The United States Senate election in Illinois of 1954 took place on November 2, 1954. Incumbent Democratic United States Senator Paul Douglas was reelected to a second term.
Background The primary (held on April 13) and general election coincided with those for House and those for state elections.
Turnout in the primaries was 27.07%, with a total of 1,431,554 votes cast. Despite a crowded field for the Republican nomination, the primaries experienced what The New York Times reporter Richard J. H. Johnston referred to as, "one of the lightest primary votes of recent years," in Illinois.
Turnout during the general election was 63.69%, with 3,368,021 votes cast. This election saw fewer votes cast than were cast in either of the two coinciding races for statewide executive offices in Illinois.
Democratic primary Incumbent Paul Douglas was renominated, running unopposed.
Candidates Paul Douglas, incumbent U.S. Senator
Results
Republican primary Joseph T. Meek won a crowded Republican primary.
Candidates John B. Crane Edgar M. Elbert, businessman and President of Lions Club International Lawrence Daly, perennial candidate Herbert F. Geisler, Chicago alderman Edward A. Hayes, former Commander of The American Legion Julius Klein, business executive, journalist, former spy and former United States Army general Park Livingston, Trustee of University of Illinois and 1952 Illinois gubernatorial candidate Joseph T. Meek, President of the Illinois Federation of Retail Associations Deneen A. Watson Austin L. Wyman, attorney
Results
General election Results
See also United States Senate elections, 1954
References