1994 Illinois elections

1994 Illinois elections

←  1992 November 8, 1994 1996  →
Turnout	52.61%

Elections were held in Illinois on Tuesday, November 8, 1994. Primaries were held on March 15, 1994. ^[1]

These elections saw the Republican Party make significant gains, and conversely saw the Democratic Party see significant losses. The Republican Party captured the State House and retained control of the State Senate and, winning them a trifecta of state government control. ^[2] The Republican Party additionally won all statewide executive offices, retaining the governorship and office of lieutenant governor in their combined election, retaining the office of Secretary of State, while also flipping the offices of Attorney General, Comptroller, and Treasurer. The Republican Party also gained two more of Illinois' U.S. congressional seats.

The result of the election marked the first time since the 1950s that all executive offices and control of the Illinois General Assembly were held by a single party (the previous time had also seen the Republican Party reach this feat).

Election information

1994 was a midterm election year in the United States.

The 1994 midterm elections saw a strong national showing by the Republican Party, which was dubbed the Republican Revolution.

Turnout

For the primaries, turnout was 31.91%, with 1,963,606 ballots cast (with 1,186,888 Democratic ballots, 729,372 Republican ballots, 674 Harold Washington, and 46,619 nonpartisan ballots cast). ^[1]

For the general election, turnout was 52.61%, with 3,219,122 ballots cast. ^[3]

Straight-ticket voting

Illinois had a straight-ticket voting option in 1994. ^[3]

Party	Number of straight-ticket votes [3]
Democratic	407,858
Republican	587,670
Libertarian	2,343
United Independents Party	654

Federal elections

United States House

Main article: 1994 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois

See also: 1994 United States House of Representatives elections

All Illinois seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 1994.

The Republican Party flipped two seats from the Democratic Party. Among the two Democrats unseated by Republicans was Ways and Means Chairman Dan Rostenkowski, who had been in congress since 1959. ^[4] This left the party composition of Illinois' House delegation 10 Democrats and 10 Republicans.

State elections

Governor and Lieutenant Governor

Main article: 1994 Illinois gubernatorial election

1994 Illinois gubernatorial election

←  1990 November 8, 1994 1998  →
Turnout	50.77%
Nominee Jim Edgar Dawn Clark Netsch Party Republican Democratic Running mate Bob Kustra Penny Severns Popular vote 1,984,318 1,069,850 Percentage 63.9% 34.4%
County results Edgar:     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%     80-90% Netsch:     40–50%
Governor before election Jim Edgar Republican Elected Governor Jim Edgar Republican

Incumbent Governor Jim Edgar, a Republican, won reelection in the greatest landslide in Illinois history, excepting the election of 1818. Edgar carried 101 of the state's 102 counties over the Democratic nominee, State Comptroller Dawn Clark Netsch, with Netsch only winning Gallatin County. To date, this is the most recent statewide election in which Cook County voted for the Republican candidate.

Gubernatorial election ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jim Edgar (incumbent) / Bob Kustra (incumbent)	1,984,318	63.9
	Democratic	Dawn Clark Netsch / Penny Severns	1,069,850	34.4
	Libertarian	David L. Kelley	52,388	1.69
	Write-in	Other	10	0.0
Total votes			3,106,556	100

Attorney General

1994 Illinois Attorney General election

←  1990 November 8, 1994 1998  →
Turnout	50.34% [3]
Nominee Jim Ryan Al Hofeld Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,651,976 1,371,295 Percentage 53.63% 44.52%
County results Ryan:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Hofeld:     40–50%     50–60%
Attorney General before election Roland Burris Democratic Elected Attorney General Jim Ryan Republican

Incumbent Attorney General Roland Burris, a Democrat, did not run for a second term, instead opting (ultimately unsuccessfully) to seek the Democratic nomination for governor. Republican Jim Ryan was elected to succeed him in office.

Democratic primary

Attorney and 1992 U.S. Senate candidate Al Hofeld won the Democratic primary, defeating former Chicago alderman Martin J. Oberman. ^{[1] [5]}

Attorney General Democratic primary ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Al Hofeld	573,033	57.70
	Democratic	Martin J. Oberman	420,019	42.30
Total votes			993,052	100

Republican primary

DuPage County state's attorney Jim Ryan won the Republican primary, defeating Metra Chairman Jeffrey Ladd and attorney Themis Anagost. ^{[5] [6]} Ryan had been the unsuccessful Republican nominee for attorney general in 1990. ^[6]

Attorney General Republican primary ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jim Ryan	471,068	71.64
	Republican	Jeff Ladd	176,002	26.77
	Republican	Themis Anagost	10,482	71.64
Total votes			657,552	100

General election

Attorney General election ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jim Ryan	1,651,976	53.63
	Democratic	Albert F. Hofeld	1,371,295	44.52
	Libertarian	Natalie Loder Clark	57,104	1.85
Total votes			3,080,375	100

