1972 United States Senate election in Illinois

1972 United States Senate election in Illinois

November 7, 1972
Turnout	51.24%
Nominee Charles Percy Roman Pucinski Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 2,867,078 1,721,031 Percentage 62.21% 37.35%
County results Percy:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
U.S. senator before election Charles H. Percy Republican Elected U.S. Senator Charles H. Percy Republican

The 1972 United States Senate election in Illinois took place on November 7, 1972.^[1] Incumbent Republican United States Senator Charles H. Percy sought re-election to the United States Senate. Percy was opposed by Democratic nominee Roman Pucinski, a United States Representative from the Northwest Side of Chicago, whom he was able to defeat handily to win a second term. As of 2022^[update], this was the last time a Republican was elected to the U.S. Senate from Illinois during a presidential election year, the last time an Illinois Republican won a Senate election by double digits, and the last time any candidate has swept every county in the state.

Background

The primary (held on March 21) and general election coincided with those for House and state elections.^[1]

Turnout in the primaries was 31.40%, with a total of 1,753,727 votes cast.^[1] Turnout during the general election was 51.24%, with 3,184,764 votes cast.^[1] Turnout in both the primary and general election was significantly less than those for coinciding statewide races.^[1]

Democratic primary

Congressman Roman Pucinski defeated Dakin Williams in the Democratic primary. Williams was a prosecutor who was the younger brother of playwright Tennessee Williams.^[2]

Candidates

• Roman Pucinski, U.S. Representative from the Northwest Side of Chicago
• Dakin Williams, prosecutor^[2]

Results

Democratic primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Roman C. Pucinski	859,890	70.62
	Democratic	W. Dakin Williams	357,744	29.38
	Democratic	Write Ins	71	0
Total votes			1,217,705	100

Republican primary

Incumbent Charles H. Percy was renominated without opposition in the Republican primary.

Candidates

• Charles H. Percy, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1967

Results

Republican primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Charles H. Percy (incumbent)	535,911	99.98
	Write-in	Others	111	0.02
Total votes			536,022	100

General election

Candidates

• Arnold Becchetti (Communist)
• Edward C. Gross, perennial candidate (Socialist Labor)
• Roman Pucinski, U.S. Representative from the Northwest Side of Chicago (Democratic)
• Charles H. Percy, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1967 (Republican)

United States Senate election in Illinois, 1972^[1]^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Charles H. Percy (incumbent)	2,867,078	62.21%	+7.27%
	Democratic	Roman Pucinski	1,721,031	37.35%	−6.55%
	Socialist Labor	Edward C. Gross	13,384	0.29%
	Communist	Arnold Becchetti	6,103	0.13%
	Write-in	Others	784	0.02%
Majority			1,146,047	24.87%	+13.82%
Turnout			3,822,724
	Republican hold		Swing

See also

• United States Senate elections, 1972

References

1. "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 7, 1972 JUDICIAL PRIMARY ELECTION GENERAL PRIMARY, MARCH, 21, 1972" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved June 26, 2020.^{[permanent dead link]}
2. "Tennessee Williams' brother dead at 89". The State Journal-Register. May 22, 2008. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
3. "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 7, 1972" (PDF). Clerk.house.gov. Retrieved April 4, 2015.