United_States_Senate_election_in_Illinois,_2014
2014 United States Senate election in Illinois
Illinois state-wide election of a Senator to United States Senate
The 2014 United States Senate election in Illinois took place on November 4, 2014, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Illinois, concurrently with the election of the Governor of Illinois, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.
Quick Facts Turnout, Nominee ...
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| Turnout | 48.16% | ||||||||||||||||
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 County results Durbin: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Oberweis: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin ran for re-election to a fourth term.[1] He was unopposed in the Democratic primary. The Republicans nominated state senator and perennial candidate for higher office Jim Oberweis.
Durbin defeated Oberweis and Libertarian Sharon Hansen with 53.5% of the vote, the smallest vote total of any of his Senate elections.
The primaries and general elections coincided with those for House and those for state offices.
Background
Dick Durbin was first elected to the Senate in 1996 and was re-elected by increasingly larger margins in 2002 and 2008. He has served as Senate Majority Whip since 2007 and sought a fourth term in office.[1]
Turnout
See also: 2014 Illinois elections § Turnout
For the primary election, turnout was 15.77%, with 1,183,429 votes cast.[2][3] For the general election, turnout was 48.16%, with 3,603,519 votes cast.[2][3]
Candidates
Declared
- Dick Durbin, incumbent U.S. Senator[1]
Results
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Dick Durbin (incumbent) | 429,041 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 429,041 | 100.00% | ||
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Candidates
Declared
- Jim Oberweis, state senator, candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2002 and 2004, candidate for governor in 2006 and nominee for IL-14 in 2008 special and 2008 general election[4]
- Doug Truax, businessman[5]
Removed
- Armen Alvarez, Multicultural Membership Development Manager of the Parent-Teacher Association (removed from the ballot)[6][7]
- William Lee, blogger (removed from the ballot)[6][7]
Declined
Endorsements
Doug Truax
- Newt Gingrich, former United States Speaker of the House of Representatives
- Aaron Schock, U.S. Representative (R-IL)
- John Shimkus, U.S. Representative (R-IL)
- Chicago Tribune[10]
Polling
More information Poll source, Date(s)administered ...
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Jim Oberweis |
Doug Truax |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Shares Corp. | February 5–8, 2014 | 600 | ± 4% | 52% | 15% | 2% | 32% |
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More information Poll source, Date(s)administered ...
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Chad Koppie |
William Lee |
Jim Oberweis |
Joe Ruiz |
Doug Truax |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling | November 22–25, 2013 | 375 | ± 5.1% | 3% | 4% | 42% | 1% | 7% | — | 42% |
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Hypothetical polling
Results
Oberweis
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 70–80%
Truax
- 50–60%
423,097
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jim Oberweis | 423,097 | 56.08% | |
| Republican | Doug Truax | 331,237 | 43.91% | |
| Republican | Write-in | 54 | <0.01% | |
| Total votes | 754,388 | 100.00% | ||
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Candidates
Declared
- Fuji Shioura, Write-In Candidate (Independent)[12]
- Sharon Hansen (Libertarian)[13]
Removed from the ballot
- Chad Koppie (Constitution)[14]
- Omar Lopez (Green)[15][16]
Fundraising
More information Campaign Finance Reports through November 24, 2014, Candidate ...
| Campaign Finance Reports through November 24, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | ||
| Dick Durbin | $10,309,888 | $12,453,951 | ||
| Jim Oberweis | $2,388,389 | $2,416,774 | ||
| Sharon Hansen | $2,420 | $2,367 | ||
| Source: OpenSecrets[17] | ||||
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Debates
- Complete video of debate, October 22, 2014
Predictions
More information Source, Ranking ...
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[18] | Solid D | November 3, 2014 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[19] | Safe D | November 3, 2014 |
| Rothenberg Political Report[20] | Safe D | November 3, 2014 |
| Real Clear Politics[21] | Likely D | November 3, 2014 |
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Polling
More information Poll source, Date(s)administered ...
