# 1986 United States Senate election in Illinois

"none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]]
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vte :
The 1986 United States Senate election in Illinois was held on November 4, 1986. The incumbent Democrat U.S. Senator Alan J. Dixon won re-election to a second term. Until 2022, this was the most recent election in which an incumbent Senator won re-election to Illinois' Class 3 seat and was elected to more than one full term.
Primaries were held March 18, 1986.

## Background

The primaries and general elections coincided with those for House, as well as those for state offices.
For the primaries, the turnout was 21.84%, with 1,333,989 votes were cast.
For the general election, turnout was 52.01%, with 3,122,833 votes cast.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* Alan J. Dixon, incumbent U.S. Senator
* Sheila Jones, perennial candidate

### Results

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Alan J. Dixon (incumbent) | 720,571 | 84.77 |
| | Democratic | Sheila Jones | 129,474 | 15.23 |
| | Write-in | Others | 4 | 0.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 850,049 | 100 |

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* Judy Koehler, state representative
* George Ranney, executive at Inland Steel Company

### Withdrew

* Tom Corcoran, former congressman (1977–1985)
Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Judy Koehler | 266,214 | 55.01 |
| | Republican | George Ranney | 217,720 | 44.99 |
| | Write-in | Others | 6 | 0.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 483,940 | 100 |

## General election

Dixon easily won the senate race. Koehler fared poorly throughout most parts of the state, only winning 10 of the state's 102 counties.
Koehler's campaign was regarded as underfinanced.
Illinois United States Senate election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Alan J. Dixon (incumbent) | 2,033,783 | 65.13% | +9.12% |
| | Republican | Judy Koehler | 1,053,734 | 33.74% | −8.76% |
| | Illinois Solidarity | Einar V. Dyhrkopp | 15,804 | 0.51% | |
| | Libertarian | Donald M. Parrish, Jr. | 13,891 | 0.44% | −0.20% |
| | Socialist Workers | Omari Musa | 5,671 | 0.18% | +0.12% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,122,833 | 100 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | | |