1972 United States Senate election in Illinois

1972 United States Senate election in Illinois

November 6, 1972

Nominee Charles Percy Roman Pucinski Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 2,867,078 1,721,031 Percentage 62.21% 37.35%

County Results Percy:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

U.S. senator before election Charles H. Percy Republican Elected U.S. Senator Charles H. Percy Republican

The 1972 United States Senate election in Illinois took place on November 6, 1972. Incumbent Republican United States Senator Charles H. Percy sought re-election to the United States Senate. Percy was opposed by Democratic nominee Roman Pucinski, a United States Congressman from Illinois's 11th congressional district, whom he was able to defeat handily to win a second term. As of 2024, this is the last time a Republican was elected to the U.S. Senate from Illinois during a presidential election year.

General election

Candidates

• Charles H. Percy (R), incumbent United States Senator
• Roman Pucinski (D), United States Congressman from Illinois's 11th congressional district
• Edward C. Gross (SL), perennial candidate
• Arnold Becchetti (C)

Results

United States Senate election in Illinois, 1972

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Charles H. Percy (incumbent)	2,867,078	62.21%	+7.27%
	Democratic	Roman Pucinski	1,721,031	37.35%	-6.55%
	Socialist Labor	Edward C. Gross	13,384	0.29%
	Communist	Arnold Becchetti	6,103	0.13%
	Write-ins		784	0.02%
Majority			1,146,047	24.87%	+13.82%
Turnout			3,822,724
	Republican hold		Swing

See also

• United States Senate elections, 1972