1986 United States Senate election in Illinois

1986 United States Senate election in Illinois

November 4, 1986
Turnout	52.01%
Nominee Alan Dixon Judy Koehler Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,033,783 1,053,734 Percentage 65.13% 33.74%
County results Township results Dixon:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      <90% Koehler:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
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. Until 2022, this was the most recent 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]

Background

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

For the primaries, the 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 primary

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	65.13%	+9.12%
	Republican	Judy Koehler	1,053,734	33.74%	−8.76%
	Illinois Solidarity	Einar V. Dyhrkopp	15,804	0.51%
	Libertarian	Donald M. Parrish, Jr.	13,891	0.44%	−0.20%
	Socialist Workers	Omari Musa	5,671	0.18%	+0.12%
Total votes			3,122,833	100
	Democratic hold		Swing

See also

• 1986 United States Senate elections

References

1. "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the PRIMARY ELECTION GENERAL PRIMARY, MARCH 18, 1986" (PDF). www.elections.il.gov. Illinois Secretary of State. Retrieved April 10, 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. 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 December 20, 2020.