1978 United States Senate election in Illinois
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.
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Turnout | 54.82% | ||||||||||||||||
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![]() County results Percy: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Seith: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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Elections in Illinois |
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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 2021, this is the last time the Republicans won the Class 2 Senate seat in Illinois, and the last time a Republican Senate candidate has carried Cook County.
Election information
The primary (held on March 21) and general election coincided with those for House and state elections.[1][2]
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Anthony R. Martin-Trigona, political activist
- Alex Seith, Chairman of the Cook County Zoning Board of Appeals[3]
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Alex Seith | 483,196 | 69.49 | |
Democratic | Anthony R. Martin-Trigona | 212,105 | 30.51 | |
Write-in | Others | 11 | 0.00 | |
Total votes | 695,312 | 100 |
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Charles H. Percy (incumbent) | 401,409 | 84.25 | |
Republican | Lar "America First" Daly | 74,739 | 0.16 | |
Write-in | Others | 284 | 0.06 | |
Total votes | 476,432 | 100 |
Other nominees
- Bruce Lee Green (Libertarian Party)
- Patricia Grogan (Socialist Workers Party)
- Gerald Rose (Socialist Labor Party of America)
General election
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 young, and 58% of Jewish voters.[5]
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 | Others | 159 | 0.00% | ||
Majority | 250,524 | 7.87% | -17.00% | ||
Turnout | 3,184,764 | ||||
Republican hold | Swing |
See also
References
- "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 7, 1978" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL PRIMARY ELECTION MARCH 21, 1978" (PDF). www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- https://web.archive.org/web/20060908065145/http://www.lib.niu.edu/ipo/1977/ii771212.html
- "The Message of the 1978 Off-Year Elections". Time.com. November 20, 1978. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
- "NBC News – Live Election Night Coverage, November 7, 1978". YouTube. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
- "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 1978" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved July 2, 2014.