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Dick Durbin (D) |
Jim Oberweis (R) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| We Ask America | September 24, 2013 | 1,434 | ± 2.86% | 50% | 39% | — | 11% |
| Public Policy Polling | November 22–25, 2013 | 557 | ± 4.2% | 51% | 36% | — | 12% |
| Rasmussen Reports | April 9–10, 2014 | 750 | ± 4% | 51% | 37% | 3% | 10% |
| We Ask America | June 12, 2014 | 1,116 | ± 2.93% | 52% | 39% | — | 9% |
| CBS News/NYT/YouGov | July 5–24, 2014 | 5,324 | ± 2.1% | 48% | 41% | 1% | 11% |
| We Ask America | July 30, 2014 | 1,049 | ± 3.04% | 53% | 38% | — | 9% |
| Gravis Marketing | August 4–5, 2014 | 567 | ± 4% | 48% | 38% | — | 14% |
| Harper Polling* | August 25–27, 2014 | 1,340 | ± 2.68% | 44% | 38% | 8%[22] | 10% |
| We Ask America | August 27, 2014 | 1,054 | ± 3.02% | 48% | 41% | 4%[22] | 8% |
| CBS News/NYT/YouGov | August 18 – September 2, 2014 | 4,363 | ± 3% | 50% | 38% | 1% | 10% |
| We Ask America | September 4, 2014 | 1,014 | ± 3.08% | 49% | 39% | 4%[22] | 8% |
| Chicago Tribune | September 3–12, 2014 | 800 | ± 3.5% | 55% | 32% | 5%[22] | 7% |
| Rasmussen Reports | September 24–25, 2014 | 750 | ± 4% | 51% | 37% | 4% | 8% |
| CBS News/NYT/YouGov | September 20 – October 1, 2014 | 3,955 | ± 2% | 51% | 39% | 0% | 9% |
| We Ask America | October 7, 2014 | 1,086 | ± 2.98% | 51% | 38% | 4%[22] | 6% |
| UIS Survey Research | October 2–8, 2014 | 723 | ± 3.7% | 50% | 35% | 1% | 14% |
| Southern Illinois University | September 23 – October 15, 2014 | 691 LV | ± 3.7% | 47% | 37% | 0% | 12% |
| 1,006 RV | ± 3% | 49% | 32% | 0% | 14% | ||
| APC Research | October 16–21, 2014 | 800 | ± 3.5% | 50% | 36% | 7%[23] | 6% |
| CBS News/NYT/YouGov | October 16–23, 2014 | 3,519 | ± 3% | 52% | 39% | 1% | 9% |
| McKeon & Associates | October 28, 2014 | 823 | ± 3.9% | 49% | 39% | 4%[22] | 8% |
| Public Policy Polling | November 1–2, 2014 | 1,064 | ± 3% | 51% | 41% | 4%[22] | 4% |
| 52% | 44% | — | 4% |
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s)administered ...
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Dick Durbin (D) |
Bob Dold (R) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling | November 26–28, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 54% | 33% | — | 13% |
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s)administered ...
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Dick Durbin (D) |
Patrick Hughes (R) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling | November 26–28, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 53% | 31% | — | 16% |
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s)administered ...
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Dick Durbin (D) |
Chad Koppie (R) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling | November 22–25, 2013 | 557 | ± 4.2% | 52% | 35% | — | 13% |
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s)administered ...
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Dick Durbin (D) |
Doug Truax (R) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling | November 22–25, 2013 | 557 | ± 4.2% | 51% | 33% | — | 16% |
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s)administered ...
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Dick Durbin (D) |
Joe Walsh (R) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling | November 26–28, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 54% | 29% | — | 17% |
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s)administered ...
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Dick Durbin (D) |
Generic Republican |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling | November 26–28, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 52% | 38% | — | 10% |
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Hypothetical polling
- * Internal poll for the Jim Oberweis campaign.
Results
Durbin won the election, despite winning only 14 of Illinois' 102 counties.[24]
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Dick Durbin (incumbent) | 1,929,637 | 53.55% | -14.29% | |
| Republican | Jim Oberweis | 1,538,522 | 42.69% | +14.16% | |
| Libertarian | Sharon Hansen | 135,316 | 3.76% | +2.82% | |
| Write-in | 44 | 0.00% | N/A | ||
| Total votes | 3,603,519 | 100.00% | N/A | ||
| Democratic hold | |||||
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Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
- Bond (Largest city: Greenville)
- Bureau (Largest city: Princeton)
- Cass (Largest city: Beardstown)
- Christian (Largest city: Taylorville)
- Clay (Largest city: Flora)
- Clinton (Largest city: Breese)
- Coles (Largest city: Charleston)
- DeKalb (Largest city: DeKalb)
- Fayette (Largest city: Vandalia)
- Greene (Largest city: Carrollton)
- Grundy (Largest city: Morris)
- Hamilton (Largest city: McLeansboro)
- Hancock (Largest city: Hamilton)
- Hardin (Largest city: Rosiclare)
- Jefferson (Largest city: Mount Vernon)
- Jersey (Largest city: Jerseyville)
- Jo Daviess (Largest city: Galena)
- Kankakee (Largest city: Kankakee)
