1972 United States Senate election in Illinois
November 7, 1972
Turnout51.24%
 
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 Congressman from Illinois's 11th congressional district, whom he was able to defeat handily to win a second term. As of 2022, 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. This election was the fourth consecutive time in which a United States Senate election in Illinois took place two years after a previous United States Senate election in Illinois after 1966, 1968 and 1970.

Election information

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

Turnout

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

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

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

Other nominees

General election

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

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "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.
  2. 1 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.
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