,579,933 votes cast. ^{[2] [3]}

Democratic primary

Alan J. Dixon overwhelmingly won the Democratic primary.

Candidates

• Alan J. Dixon, Illinois Secretary of State
• Anthony R. Martin-Trigona, candidate for U.S. Senator in 1978
• Alex Seith, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator in 1978
• Robert Ash Wallace, businessman and chairman of the board of PSM International Corporation ^[4]
• Dakin Williams, prosecutor, candidate for U.S. Senator in 1972 and 1974, candidate for Illinois Governor in 1978 ^{[5] [6]}

Campaign

Alex Seith, who had won the Democratic nomination for Senator two years earlier, almost winning the 1978 race in what would have been a major upset, laid hopes of capturing the nomination again.

Anthony R. Martin-Trigona, a political activist who had unsuccessfully sought the nomination for senate in 1978, again ran for the nomination.

Robert Ash "Bob" Wallace made use of his friendship with boxer Muhammad Ali, featuring him in campaign ads and having him make campaign appearances. ^{[7] [8]}

Dakin Williams was a prosecutor, and was the younger brother of famous playwright Tennessee Williams. ^[5] He had been a candidate for the Democratic nomination of Illinois' other US Senate seat in 1972, and had unsuccessfully sought the nomination for this seat in 1974. He had also been a candidate for governor in 1978. ^[6]

Results

Democratic primary ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Alan J. Dixon	671,746	66.88
	Democratic	Alex Seith	190,339	18.95
	Democratic	Robert Ash "Bob" Wallace	64,037	6.38
	Democratic	Anthony R. Martin-Trigona	39,711	3.95
	Democratic	Dankin Williams	38,388	3.82
	Write-in		153	0.00	{{{change}}}
Total votes			1,004,374	100

Republican primary

Candidates

• Richard E. Carver, Mayor of Peoria, Illinois
• Dave O'Neal, Lieutenant Governor of Illinois
• William J. Scott, Illinois Attorney General

Results

Republican primary ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	David C. O'Neal	424,634	41.53
	Republican	William J. Scott	352,138	34.44
	Republican	Dick Carver	245,668	24.03
	Write-in		141	0.00	{{{change}}}
Total votes			1,022,440	100

General election

General election ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Alan J. Dixon	2,565,302	56.01%
	Republican	David C. O'Neal	1,946,296	42.50%
	Libertarian	Bruce Green	29,328	0.64%
	Independent	Sidney Lens	19,213	0.42%
	Communist	Charles F. Wilson	11,453	0.25%
	Workers World	Michael Soriano	5,626	0.12%
	Socialist Workers	Burton Lee Artz	2,715	0.06%
	Write-in		96	0.00%	{{{change}}}
Total votes			4,579,933	100
	Democratic hold

See also

• 1980 United States Senate elections

References

1. "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL PRIMARY ELECTION MARCH 18, 1980" (PDF). www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved June 24, 2020.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
2. "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 4, 1980" (PDF). www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved June 24, 2020.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
3. "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 4, 1986" (PDF). www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 2, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
4. Gherardini, Caroline, ed. (November 1979). "Wallace announces for U.S. Senate". Illinois Issues. 5 (11). Sangamon State University: 30. ISSN   0738-9663. Archived from the original on April 20, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2025– via Northern Illinois University Library.
5. "Tennessee Williams' brother dead at 89". The State Journal-Register. May 22, 2008. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
6. "Our Campaigns - Candidate - W. Dakin Williams". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
7. "WMBD's Full Interview with Muhammad Ali from 1980". CIProud.com. June 5, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
8. Rose, Don (June 6, 2016). "My brief political adventure with Muhammad Ali". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 24, 2020.