- Lawrence (Largest city: Lawrenceville)
- Marion (Largest city: Centralia)
- Marshall (Largest city: Henry)
- Mason (Largest city: Havana)
- Massac (Largest city: Metropolis)
- McDonough (Largest city: Macomb)
- Moultrie (Largest city: Sullivan)
- Piatt (Largest city: Monticello)
- Pike (Largest city: Pittsfield)
- Pope (Largest city: Golconda)
- Randolph (Largest city: Chester)
- Saline (Largest city: Harrisburg)
- Schuyler (Largest city: Rushville)
- Shelby (Largest city: Shelbyville)
- Union (Largest city: Anna)
- Vermilion (Largest city: Danville)
- Warren (Largest city: Monmouth)
- White (Largest city: Carmi)
- Will (Largest city: Joliet)
- Williamson (Largest city: Marion)
- Winnebago (Largest city: Rockford)
- Franklin (Largest city: West Frankfort)
- Henry (Largest city: Kewanee)
- LaSalle (Largest city: Ottawa)
- Macon (Largest city: Decatur)
- Macoupin (Largest city: Carlinville)
- Montgomery (Largest city: Litchfield)
- Perry (Largest city: Du Quoin)
- Boone (largest city: Belvidere)
- Carroll (largest city: Savanna)
- DuPage (largest city: Aurora)
- Kane (largest city: Aurora)
- Kendall (largest village: Oswego)
- McHenry (largest city: Crystal Lake)
- McLean (largest city: Bloomington)
- Stephenson (largest city: Freeport)
- Adams (largest city: Quincy)
- Brown (largest city: Mount Sterling)
- Cumberland (largest city: Neoga)
- Crawford (largest city: Robinson)
- DeWitt (largest city: Clinton)
- Douglas (largest city: Tuscola)
- Clark (largest city: Marshall)
- Edgar (largest city: Paris)
- Effingham (largest city: Effingham)
- Ford (largest city: Paxton)
- Iroqouis (largest city: Watseka)
- Jasper (largest city: Newton)
- Lake (largest city: Waukegan)
- Livingston (largest city: Pontiac)
- Lee (largest city: Dixon)
- Logan (largest city: Lincoln)
- Madison (largest city: Granite City)
- Menard (largest city: Petersburg)
- Mercer (largest city: Aledo)
- Monroe (largest city: Waterloo)
- Morgan (largest city: Jacksonville)
- Ogle (largest city: Rochelle)
- Peoria (largest city: Peoria)
- Putnam (largest city: Hennpin)
- Richland (largest city: Olney)
- Sangamon (largest city: Springfield)
- Scott (largest city: Winchester)
- Tazewell (largest city: Pekin)
- Wabash (largest city: Mount Carmel)
- Washington (largest city: Nashville)
- Pearson, Rick (March 8, 2013). "Durbin telling top Democrats he'll seek re-election in 2014". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
- "Voter Turnout". www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on May 30, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
- "Election Results". www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
- Pearson, Rick (November 22, 2013). "Oberweis to run for U.S. Senate seat held by Durbin". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
- Held, Kevin (July 15, 2013). "Doug Truax announces challenge for Durbin's U.S. Senate seat". KSDK.com. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
- "Unknown Republicans File for Illinois Governor, US Senate, Legislature". Illinois Observer. December 3, 2013. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
- "Republican Candidate For Governor Kicked Off The Ballot". WUIS 919. January 10, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
- Huston, Warner Todd (April 15, 2013). "An Interview With Chad Koppie, Running for U.S. Senate From Illinois". Publius Forum. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
- Riopell, Mike (August 30, 2013). "Walsh weighing a bid for Durbin's U.S. Senate seat". Daily Herald. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
- Choose Truax to challenge Durbin Chicago Tribune, March 5, 2014
- Official Illinois State Board of Elections Results Archived January 12, 2015, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved January 5, 2015.
- "Fuji Shioura". Retrieved September 15, 2014.
- "Sharon Hansen". Retrieved August 14, 2014.
- "Who is Chad Koppie?". Retrieved August 14, 2014.
- "Campaign 2014". Archived from the original on October 13, 2014. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
- Illinois Green Party on Sidelines in November Pantagraph.com, August 21, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2014
- Open Secrets | Elections | U.S. Senate opensecrets.org
- "2014 Senate Race Ratings for November 3, 2014". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
- "The Crystal Ball's Final 2014 Picks". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
- "2014 Senate Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
- "2014 Elections Map - Battle for the Senate 2014". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
- Sharon Hansen (L)
- Sharon Hansen (L) 6%, Other 1%
- Newman, James (November 5, 2014). "Quinn/Rauner a Squeaker? Durbin/Oberweis a Cakewalk? Think Again". NIU Today. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
- "November 4, 2014 General election Official results" (PDF). Illinois Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 28, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2014.