1996 United States Senate election in Illinois

1996 United States Senate election in Illinois
November 5, 1996
Turnout63.79%
 
Nominee Dick Durbin Al Salvi
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,384,028 1,728,824
Percentage 56.09% 40.67%
County results
Durbin:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Salvi:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
U.S. senator before election

Paul Simon
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Dick Durbin
Democratic

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The 1996 United States Senate election in Illinois took place on November 5, 1996. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Paul Simon chose to retire rather than seek a third term in office. In the Democratic primary, U.S. Representative Dick Durbin emerged victorious, while state representative Al Salvi won the Republican primary. Though the election was initially anticipated to be close, Durbin ended up defeating Salvi by a comfortable double-digit margin of victory, allowing him to win what would be the first of five terms in the Senate.

Background

The primaries and general elections coincided with those for other federal offices (president and House), as well as those for state offices.

For the primaries, turnout was 25.85%, with 1,583,406 votes cast.[1] For the general election, turnout was 63.79%, with 4,250,722 votes cast.[2]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declined

  • Neil Hartigan, former Illinois Attorney General (1983–1991), former Lieutenant Governor of Illinois (1973–1977), and Democratic nominee for Governor in 1990[4][5]
  • William M. Daley, attorney, political consultant, and member of the Daley family (endorsed Hartigan)[6]

Results

Democratic primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dick Durbin 512,520 64.87%
Democratic Pat Quinn 233,138 29.51%
Democratic Ronald F. Gibbs 17,681 2.24%
Democratic Jalil Ahmad 17,211 2.18%
Democratic Paul H. D. Park 9,505 1.20%
Total votes 790,055 100

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Al Salvi 377,141 47.64%
Republican Bob Kustra 342,935 43.32%
Republican Robert Marshall 43,937 5.55%
Republican Martin Paul Gallagher 17,276 2.18%
Republican Wayne S. Kurzeja 10,356 1.31%
Total votes 791,645 100

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Results

Libertarian primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Libertarian Robin J. Miller 1,258 73.74
Libertarian David F. Hoscheidt 448 26.26
Total votes 1,706 100

General election

Results

Durbin won the election easily.

United States Senate election in Illinois, 1996[2][8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Dick Durbin 2,384,028 56.09% −8.98%
Republican Al Salvi 1,728,824 40.67% +5.74%
Reform Steven H. Perry 61,023 1.44%
Libertarian Robin J. Miller 41,218 0.97%
Constitution Chad N. Koppie 17,563 0.40%
Natural Law James E. Davis 13,838 0.33%
Write-ins 4,228 0.10%
Majority 655,204 15.41% −14.72%
Turnout 4,250,722 63.79
Democratic hold Swing

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "State of Illinois official vote cast at the primary election held on ..." Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "State of Illinois official vote cast at the general election ." Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Man, Anthony (March 1996). "Replacing Our Favorite Son". Illinois Issues. 22 (3). University of Illinois at Springfield: 27. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  4. ^ Tribune, Chicago (May 18, 1995). "HARTIGAN MOVES EVER CLOSER TO RUN FOR SIMON'S SEAT". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  5. ^ Berke, Richard L. (June 11, 1995). "THE NATION; Democrats Find Out Things Can Get Worse". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  6. ^ "DEMS PUSH HARTIGAN TO RUN FOR SENATE". Crain's Chicago Business. March 25, 1995.
  7. ^ a b "Federal Elections 96: 1996 U.S. Senate Results by State". Fec.gov. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  8. ^ "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 5, 1996" (PDF). Clerk.house.gov. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
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