1984 United States Senate election in Illinois

1984 United States Senate election in Illinois

← 1978 November 6, 1984 1990 →
Turnout73.99%
 
Nominee Paul Simon Charles Percy
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,397,165 2,308,039
Percentage 50.07% 48.21%

County results
Simon:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      <90%
Percy:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Tie/No Data:      Tie      No Data

U.S. senator before election

Charles H. Percy
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Paul Simon
Democratic

The 1984 United States Senate election in Illinois took place on November 6, 1984. Incumbent Republican Senator Charles H. Percy ran for re-election to a fourth term in the United States Senate. Senator Percy was opposed by Democratic nominee Paul Simon, who was a United States Congressman from Illinois's 22nd congressional district. The campaign between Percy and Simon was contentious and brutally fought, and ended up with Simon ousting Percy by fewer than 90,000 votes, which was, at the time, considered an upset. Incidentally, Percy's son-in-law Jay Rockefeller was elected Senator from West Virginia in the same election cycle.