| Elections in Illinois |
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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
- Roman Pucinski, United States Congressman from Illinois's 11th congressional district
- Dakin Williams, prosecutor[2]
Results
| 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 United States Senator
Results
| 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
- Edward C. Gross (Socialist Labor), perennial candidate
- Arnold Becchetti (Communist)
General election
| 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
- ^ a b c d e f g h "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]
- ^ a b "Tennessee Williams' brother dead at 89". The State Journal-Register. May 22, 2008. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- ^ "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 7, 1972" (PDF). Clerk.house.gov. Retrieved April 4, 2015.