1978 United States Senate election in Illinois

Background

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

Turnout in the primaries was 19.88%, with a total of 1,171,744 votes cast.

Turnout during the general election was 54.82%, with 3,184,764 votes cast.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Anthony R. Martin-Trigona, political activist
• Alex Seith, Chairman of the Cook County Zoning Board of Appeals

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Lawrence Joseph Sarsfield Daly, perennial candidate
• Charles H. Percy, incumbent

Results

General election

Candidates

• Bruce Lee Green (Libertarian)
• Patricia Grogan (Socialist Workers)
• Charles H. Percy, incumbent (Republican)
• Gerald Rose (Socialist Labor)
• Alex Seith, Chairman of the Cook County Zoning Board of Appeals (Democratic)

Campaign

Though Percy had been expected to coast to re-election over Seith, a first-time candidate, the election quickly became competitive. In the last few days of the campaign, a desperate Percy ran a television advertisement that featured him apologizing and acknowledging that, "I got your message and you're right." Percy's last-ditch effort appeared to have paid off, as he was able to edge out Seith to win what would end up being his third and final term in the Senate.

Results

According to an NBC News exit poll, Percy won 50% of black voters, 54% of voters 35 years old or younger, and 58% of Jewish voters.

References

References

1. (February 2021). "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 7, 1978". Illinois State Board of Elections.
2. "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL PRIMARY ELECTION MARCH 21, 1978". Illinois State Board of Elections.
3. "Alex R. Seith".
4. (November 20, 1978). "The Message of the 1978 Off-Year Elections". [[Time (magazine).
5. (April 24, 2017). "NBC News – Live Election Night Coverage, November 7, 1978".
6. "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 1978". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives.