2002 United States Senate election in Illinois

The United States Senate election in Illinois was held on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Dick Durbin sought re-election to a second term in the United States Senate. Durbin defeated Republican challenger State Representative Jim Durkin in a landslide.

2002 United States Senate election in Illinois

← 1996 November 5, 2002 2008 →
Turnout	49.50%
Nominee Dick Durbin Jim Durkin Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,103,766 1,325,703 Percentage 60.33% 38.02%
County results Congressional district results[a] Durbin:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Durkin:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
U.S. senator before election Dick Durbin Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Dick Durbin Democratic

Background

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

See also: 2002 Illinois elections § Turnout

For the primary elections, turnout was 24.66%, with 1,743,698 votes cast.^[1][2] For the general election, turnout was 49.50%, with 3,486,851 votes cast.^[1][2]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Dick Durbin, incumbent U.S. Senator

Results

Democratic primary results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Dick Durbin (incumbent)	918,467	100.00%
Total votes			918,467	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Jim Durkin, Illinois State Representative
• Jim Oberweis, owner of Oberweis Dairy
• John H. Cox, businessman

Results

Republican primary results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jim Durkin	378,010	45.81%
	Republican	Jim Oberweis	259,515	31.45%
	Republican	John H. Cox	187,706	22.74%
Total votes			825,231	100.00%

General election

Debates

• Complete video of debate, October 23, 2002

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
Sabato's Crystal Ball[4]	Safe D	November 4, 2002

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[b]	Margin of error	Dick Durbin (D)	Jim Durkin (R)	Steven Burgauer (L)	Other / Undecided
SurveyUSA[5]	October 28–30, 2002	528 (LV)	± 4.3%	56%	37%	3%	4%

Results

Durbin won re-election to a second term easily, carrying a majority of the state's 102 counties.

United States Senate election in Illinois, 2002^[1][6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Dick Durbin (incumbent)	2,103,766	60.33%	+4.25%
	Republican	Jim Durkin	1,325,703	38.02%	−2.65%
	Libertarian	Steven Burgauer	57,382	1.65%	+0.68%
Majority			778,063	22.31%	+6.90%
Turnout			3,486,851	49.50%
	Democratic hold		Swing

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Warren (Largest city: Monmouth)
• Piatt (Largest city: Monticello)
• Winnebago (Largest city: Rockford)
• Cumberland (largest city: Neoga)
• DeWitt (largest city: Clinton)
• Kankakee (Largest city: Kankakee)
• DeKalb (Largest city: DeKalb)
• Fayette (Largest city: Vandalia)
• Sangamon (largest city: Springfield)
• Douglas (largest city: Tuscola)
• Edgar (largest city: Paris)
• Jasper (largest city: Newton)
• Scott (largest city: Winchester)
• Logan (largest city: Lincoln)
• Tazewell (largest city: Pekin)
• Menard (largest city: Petersburg)
• Morgan (largest city: Jacksonville)
• Bureau (Largest city: Princeton)
• Grundy (Largest city: Morris)
• McLean (largest city: Bloomington)
• Marshall (Largest city: Henry)
• Will (Largest city: Joliet)
• Schuyler (Largest city: Rushville)
• Shelby (Largest city: Shelbyville)
• Clay (Largest city: Flora)

See also

• 2002 United States Senate elections

Notes

1. Only top two candidates
2. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear