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2020 United States Senate election in Illinois

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2020 United States Senate election in Illinois
2020 United States Senate election in Illinois
Illinois Secretary of State · Public domain · source
Election name2020 United States Senate election in Illinois
CountryIllinois
Typepresidential
Previous election2014 United States Senate election in Illinois
Previous year2014
Next election2026 United States Senate election in Illinois
Next year2026
Election dateNovember 3, 2020
Turnout72.5%
Nominee1Dick Durbin
Party1Democratic Party (United States)
Popular vote13,278,290
Percentage154.9%
Nominee2Mark Curran
Party2Republican Party (United States)
Popular vote22,446,891
Percentage241.0%
TitleU.S. Senator
Before electionDick Durbin
Before partyDemocratic Party (United States)
After electionDick Durbin
After partyDemocratic Party (United States)

2020 United States Senate election in Illinois was held on November 3, 2020, concurrently with the 2020 United States presidential election and other elections to the United States Congress. Incumbent Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, the Senate Minority Whip, sought and won a fifth term in office. He defeated the Republican nominee, former Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran, in a contest that was largely overshadowed by the presidential race and the COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois. The election solidified Democratic control of the state's federal representation alongside President Joe Biden's decisive victory in Illinois.

Background

The seat was held by Dick Durbin, who was first elected in 1996 and had risen to become the Senate Democratic Whip, the second-highest ranking position in the Senate Democratic Caucus. Durbin, a close ally of then-Senator Barack Obama, had long been a prominent figure in Illinois and national politics, known for his advocacy on issues like gun control, immigration reform, and healthcare. The Republican Party in Illinois had struggled in federal elections since the implosion of former Governor Rod Blagojevich's administration and the subsequent rise of Democratic dominance in the state, particularly in the Chicago metropolitan area. The 2018 gubernatorial election, where J. B. Pritzker defeated incumbent Bruce Rauner, further demonstrated the challenging political environment for state Republicans.

Candidates

The Democratic primary was held on March 17, 2020. Senator Dick Durbin faced only nominal opposition, easily securing renomination against little-known candidates including Willie Preston and Robert Marshall. The Republican primary was more contested, featuring former Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran, who had switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican in 2008, businesswoman Peggy Hubbard, and former Downers Grove Mayor Martin Tully. Curran, running as a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, emerged victorious, positioning himself as a law-and-order candidate. Also on the general election ballot were Willie Wilson of the Willie Wilson Party and David F. Black of the Libertarian Party.

General election

The general election campaign was subdued, largely due to the overwhelming focus on the 2020 United States presidential election and the public health restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois. Durbin, with a massive financial advantage and high name recognition, emphasized his seniority in the United States Senate, his role in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and his opposition to the policies of the Trump administration. Curran campaigned on supporting the First Step Act, backing law enforcement, and criticizing Durbin's long tenure in Washington, D.C. as indicative of a career politician. The major television ad spending and candidate debates were minimal, with Durbin refusing to share a stage with Curran, whom he labeled a political opportunist.

Results

As expected, Dick Durbin won re-election by a comfortable, though not landslide, margin. He carried the Democratic strongholds of Cook County, Chicago, and the collar counties around Chicago, while Mark Curran performed strongly in downstate and rural counties such as Madison County, Sangamon County, and Williamson County. Durbin's victory was part of a broader Democratic success in Illinois that saw Joe Biden carry the state by over 17 percentage points and Tammy Duckworth retain her Senate seat. The results continued the trend of Illinois being a reliably blue state in federal elections.

Aftermath

Durbin's re-election ensured he would retain his powerful position as Senate Democratic Whip, a role that became even more critical after the 2020 United States Senate elections resulted in a 50-50 partisan split, giving Democrats control of the chamber with Vice President Kamala Harris's tie-breaking vote. Following the 2021 Georgia runoffs, Durbin ascended to the role of Senate Majority Whip under Chuck Schumer. For the Illinois Republican Party, Curran's defeat highlighted the party's continued difficulties in appealing to a statewide electorate and its structural challenges against the Democratic Party of Illinois. The election set the stage for future high-profile contests, including the 2022 Illinois gubernatorial election.

Category:2020 United States Senate elections Category:United States Senate elections in Illinois Category:2020 Illinois elections