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1972 United States Senate election in Illinois

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1972 United States Senate election in Illinois

← 1966 November 7, 1972 1978 →
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 Representative from the Northwest Side of Chicago, 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.

Background

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

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

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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

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Results

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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

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Incumbent Charles H. Percy was renominated without opposition in the Republican primary.

Candidates

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Results

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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

General election

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Candidates

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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

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References

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  1. ^ 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]
  2. ^ a b "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.