1990 United States Senate election in Illinois

The 1990 United States Senate election in Illinois was held on November 6, 1990. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Paul Simon sought re-election to a second term in office. Simon was opposed by Republican nominee Lynn Morley Martin, a U.S. Congresswoman from Illinois's 16th congressional district, whom he easily defeated to win a second and final term in the Senate.

1990 United States Senate election in Illinois

← 1984 November 6, 1990 1996 →
Turnout	53.90%
Nominee Paul Simon Lynn M. Martin Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,115,377 1,135,628 Percentage 65.07% 34.93%
County results Township results Simon:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Martin:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Tie:      50%
U.S. senator before election Paul Simon Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Paul Simon Democratic

Primaries were held March 20, 1990.^[1]

Background

The primaries and general elections coincided with those for House, as well as those for state offices.

For the primaries, turnout was 23.02%, with 1,384,324 votes cast.^[1] For the general election, turnout was 53.90%, with 3,251,005 votes cast.^[2]

Democratic primary

Democratic primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Paul Simon (incumbent)	811,329	100.00%
Total votes			811,329	100.00%

Republican primary

Republican primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Lynn Martin	572,995	100.00%
Total votes			572,995	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• Paul Simon (D), incumbent United States Senator
• Lynn Morley Martin (R), United States Congresswoman from Illinois's 16th congressional district

Election

At the start of the election, Martin was considered a formidable challenger, but her campaign floundered – in ads, Martin poked fun at Simon's signature bow tie, but the ad campaign, an attempt at humor, was seen by some as petty and mean-spirited. Martin's campaign suffered from poor fundraising as well, being outspent by Simon by a margin of two-to-one. Simon's popularity proved too much to overcome, and he won with 65 percent of the vote, carrying all but two counties in the state; Edwards County in the southeast and McHenry County outside Chicago, in the heart of the district Martin represented for most of the 1980s. In a midterm favorable to Democrats, Martin was further hurt by negative campaign tactics deployed by advisor Roger Ailes, as well as a number of gaffes. Including, referencing downstate voters as "rednecks".^[3] Martin raised the most campaign funds out of any Republican Senate challenger that cycle.^[3]

Results

United States Senate election in Illinois, 1990^[2][4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Paul Simon (incumbent)	2,115,377	65.07%	+15.00%
	Republican	Lynn Martin	1,135,628	34.93%	−13.28%
Total votes			3,251,005	100.00%	N/A
	Democratic hold

See also

• 1990 United States Senate elections