1986 United States Senate election in Illinois

1986 United States Senate election in Illinois
File:Flag of Illinois.svg
Turnout	52.01%
	File:1986 United States Senate election in Illinois results map by county.svg File:Illinois 1986 Senate election by township.svg Dixon: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% <90%; Koehler: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90%
U.S. senator before election; Alan J. Dixon; Democratic	Elected U.S. Senator ; Alan J. Dixon; Democratic

The 1986 United States Senate election in Illinois was held on November 4, 1986. The incumbent Democrat U.S. Senator Alan J. Dixon won re-election to a second term. Until 2022, this was the most recent election in which an incumbent Senator won re-election to Illinois' Class 3 seat and was elected to more than one full term. Primaries were held March 18, 1986.^[1]

Background

The primaries and general elections coincided with those for House, as well as those for state offices.^[1]^[2] For the primaries, the turnout was 21.84%, with 1,333,989 votes were cast.^[1] For the general election, turnout was 52.01%, with 3,122,833 votes cast.^[2]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Alan J. Dixon, incumbent U.S. Senator
Sheila Jones, perennial candidate

Results

Democratic primary^[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Alan J. Dixon (incumbent)	720,571	84.77
	Democratic	Sheila Jones	129,474	15.23
	Write-in	Others	4	0.00
Total votes			850,049	100

Republican primary

Candidates

Judy Koehler, state representative
George Ranney, executive at Inland Steel Company^[3]

Withdrew

Tom Corcoran, former congressman (1977–1985)^[4]

Republican primary^[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Judy Koehler	266,214	55.01
	Republican	George Ranney	217,720	44.99
	Write-in	Others	6	0.00
Total votes			483,940	100

General election

Dixon easily won the senate race. Koehler fared poorly throughout most parts of the state, only winning 10 of the state's 102 counties.^[2] Koehler's campaign was regarded as underfinanced.^[5]

Illinois United States Senate election, 1986^[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Alan J. Dixon (incumbent)	2,033,783	65.13%	+9.12%
	Republican	Judy Koehler	1,053,734	33.74%	−8.76%
	Illinois Solidarity	Einar V. Dyhrkopp	15,804	0.51%
	Libertarian	Donald M. Parrish, Jr.	13,891	0.44%	−0.20%
	Socialist Workers	Omari Musa	5,671	0.18%	+0.12%
Total votes			3,122,833	100
	Democratic hold		Swing

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the PRIMARY ELECTION GENERAL PRIMARY, MARCH 18, 1986" (PDF). www.elections.il.gov. Illinois Secretary of State. Retrieved April 10, 2020.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 4, 1986" (PDF). www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved April 10, 2020.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
↑ Green, Paul M. "Party politics in Illinois: Republicans v. Democrats et al.", Illinois Issues, August & September 1986. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
↑ Dold, R. Bruce (January 7, 1986). "Corcoran Drops Out of Senate Race". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
↑ Green, Paul M. (June 1992). "Braun's dazzling win as downstate fails Dixon; Bush and Clinton pile up delegates". Illinois Issues. Retrieved December 20, 2020.

[PE-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the PRIMARY ELECTION GENERAL PRIMARY, MARCH 18, 1986" (PDF). www.elections.il.gov. Illinois Secretary of State. Retrieved April 10, 2020.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[GE-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 4, 1986" (PDF). www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved April 10, 2020.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[3] Green, Paul M. "Party politics in Illinois: Republicans v. Democrats et al.", Illinois Issues, August & September 1986. Retrieved November 1, 2016.

[4] Dold, R. Bruce (January 7, 1986). "Corcoran Drops Out of Senate Race". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 18, 2019.

[5] Green, Paul M. (June 1992). "Braun's dazzling win as downstate fails Dixon; Bush and Clinton pile up delegates". Illinois Issues. Retrieved December 20, 2020.

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[5]

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1986 United States Senate election in Illinois

Contents

Background

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Withdrew

General election

See also

References

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