2014 United States Senate election in Illinois

The 2014 United States Senate election in Illinois took place on November 4, 2014, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Illinois, concurrently with the election of the Governor of Illinois, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

2014 United States Senate election in Illinois

← 2008 November 4, 2014 2020 →
Turnout	48.16%
Nominee Dick Durbin Jim Oberweis Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,929,637 1,538,522 Percentage 53.5% 42.7%
County results Durbin:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Oberweis:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
U.S. senator before election Dick Durbin Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Dick Durbin Democratic

Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin ran for re-election to a fourth term.^[1] He was unopposed in the Democratic primary. The Republicans nominated State Senator and perennial candidate for higher office Jim Oberweis.

Durbin defeated Oberweis and Libertarian Sharon Hansen with 53.5% of the vote, the smallest vote total of any of his Senate elections.

Election information

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

Background

Dick Durbin was first elected to the Senate in 1996 and was re-elected by increasingly larger margins in 2002 and 2008. He has served as Senate Majority Whip since 2007 and sought a fourth term in office.^[1]

Turnout

See also: 2014 Illinois elections § Turnout

For the primary election, turnout was 15.77%, with 1,183,429 votes cast.^[2][3] For the general election, turnout was 48.16%, with 3,603,519 votes cast.^[2][3]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Dick Durbin, incumbent U.S. Senator^[1]

Results

Democratic primary results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Dick Durbin (incumbent)	429,041	100.00%
Total votes			429,041	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Jim Oberweis, State Senator, candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2002 and 2004, candidate for Governor in 2006 and nominee for IL-14 in 2008 special and 2008 general election^[4]
• Doug Truax, businessman^[5]

Removed

• Armen Alvarez, Multicultural Membership Development Manager of the Parent-Teacher Association (removed from the ballot)^[6][7]
• William Lee, blogger (removed from the ballot)^[6][7]

Declined

• Chad Koppie, Kane County Regional Board of Schools trustee, candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1992, 1996 and 2008 and candidate for Governor in 1998^[8]
• Joe Walsh, conservative radio talk show host and former U.S. Representative^[9]

Endorsements

Doug Truax

• Newt Gingrich, former United States Speaker of the House of Representatives
• Aaron Schock, U.S. Representative (R-IL)
• John Shimkus, U.S. Representative (R-IL)
• Chicago Tribune^[10]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Jim Oberweis	Doug Truax	Other	Undecided
Market Shares Corp.	February 5–8, 2014	600	± 4%	52%	15%	2%	32%

Hypothetical polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Chad Koppie	William Lee	Jim Oberweis	Joe Ruiz	Doug Truax	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	November 22–25, 2013	375	± 5.1%	3%	4%	42%	1%	7%	—	42%

Results

 

Results by county

  Oberweis—70–80%

  Oberweis—60–70%

  Oberweis—50–60%

  Truax—50–60%

Republican primary results^[3][11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jim Oberweis	423,097	56.08%
	Republican	Doug Truax	331,237	43.91%
	Republican	Write-in	54	<0.01%
Total votes			754,388	100.00%

Independents and Third Party

Candidates

Declared

• Fuji Shioura, Write-In Candidate (Independent)^[12]
• Sharon Hansen (Libertarian)^[13]

Removed from the ballot

• Chad Koppie (Constitution)^[14]
• Omar Lopez (Green)^[15][16]

General election

Fundraising

Campaign Finance Reports through November 24, 2014
Candidate	Raised	Spent
Dick Durbin	$10,309,888	$12,453,951
Jim Oberweis	$2,388,389	$2,416,774
Sharon Hansen	$2,420	$2,367
Source: OpenSecrets^[17]

Debates

• Complete video of debate, October 22, 2014

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report^[18]	Solid D	November 3, 2014
Sabato's Crystal Ball^[19]	Safe D	November 3, 2014
Rothenberg Political Report^[20]	Safe D	November 3, 2014
Real Clear Politics^[21]	Likely D	November 3, 2014

