1990 United States Senate election in Illinois

Background

The primaries and general elections coincided with those for House, as well as those for state offices.

For the primaries, turnout was 23.02%, with 1,384,324 votes cast. For the general election, turnout was 53.90%, with 3,251,005 votes cast.

Democratic primary

Republican primary

General election

Candidates

• Paul Simon (D), incumbent United States Senator
• Lynn Morley Martin (R), United States Congresswoman from Illinois's 16th congressional district

Election

At the start of the election, Martin was considered a formidable challenger, but her campaign floundered – in ads, Martin poked fun at Simon's signature bow tie, but the ad campaign, an attempt at humor, was seen by some as petty and mean-spirited. Martin's campaign suffered from poor fundraising as well, being outspent by Simon by a margin of two-to-one. Simon's popularity proved too much to overcome, and he won with 65 percent of the vote, carrying all but two counties in the state; Edwards County in the southeast and McHenry County outside Chicago, in the heart of the district Martin represented for most of the 1980s. In a midterm favorable to Democrats, Martin was further hurt by negative campaign tactics deployed by advisor Roger Ailes, as well as a number of gaffes. Including, referencing downstate voters as "rednecks". Martin raised the most campaign funds out of any Republican Senate challenger that cycle.

Results

References

References

1. Michaelson, Ronald D. (Executive Director). (June 13, 1990). "Official Vote Cast at the Primary Election Held on March 20, 1990". Illinois State Board of Elections.
2. Michaelson, Ronald D. (Executive Director). (January 17, 1991). "Official Vote Cast at the General Election November 6, 1990". Illinois State Board of Elections.
3. (October 19, 1990). "High Hopes of Defeating Simon Are Being Deflated". [[The New York Times]].
4. Dendy, Dallas L.. "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 1990".