1978 United States Senate election in Illinois

none March 2026 September 2017 1978 United States Senate election in Illinois Illinois presidential no 1972 United States Senate election in Illinois 1972 1984 United States Senate election in Illinois 1984 November 7, 1978 File:Sen. Charles Percy (3x4).jpg 150x150px Charles Percy Republican Party (United States) 1,698,711 53.34% File:Alex Seith (cropped).jpg Alex Seith Democratic Party (United States) 1,448,187 45.47% 1978 United States Senate election in Illinois results map by county.svg 160px County results Percy: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% Seith: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% U.S. Senator Charles H. Percy Republican Party (United States) Charles H. Percy Republican Party (United States) 54.82% The 1978 United States Senate election in Illinois took place on November 7, 1978.OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 7, 1978 https://www.elections.il.gov/DocDisplay.aspx?doc=Downloads/ElectionOperations/VoteTotals/Archived/1978/1978%20GE.PDF Illinois State Board of Elections 25 June 2020 February 2021 InternetArchiveBot yes Incumbent Republican United States Senator Charles H. Percy ran for re-election to a third term in the United States Senate. Percy was opposed by Democratic nominee Alex Seith, an attorney who had been appointed to several local government positions. Though Percy had been originally been expected to have an easy reelection over Seith, a first-time candidate, the election quickly became competitive. 2023, this was the last time the Republicans won the Class 2 Senate seat in Illinois, and also the last time a Republican Senate candidate has carried Cook County. Background The primary (held on March 21) and general election coincided with those for House and state elections. Turnout in the primaries was 19.88%, with a total of 1,171,744 votes cast.OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL PRIMARY ELECTION MARCH 21, 1978 https://www.elections.il.gov/DocDisplay.aspx?doc=Downloads/ElectionOperations/VoteTotals/Archived/1978/1978%20PE.PDF https://web.archive.org/web/20220327112515/https://www.elections.il.gov/DocDisplay.aspx?doc=Downloads/ElectionOperations/VoteTotals/Archived/1978/1978%20PE.PDF dead March 27, 2022 www.elections.il.gov Illinois State Board of Elections 25 June 2020 Turnout during the general election was 54.82%, with 3,184,764 votes cast. Democratic primary Candidates Anthony R. Martin-Trigona, political activist Alex Seith, Chairman of the Cook County Zoning Board of Appealshttp://www.lib.niu.edu/ipo/1977/ii771212.html Alex R. Seith www.lib.niu.edu 11 January 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20060908065145/http://www.lib.niu.edu/ipo/1977/ii771212.html 8 September 2006 dead Results Democratic primary results Alex Seith Democratic Party (United States) 483,196 69.49 Anthony R. Martin-Trigona Democratic Party (United States) 212,105 30.51 11 0.00 695,312 100.00 Republican primary Candidates Lawrence Joseph Sarsfield Daly, perennial candidate Charles H. Percy, incumbent Declined Phyllis Schlafly, anti-ERA activist Results Republican primary results Charles H. Percy (incumbent) Republican Party (United States) 401,409 84.25 Lar "America First" Daly Republican Party (United States) 74,739 15.69 284 0.06 476,432 100.00 General election Candidates Bruce Lee Green (Libertarian) Patricia Grogan (Socialist Workers) Charles H. Percy, incumbent (Republican) Gerald Rose (Socialist Labor) Alex Seith, Chairman of the Cook County Zoning Board of Appeals (Democratic) Campaign Though Percy had been expected to coast to re-election over Seith, a first-time candidate, the election quickly became competitive. In the last few days of the campaign, a desperate Percy ran a television advertisement that featured him apologizing and acknowledging that, "I got your message and you're right."http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,948300,00.html https://web.archive.org/web/20101014120532/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,948300,00.html dead October 14, 2010 The Message of the 1978 Off-Year Elections Time November 20, 1978 April 4, 2015 Percy's last-ditch effort appeared to have paid off, as he was able to edge out Seith to win what would end up being his third and final term in the Senate. Results According to an NBC News exit poll, Percy won 50% of black voters, 54% of voters 35 years old or younger, and 58% of Jewish voters.NBC News – Live Election Night Coverage, November 7, 1978 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a1Z1AI1G68&t=40m6s https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/0a1Z1AI1G68 2021-12-20 live YouTube April 24, 2017 28 August 2018 United States Senate election in Illinois, 1978http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1978election.pdf Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 1978 Clerk of the United States House of Representatives July 2, 2014 Republican Party (United States) Charles H. Percy (incumbent) 1,698,711 53.34% -8.88% Democratic Party (United States) Alex Seith 1,448,187 45.47% +8.13% Libertarian Party (United States) Bruce Lee Green 16,320 0.51% Socialist Workers Party (United States) Patricia Grogan 15,922 0.50% Socialist Labor Party of America Gerald Rose 5,465 0.18% 159 0.00% 250,524 7.87% -17.00% 3,184,764 Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) See also 1978 United States Senate elections References Illinois 1978 Category:1978 Illinois elections