The 1966 United States Senate election in Illinois took place on November 8, 1966. Incumbent Democratic United States Senator Paul Douglas, seeking a fourth term in the United States Senate, faced off against Republican Charles H. Percy, a businessman and the 1964 Republican nominee for Governor of Illinois. A competitive election ensued, featuring campaign appearances by former vice president Richard M. Nixon on behalf of Percy.Perlstein, Rick. Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America. New York: Scribner, 2008. Print. Ultimately, Percy ended up defeating Senator Douglas by a fairly wide margin, allowing him to win what would be the first of three terms in the Senate.
Background The primary (held on June 14) and general election coincided with those for House and state elections.
Turnout in the primaries was 27.13%, with 1,509,302 votes cast.
Turnout during the general election was 71.56%, with a total of 3,822,724 votes cast.
Democratic primary Incumbent Paul Douglas was renominated, running unopposed.
Candidates Paul Douglas, incumbent U.S. Senator
Results
Republican primary Businessman Charles H. Percy won the Republican primary by a large margin.
Candidates Howard J. Doyle Charles H. Percy, businessman and 1964 Illinois gubernatorial nominee Lar Daly, perennial candidate
Results
Write-in candidates Maxwell Primack Robert Sabonjian, Mayor of Waukegan
General election Results
See also United States Senate elections, 1966
References