1986 United States Senate election in Illinois

1986 United States Senate election in Illinois
Turnout	52.01%
	County results ; Dixon: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%; Koehler: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70%
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. As of 2021, this is the last 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]

Election information[]

The primaries and general elections coincided with those for House, as well as those for state offices.^[1]^[2]

Turnout[]

For the primaries, 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[]

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	65.1%	+9.1%
	Republican	Judy Koehler	1,053,734	33.7%	-8.8%
	Illinois Solidarity	Einar V. Dyhrkopp	15,804	0.5%
	Libertarian	Donald M. Parrish, Jr.	13,891	0.4%
	Socialist Workers	Omari Musa	5,671	0.2%
Total votes			3,122,833	100
	Democratic hold		Swing

References[]

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the PRIMARY ELECTION GENERAL PRIMARY, MARCH 18, 1986" (PDF). www.elections.il.gov. Illinois Secretary of State. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 4, 1986" (PDF). www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved 10 April 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 20 December 2020.

[PE-1] "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the PRIMARY ELECTION GENERAL PRIMARY, MARCH 18, 1986" (PDF). www.elections.il.gov. Illinois Secretary of State. Retrieved 10 April 2020.

[GE-2] "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 4, 1986" (PDF). www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved 10 April 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 20 December 2020.

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1986 United States Senate election in Illinois

Contents

Election information[]

Turnout[]

Democratic primary[]

Candidates[]

Results[]

Republican[]

Candidates[]

Withdrew[]

General election[]

See also[]

References[]