1960 United States Senate election in Illinois

Summary

The 1960 United States Senate election in Illinois took place on November 8, 1960.[1] Incumbent Democratic United States Senator Paul Douglas was reelected to a third term.

1960 United States Senate election in Illinois

← 1954 November 8, 1960 1966 →
Turnout84.24%
 
Nominee Paul Douglas Samuel W. Witwer
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,530,945 2,093,846
Percentage 54.63% 45.20%

County results
Douglas:      50–60%      60–70%
Witwer:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election

Paul Douglas
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Paul Douglas
Democratic

Election information edit

The primary (held on April 12) and general election coincided with those for other federal offices (President and House) and those for state elections.[1]

Turnout edit

Turnout in the primaries was 32.98%, with a total of 1,678,954 votes cast.[1][2]

Turnout during the general election was 84.24%, with 4,632,796 votes cast.[1][2]

Democratic primary edit

Incumbent Paul Douglas was renominated, running unopposed.

Results edit

Democratic primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Paul H. Douglas (Incumbent) 916,951 100
Write-in Others 8 0.00
Total votes 916,959 100

Republican primary edit

Samuel W. Witwer won a crowded Republican primary. Witwer was an attorney known for his work on both state and federal constitutional reforms.[3]

Candidates edit

Results edit

Republican primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Samuel W. Witwer 249,849 32.79
Republican Warren E. Wright 226,449 29.72
Republican William H. Rentschler 202,600 26.59
Republican John W. Lewis, Jr. 48,989 6.43
Republican John R. Harrell 34,106 4.48
Write-in Others 2 0.00
Total votes 761,995 100

Socialist Labor nomination edit

The Socialist Labor Party of America nominated Louis Fisher.

General election edit

Results edit

United States Senate election in Illinois, 1966[1][5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Paul H. Douglas (Incumbent) 2,530,943 54.63%
Republican Samuel W. Witwer 2,093,846 45.20%
Socialist Labor Louis Fisher 8,007 0.17%
Majority 437,097 9.43%
Turnout 4,632,796
Democratic hold

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "OFFICIAL VOTE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION, NOVEMBER 8, 1960 JUDICIAL ELECTION 1959-1960 • PRIMARY ELECTION GENERAL PRIMARY, APRIL 12 1960" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 4, 2020.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ a b "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 4, 1986" (PDF). www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved April 10, 2020.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ a b "Samuel W. Witwer Sr., 90, attorney known..." chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. September 20, 1998. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  4. ^ "WILLIAM H. RENTSCHLER: 1925-2009". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. December 24, 2009. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  5. ^ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 8, 1960" (PDF). Clerk.house.gov. Retrieved April 30, 2019.