1980 United States Senate election in Illinois

none March 2026 September 2023 1980 United States Senate election in Illinois Illinois presidential no 1974 United States Senate election in Illinois 1974 1986 United States Senate election in Illinois 1986 November 4, 1980 150x150px Alan Dixon (3x4a).jpg Alan Dixon Democratic Party (United States) 2,565,302 56.01% Dave O’Neal (3x4a).jpg Dave O'Neal Republican Party (United States) 1,946,296 42.50% 1980 United States Senate election in Illinois results map by county.svg 160px County results Dixon: #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% O'Neal: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson III Democratic Party (United States) Alan J. Dixon Democratic Party (United States) 73.51% The 1980 United States Senate election in Illinois was held on November 4, 1980. Incumbent Democrat U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson III decided to retire. Democrat Alan J. Dixon won the open seat. Dixon won in a landslide victory, despite Republican presidential nominee Ronald Reagan carrying the state in the simultaneous presidential election comfortably. Background The primaries and general elections coincided with those for other federal offices (President and House), as well as those for state offices. Incumbent Democrat Adlai Stevenson III opted not to seek reelection to a third-term. This was the first open-race for this senate seat since 1938. Turnout in the primary elections was 35.36%, with a total of 2,026,814 votes cast.OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL PRIMARY ELECTION MARCH 18, 1980 https://www.elections.il.gov/DocDisplay.aspx?doc=Downloads/ElectionOperations/VoteTotals/Archived/1980/1980%20PE.PDF www.elections.il.gov Illinois State Board of Elections 24 June 2020 February 2021 InternetArchiveBot yes OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 4, 1986 https://www.elections.il.gov/DocDisplay.aspx?doc=Downloads/ElectionOperations/VoteTotals/Archived/1986/1986%20GE.PDF https://web.archive.org/web/20220602085116/https://www.elections.il.gov/DocDisplay.aspx?doc=Downloads/ElectionOperations/VoteTotals/Archived/1986/1986%20GE.PDF dead June 2, 2022 www.elections.il.gov Illinois State Board of Elections 10 April 2020 Turnout during the general election was 73.51%, with 4,579,933 votes cast.OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 4, 1980 https://www.elections.il.gov/DocDisplay.aspx?doc=Downloads/ElectionOperations/VoteTotals/Archived/1980/1980%20GE.PDF www.elections.il.gov Illinois State Board of Elections 24 June 2020 February 2021 InternetArchiveBot yes Democratic primary Alan J. Dixon overwhelmingly won the Democratic primary. Candidates Alan J. Dixon, Illinois Secretary of State Anthony R. Martin-Trigona, candidate for U.S. senator in 1978 Alex Seith, Democratic nominee for U.S. senator in 1978 Robert Ash Wallace, businessman and chairman of the board of PSM International CorporationGherardini Caroline Wallace announces for U.S. Senate Illinois Issues 5 11 30 November 1979 Sangamon State University 0738-9663 https://www.lib.niu.edu/1979/ii791130.html July 3, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20130420024301/https://www.lib.niu.edu/1979/ii791130.html April 20, 2013 Northern Illinois University Library Dakin Williams, prosecutor and perennial candidateOur Campaigns - Candidate - W. Dakin Williams https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=58379 www.ourcampaigns.com 24 June 2020 Campaign Alex Seith, who had won the Democratic nomination for Senator two years earlier, almost winning the 1978 race in what would have been a major upset, laid hopes of capturing the nomination again. Anthony R. Martin-Trigona, a political activist who had unsuccessfully sought the nomination for senate in 1978, again ran for the nomination. Robert Ash "Bob" Wallace made use of his friendship with boxer Muhammad Ali, featuring him in campaign ads and having him make campaign appearances.WMBD's Full Interview with Muhammad Ali from 1980 https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/local-news/wmbds-full-interview-with-muhammad-ali-from-1980/474550975/ CIProud.com 24 June 2020 5 June 2016Rose Don My brief political adventure with Muhammad Ali https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-muhammad-ali-illinois-politics-don-rose-perspec-0607-jm-20160606-story.html chicagotribune.com Chicago Tribune 24 June 2020 6 June 2016 Dakin Williams was a prosecutor, and was the younger brother of famous playwright Tennessee Williams.Tennessee Williams' brother dead at 89 https://www.sj-r.com/article/20080522/NEWS/305229855 The State Journal-Register 24 June 2020 en 22 May 2008 He had been a candidate for the Democratic nomination of Illinois' other US Senate seat in 1972, and had unsuccessfully sought the nomination for this seat in 1974. He had also been a candidate for governor in 1978. Results Democratic primary Democratic Party (United States) Alan J. Dixon 671,746 66.88 Democratic Party (United States) Alex Seith 190,339 18.95 Democratic Party (United States) Robert Ash "Bob" Wallace 64,037 6.38 Democratic Party (United States) Anthony R. Martin-Trigona 39,711 3.95 Democratic Party (United States) Dankin Williams 38,388 3.82 153 0.00 1,004,374 100.00 Republican primary Candidates Richard E. Carver, mayor of Peoria, Illinois Dave O'Neal, Lieutenant Governor of Illinois William J. Scott, Illinois Attorney General Results Republican primary Republican Party (United States) David C. O'Neal 424,634 41.53 Republican Party (United States) William J. Scott 352,138 34.44 Republican Party (United States) Dick Carver 245,668 24.03 141 0.00 1,022,440 100.00 General election General election Democratic Party (United States) Alan J. Dixon 2,565,302 56.01% 6.14 Republican Party (United States) David C. O'Neal 1,946,296 42.50% 5.28 Libertarian Party (United States) Bruce Green 29,328 0.64% N/A Independent (politician) Sidney Lens 19,213 0.42% Communist Party USA Charles F. Wilson 11,453 0.25% 0.05 Workers World Party Michael Soriano 5,626 0.12% N/A Socialist Workers Party (United States) Burton Lee Artz 2,715 0.06% 0.37 96 0.00% 4,579,933 100.00% Democratic Party (United States) See also 1980 United States Senate elections References 1980 Illinois United States Senate