1990 United States Senate election in Illinois

The 1990 United States Senate election in Illinois was held on November 6, 1990. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Paul Simon sought re-election to a second term in office. Simon was opposed by Republican nominee Lynn Morley Martin, a U.S. Congresswoman from Illinois's 16th congressional district, whom he easily defeated to win a second and final term in the Senate.

1990 United States Senate election in Illinois

← 1984 November 6, 1990 1996 →
Turnout53.90%
 
Nominee Paul Simon Lynn Morley Martin
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,115,377 1,135,628
Percentage 65.07% 34.93%


Simon:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Martin:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Tie:      50%

U.S. senator before election

Paul Simon
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Paul Simon
Democratic

Primaries were held March 20, 1990.[1]

Background

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The primaries and general elections coincided with those for House, as well as those for state offices.

For the primaries, turnout was 23.02%, with 1,384,324 votes cast.[1] For the general election, turnout was 53.90%, with 3,251,005 votes cast.[2]

Democratic primary

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Democratic primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Paul Simon (incumbent) 811,329 100.00%
Total votes 811,329 100.00%

Republican primary

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Republican primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lynn Martin 572,995 100.00%
Total votes 572,995 100.00%

General election

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Candidates

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Election

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At the start of the election, Martin was considered a formidable challenger, but her campaign floundered – in ads, Martin poked fun at Simon's signature bow tie, but the ad campaign, an attempt at humor, was seen by some as petty and mean-spirited. Martin's campaign suffered from poor fundraising as well, being outspent by Simon by a margin of two-to-one. Simon's popularity proved too much to overcome, and he won with 65 percent of the vote, carrying all but two counties in the state; Edwards County in the southeast and McHenry County outside Chicago, in the heart of the district Martin represented for most of the 1980s. In a midterm favorable to Democrats, Martin was further hurt by negative campaign tactics deployed by advisor Roger Ailes, as well as a number of gaffes. Including, referencing downstate voters as "rednecks".[3] Martin raised the most campaign funds out of any Republican Senate challenger that cycle.[3]

Results

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United States Senate election in Illinois, 1990[2][4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Paul Simon (incumbent) 2,115,377 65.07% +15.00%
Republican Lynn Martin 1,135,628 34.93% −13.28%
Total votes 3,251,005 100.00% N/A
Democratic hold

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Michaelson, Ronald D. (Executive Director) (June 13, 1990). "Official Vote Cast at the Primary Election Held on March 20, 1990". Illinois State Board of Elections. p. 16. Retrieved June 17, 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  2. ^ a b Michaelson, Ronald D. (Executive Director) (January 17, 1991). "Official Vote Cast at the General Election November 6, 1990". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved June 17, 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ a b Oreskes, Michael (October 19, 1990). "High Hopes of Defeating Simon Are Being Deflated". The New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  4. ^ Dendy, Dallas L. "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 1990" (PDF).