United States Senate election in Illinois, 1978

United States Senate election in Illinois, 1978

November 7, 1978

Nominee Charles Percy Alex Seith Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,698,711 1,448,187 Percentage 53.34% 45.47%

U.S. Senator before election Charles H. Percy Republican Elected U.S. Senator Charles H. Percy Republican

Elections in Illinois
Federal government Presidential elections 1820 1824 1828 1832 1836 1840 1844 1848 1852 1856 1860 1864 1868 1872 1876 1880 1884 1888 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 U.S. Senate elections 1885 1966 1972 1978 1980 1984 1986 1990 1992 1996 1998 2002 2004 2008 2010 2014 2016 U.S. House elections 2000 1st 2002 2004 2006 6th 8th 10th 11th 19th 2008 2010 17th 2012 2014 2016 2018 Special elections 2nd district, 1995 14th district, 2008 5th district, 2009 2nd district, 2013 18th district, 2015
State government Gubernatorial elections 1818 1822 1826 1830 1834 1838 1842 1846 1848 1852 1856 1860 1864 1868 1872 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 State Senate elections 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 State House of Representatives elections 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 General elections 2006 2010 2014 2018
City of Chicago Mayoral elections 1927 1931 1977 1979 1983 1987 1989 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 Aldermanic elections 1929 2015
City of Peoria Mayoral elections 1997 2001 2005 2009 2013 Council elections 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015

The 1978 United States Senate election in Illinois took place on November 7, 1978. 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 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."^[1] 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.

According to an NBC News exit poll, Percy won 50% of black voters, 54% of voters 35 years old or young, and 58% of Jewish voters.^[2]

General election

See also

• United States Senate elections, 1978

References