1990 United States Senate election in Illinois

none March 2026 September 2023 1990 United States Senate election in Illinois Illinois presidential no 1984 United States Senate election in Illinois 1984 1996 United States Senate election in Illinois 1996 November 6, 1990 150x150px Senator Paul Simon (3x4).jpg Paul Simon Democratic Party (United States) 2,115,377 65.07% Lynn Morley Martin (1).jpg Lynn M. Martin Republican Party (United States) 1,135,628 34.93% 160px County results 160px Township results Simon: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90% #0D0596 >90%Martin: #e27f7f 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% Tie: #AE8BB1 50% #808080 No data U.S. Senator Paul Simon Democratic Party (United States) Paul Simon Democratic Party (United States) 53.90% The 1990 United States Senate election in Illinois was held on November 6, 1990. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Paul Simon sought re-election to a second term in office. Simon was opposed by Republican nominee Lynn Morley Martin, a U.S. Congresswoman from Illinois's 16th congressional district, whom he easily defeated to win a second and final term in the Senate. Martin carried only two counties, Edwards and McHenry. Primaries were held March 20, 1990. 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.Michaelson Ronald D. (Executive Director) Official Vote Cast at the Primary Election Held on March 20, 1990 16 June 13, 1990 https://archive.org/details/stateofillinoiso1990illi/mode/2up Illinois State Board of Elections June 17, 2024 Internet Archive For the general election, turnout was 53.90%, with 3,251,005 votes cast.Michaelson Ronald D. (Executive Director) Official Vote Cast at the General Election November 6, 1990 January 17, 1991 Illinois State Board of Elections https://archive.org/details/officialvote90illi/mode/2up June 17, 2024 Internet Archive Democratic primary Democratic primary results Paul Simon (incumbent) Democratic Party (United States) 811,329 100.00% 811,329 100.00% Republican primary Republican primary results Lynn Martin Republican Party (United States) 572,995 100.00% 572,995 100.00% 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".Oreskes Michael High Hopes of Defeating Simon Are Being Deflated https://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/19/us/high-hopes-of-defeating-simon-are-being-deflated.html The New York Times October 19, 1990 June 17, 2024 Martin raised the most campaign funds out of any Republican Senate challenger that cycle. Results United States Senate election in Illinois, 1990http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1990election.pdf Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 1990 Dendy Dallas L. PDF Democratic Party (United States) Paul Simon (incumbent) 2,115,377 65.07% +15.00% Republican Party (United States) Lynn Martin 1,135,628 34.93% -13.28% 3,251,005 100.00% N/A Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) See also 1990 United States Senate elections References Illinois 1990 Category:1990 Illinois elections