1984 United States Senate election in Illinois

none March 2026 September 2023 1984 United States Senate election in Illinois Illinois presidential no 1978 United States Senate election in Illinois 1978 1990 United States Senate election in Illinois 1990 November 6, 1984 150x150px Senator Paul Simon (3x4).jpg Paul Simon Democratic Party (United States) 2,397,165 50.07% Senator Charles Percy (3x4).jpg Charles Percy Republican Party (United States) 2,308,039 48.21% 160px County results 160px Township results 1 Simon: #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584CDE 70–80% #3933E5 80–90% #0D0596 <90%Percy: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% #C21B18 80–90% Tie: #AE8BB1 50% #808080 No data U.S. Senator Charles H. Percy Republican Party (United States) Paul Simon Democratic Party (United States) 73.99% The 1984 United States Senate election in Illinois took place on November 6, 1984. Incumbent Republican Senator Charles H. Percy ran for re-election to a fourth term. He was opposed by Democratic nominee Paul Simon, who was a United States Congressman from Illinois's 22nd congressional district. The campaign between Percy and Simon was contentious and brutally fought, and ended up with Simon ousting Percy by fewer than 90,000 votes, which was, at the time, considered an upset. Incidentally, Percy's son-in-law Jay Rockefeller was elected Senator from West Virginia in the same election cycle. This is the most recent election for this seat in Illinois where both candidates are deceased. Despite Simon's narrow win, Ronald Reagan carried Illinois in a landslide in the concurrent presidential election. Background The election coincided with those for other federal offices (president and House), as well as state elections. The primaries were held March 20. Turnout in the primaries was 36.67%, with a total of 2,219,583 votes cast.OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL PRIMARY ELECTION MARCH 20, 1984 https://www.elections.il.gov/DocDisplay.aspx?doc=Downloads/ElectionOperations/VoteTotals/Archived/1984/1984%20PE.PDF www.elections.il.gov Illinois State Board of Elections 24 April 2020 March 15, 2003 https://web.archive.org/web/20030315000000/https://www.elections.il.gov/DocDisplay.aspx?doc=Downloads/ElectionOperations/VoteTotals.PDF dead Turnout in the general election was 73.99%, with 4,787,335 votes cast.OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 6, 1984 https://www.elections.il.gov/DocDisplay.aspx?doc=Downloads/ElectionOperations/VoteTotals/Archived/1984/1984%20GE.PDF www.elections.il.gov Illinois State Board of Elections 24 April 2020 February 2021 InternetArchiveBot yes Democratic primary Candidates Roland Burris, Illinois State Comptroller Philip J. Rock, state senator from Oak Park Gerald M. Rose, member of the LaRouche movement Alex Seith, nominee for Senate in 1978 and candidate in 1980 Paul Simon, U.S. Representative from Makanda Results 1984 Democratic Senate primary Paul Simon Democratic Party (United States) 556,757 35.56 Roland W. Burris Democratic Party (United States) 360,182 23.01 Alex Seith Democratic Party (United States) 327,125 20.90 Philip J. Rock Democratic Party (United States) 303,397 19.38 Gerald M. Rose Democratic Party (United States) 17,985 1.15 49 0.00 1,565,495 100.00 Republican primary Candidates Richard J. Castic Tom Corcoran, U.S. Representative from Ottawa V. A. Kelley Charles H. Percy, incumbent senator since 1967 John E. Roche, candidate for governor in 1982 Results 1984 Republican Senate primary Charles H. Percy (incumbent) Republican Party (United States) 387,865 59.30 Tom Corcoran Republican Party (United States) 239,847 36.67 John E. Roche Republican Party (United States) 13,533 2.07 V. A. Kelley Republican Party (United States) 9,236 1.41 Richard J. Castic Republican Party (United States) 3,607 0.55 45 0.01 654,088 100.00 General election Predictions SourceRatingAs of The Cook Political Report1984 Senate Race ratings https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings/464581 The Cook Political Report February 16, 2026 Toss Up September 19, 1984 Candidates Ishmael Flory, perennial candidate (Communist) Steve I. Givot (Libertarian) Nelson Gonzalez (Socialist Workers) Charles H. Percy, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1967 (Republican) Marjorie H. Pries (Independent) Paul Simon, U.S. Representative from Makanda (Democratic) Results The election was very close. Simon prevailed by only 89,126 votes, or 1.86%. Incumbent Percy did well throughout the state, including the Chicago collar counties. Nevertheless, in the heavily populated and Democratic Cook County, which encompasses the city of Chicago and the majority of the Chicago Metropolitan Area, Simon ran ahead of Percy by over 300,000 votes. Simon also won most counties in southwestern Illinois, a traditionally Democratic region.https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=17&year=1984&f=0&elect=0&off=3 1984 Senatorial General Election Results - Illinois 2 March 2013 Dave Leip's Atlas of US Presidential Elections 3 Dec 2018 Percy led early on and well into the night, but as Cook County began to count all of its votes, Simon pulled ahead. Simon won despite then-president Reagan winning the state easily. Percy called Simon at around 5 A.M. the next day and conceded. Percy also congratulated Simon on his hard-earned victory. Simon was sworn in on January 3, 1985, and served in the Senate until January 3, 1997, when he retired. Simon was later succeeded by Dick Durbin, a close friend and fellow Democrat. United States Senate election in Illinois, 1984 http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1984election.pdf Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 6, 1984 Clerk of the United States House of Representatives U.S. Government Printing Office 1985 Democratic Party (United States) Paul Simon 2,397,165 50.07% 4.60 Republican Party (United States) Charles Percy (incumbent) 2,308,039 48.21% 5.13 Libertarian Party (United States) Steve I. Givot 59,777 1.25% 0.74 Citizens Party (United States) Marjorie H. Pries 12,366 0.26% N/A Socialist Workers Party (United States) Nelson Gonzalez 4,913 0.10% 0.40 Communist Party USA Ishmael Flory 4,802 0.10% N/A 273 0.01% 0.01 89,126 1.86% 6.00 4,787,335 73.99% Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) See also 1984 United States Senate elections References Illinois 1984 Category:1984 Illinois elections