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Dick Durbin (D)	Jim Oberweis (R)	Other	Undecided
We Ask America	September 24, 2013	1,434	± 2.86%	50%	39%	—	11%
Public Policy Polling	November 22–25, 2013	557	± 4.2%	51%	36%	—	12%
Rasmussen Reports	April 9–10, 2014	750	± 4%	51%	37%	3%	10%
	June 12, 2014	1,116	± 2.93%	52%	39%	—	9%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov	July 5–24, 2014	5,324	± 2.1%	48%	41%	1%	11%
	July 30, 2014	1,049	± 3.04%	53%	38%	—	9%
Gravis Marketing	August 4–5, 2014	567	± 4%	48%	38%	—	14%
Harper Polling*	August 25–27, 2014	1,340	± 2.68%	44%	38%	8%^[22]	10%
We Ask America	August 27, 2014	1,054	± 3.02%	48%	41%	4%^[22]	8%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov	August 18 – September 2, 2014	4,363	± 3%	50%	38%	1%	10%
	September 4, 2014	1,014	± 3.08%	49%	39%	4%^[22]	8%
Chicago Tribune	September 3–12, 2014	800	± 3.5%	55%	32%	5%^[22]	7%
Rasmussen Reports	September 24–25, 2014	750	± 4%	51%	37%	4%	8%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov	September 20 – October 1, 2014	3,955	± 2%	51%	39%	0%	9%
	October 7, 2014	1,086	± 2.98%	51%	38%	4%^[22]	6%
UIS Survey Research	October 2–8, 2014	723	± 3.7%	50%	35%	1%	14%
Southern Illinois University	September 23 – October 15, 2014	691 LV	± 3.7%	47%	37%	0%	12%
		1,006 RV	± 3%	49%	32%	0%	14%
APC Research	October 16–21, 2014	800	± 3.5%	50%	36%	7%^[23]	6%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov	October 16–23, 2014	3,519	± 3%	52%	39%	1%	9%
	October 28, 2014	823	± 3.9%	49%	39%	4%^[22]	8%
Public Policy Polling	November 1–2, 2014	1,064	± 3%	51%	41%	4%^[22]	4%
				52%	44%	—	4%

Hypothetical polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Dick Durbin (D)	Bob Dold (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	November 26–28, 2012	500	± 4.4%	54%	33%	—	13%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Dick Durbin (D)	Patrick Hughes (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	November 26–28, 2012	500	± 4.4%	53%	31%	—	16%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Dick Durbin (D)	Chad Koppie (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	November 22–25, 2013	557	± 4.2%	52%	35%	—	13%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Dick Durbin (D)	Doug Truax (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	November 22–25, 2013	557	± 4.2%	51%	33%	—	16%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Dick Durbin (D)	Joe Walsh (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	November 26–28, 2012	500	± 4.4%	54%	29%	—	17%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Dick Durbin (D)	Generic Republican	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	November 26–28, 2012	500	± 4.4%	52%	38%	—	10%

• * Internal poll for the Jim Oberweis campaign.

Results

Durbin won the election, despite winning only 14 of Illinois' 102 counties.^[24]

United States Senate election in Illinois, 2014^[25]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Dick Durbin (incumbent)	1,929,637	53.55%	-14.29%
	Republican	Jim Oberweis	1,538,522	42.69%	+14.16%
	Libertarian	Sharon Hansen	135,316	3.76%	+2.82%
	Write-in		44	0.00%	N/A
Total votes			3,603,519	100.00%	N/A
	Democratic hold

See also

• 2014 United States Senate elections
• 2014 United States elections
• 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois
• 2014 Illinois gubernatorial election

References

1. Pearson, Rick (March 8, 2013). "Durbin telling top Democrats he'll seek re-election in 2014". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
2. . www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on May 30, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
3. . www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
4. Pearson, Rick (November 22, 2013). "Oberweis to run for U.S. Senate seat held by Durbin". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
5. Held, Kevin (July 15, 2013). "Doug Truax announces challenge for Durbin's U.S. Senate seat". KSDK.com. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
6. "Unknown Republicans File for Illinois Governor, US Senate, Legislature". Illinois Observer. December 3, 2013. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
7. "Republican Candidate For Governor Kicked Off The Ballot". WUIS 919. January 10, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
8. Huston, Warner Todd (April 15, 2013). "An Interview With Chad Koppie, Running for U.S. Senate From Illinois". Publius Forum. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
9. Riopell, Mike (August 30, 2013). "Walsh weighing a bid for Durbin's U.S. Senate seat". Daily Herald. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
10. Choose Truax to challenge Durbin Chicago Tribune, March 5, 2014
11. Official Illinois State Board of Elections Results January 12, 2015, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved January 5, 2015.
12. "Fuji Shioura". Retrieved September 15, 2014.
13. "Sharon Hansen". Retrieved August 14, 2014.
14. "Who is Chad Koppie?". Retrieved August 14, 2014.
15. . Archived from the original on October 13, 2014. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
16. Illinois Green Party on Sidelines in November Pantagraph.com, August 21, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2014
17. Open Secrets | Elections | U.S. Senate opensecrets.org
18. "2014 Senate Race Ratings for November 3, 2014". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
19. "The Crystal Ball's Final 2014 Picks". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
20. "2014 Senate Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
21. "2014 Elections Map - Battle for the Senate 2014". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
22. Sharon Hansen (L)
23. Sharon Hansen (L) 6%, Other 1%
24. Newman, James (November 5, 2014). "Quinn/Rauner a Squeaker? Durbin/Oberweis a Cakewalk? Think Again". NIU Today. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
25. (PDF). Illinois Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 28, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2014.

External links

• U.S. Senate elections in Illinois, 2014 at Ballotpedia
• 2014 United States Senate election in Illinois at Curlie
• Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets
• Illinois Senate debate excerpts, OnTheIssues.org