1960 United States Senate election in Illinois

1960 United States Senate election in Illinois

November 8, 1960
Turnout	84.24%
Nominee Paul Douglas Samuel W. Witwer Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,530,945 2,093,846 Percentage 54.63% 45.20%
County results Douglas:      50–60%      60–70% Witwer:      50–60%      60–70%
U.S. senator before election Paul Douglas Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Paul Douglas Democratic

The 1960 United States Senate election in Illinois took place on November 8, 1960.^[1] Incumbent Democratic United States Senator Paul Douglas was reelected to a third term.

Background

The primary (held on April 12) and general election coincided with those for other federal offices (President and House) and those for state elections.^[1]

Turnout in the primaries was 32.98%, with a total of 1,678,954 votes cast.^[1][2]

Turnout during the general election was 84.24%, with 4,632,796 votes cast.^[1][2]

Democratic primary

Incumbent Paul Douglas was renominated, running unopposed.

Results

Democratic primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Paul H. Douglas (Incumbent)	916,951	100
	Write-in	Others	8	0.00
Total votes			916,959	100

Republican primary

Samuel W. Witwer won a crowded Republican primary. Witwer was an attorney known for his work on both state and federal constitutional reforms.^[3]

Candidates

• John R. Harrell
• John W. Lewis Jr., Illinois State Senator
• William H. Rentschler, newspaper publisher^[4]
• Samuel W. Witwer, attorney^[3]
• Warren E. Wright, former Illinois Treasurer

Results

Republican primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Samuel W. Witwer	249,849	32.79
	Republican	Warren E. Wright	226,449	29.72
	Republican	William H. Rentschler	202,600	26.59
	Republican	John W. Lewis, Jr.	48,989	6.43
	Republican	John R. Harrell	34,106	4.48
	Write-in	Others	2	0.00
Total votes			761,995	100

Socialist Labor nomination

The Socialist Labor Party of America nominated Louis Fisher.

General election

Results

United States Senate election in Illinois, 1966^[1]^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Paul H. Douglas (Incumbent)	2,530,943	54.63%
	Republican	Samuel W. Witwer	2,093,846	45.20%
	Socialist Labor	Louis Fisher	8,007	0.17%
Majority			437,097	9.43%
Turnout			4,632,796
	Democratic hold

See also

• 1960 United States Senate elections

References

1. "OFFICIAL VOTE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION, NOVEMBER 8, 1960 JUDICIAL ELECTION 1959-1960 • PRIMARY ELECTION GENERAL PRIMARY, APRIL 12 1960" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 4, 2020.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
2. "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. "Samuel W. Witwer Sr., 90, attorney known..." chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. September 20, 1998. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
4. "WILLIAM H. RENTSCHLER: 1925-2009". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. December 24, 2009. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
5. "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 8, 1960" (PDF). Clerk.house.gov. Retrieved April 30, 2019.