Secretary of State

1994 Illinois Secretary of State election

←  1990 November 8, 1994 1998  →
Turnout	50.48% [3]
Nominee George Ryan Pat Quinn Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,868,144 1,182,629 Percentage 60.48% 38.29%
County results Ryan:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Quinn:     40–50%     50–60%
Secretary of State before election George Ryan Republican Elected Secretary of State George Ryan Republican

Incumbent Secretary of State George Ryan was reelected to a second term. As of 2022 ^[update] , this was the last time a Republican was elected Illinois Secretary of State.^{[ original research? ]}

Democratic primary

Treasurer of Illinois Pat Quinn won the Democratic primary, defeating Illinois State Senator Denny Jacobs and Larouche movement member Rose-Marie Love. ^{[7] [8]}

Originally, Kane County Coroner Mary Lou Kearns had also declared herself a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Secretary of State, but she subsequently decided to instead run for Comptroller. ^[9]

Secretary of State Democratic primary ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Pat Quinn	641,787	70.54
	Democratic	Denny Jacobs	141,058	15.51
	Democratic	Rose-Marie Love	126,939	13.95
Total votes			909,784	100

Republican primary

Incumbent George Ryan ran unopposed in the Republican primary.

Secretary of State Republican primary ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	George H. Ryan (incumbent)	621,196	100
Total votes			621,196	100

General election

Secretary of State election ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	George H. Ryan (incumbent)	1,868,144	60.48
	Democratic	Pat Quinn	1,182,629	38.29
	Libertarian	Joseph Schreiner	38,074	1.23
Total votes			3,088,847	100

Comptroller

1994 Illinois State Comptroller election

←  1990 November 8, 1994 1998  →
Turnout	47.99% [3]
Nominee Loleta Didrickson Earlean Collins Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,615,122 1,208,128 Percentage 55.00% 41.14%
County results Didrickson:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Collins:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%
State Comptroller before election Dawn Clark Netsch Democratic Elected State Comptroller Loleta Didrickson Republican

Incumbent Comptroller Dawn Clark Netsch, a Democrat, did not seek reelection to a second term, instead opting to run for governor. Republican Loleta Didrickson was elected to succeed her in office.

Democratic primary

Illinois State Senator Earlean Collins defeated Kane County Coroner/Kane County Democratic Party Chairwoman Mary Lou Kearns, Lyons Township Assessor Edward J. Schumann, and Larouche movement member Mark Bender. ^{[7] [9] [10]}

Comptroller Democratic primary ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Earlean Collins	320,718	36.15
	Democratic	Mary Lou Kearns	311,088	35.06
	Democratic	Edward J. Schumann	161,733	18.23
	Democratic	Mark P. Bender	93,676	10.56
Total votes			887,215	100

Republican primary

Comptroller Republican primary ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Loleta A. Didrickson	537,642	100
Total votes			537,642	100

General election

Comptroller election ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Loleta A. Didrickson	1,615,122	55.00
	Democratic	Earlean Collins	1,208,128	41.14
	Libertarian	Michael J. Ginsberg	113,071	3.85
Total votes			2,936,321	100

Treasurer

1994 Illinois State Treasurer election

←  1990 November 8, 1994 1998  →
Turnout	48.78% [3]
Nominee Judy Baar Topinka Nancy Drew Sheehan Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,504,335 1,427,317 Percentage 50.40% 47.82%
County results Topinka:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Sheehan:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%
Treasurer before election Pat Quinn Democratic Elected Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka Republican

Incumbent Treasurer Pat Quinn, a Democrat, did not run for a second term, instead opting to run for Secretary of State. Republican Judy Baar Topinka was elected to succeed him in office.

Democratic primary

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District board member Nancy Drew Sheehan defeated Thomas J. Beaudette in the Democratic primary. ^{[1] [11]}

Treasurer Democratic primary ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Nancy Drew Sheehan	711,865	84.07
	Democratic	Thomas J. Beaudette	134,873	15.93
Total votes			846,738	100

Republican primary

Illinois State Senator Judy Baar Topinka won the Republican primary, running unopposed.

Treasurer Republican primary ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Judy Baar Topinka	543,235	100
Total votes			543,235	100

General election

Treasurer election ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Judy Baar Topinka	1,504,335	50.40
	Democratic	Nancy Drew Sheehan	1,427,317	47.82
	Libertarian	Kati L. Kroenlein	53,108	1.78
Total votes			2,984,760	100

State Senate

Some of the seats of the Illinois Senate were up for election in 1994. Republicans retained control of the Illinois Senate, which they had captured a majority in during the preceding 1992 elections. ^[2]

State House of Representatives

All of the seats in the Illinois House of Representatives were up for election in 1994. Republicans flipped control of the Illinois House of Representatives. ^[2]

Trustees of the University of Illinois

1994 Trustees of the University of Illinois election

←  1992 November 8, 1994

An election was held for three of nine seats for Trustees of the University of Illinois system for six-year terms.

This was the last election for Trustees of University of Illinois, as this would subsequently become an appointed office. ^[12]

The election saw the reelection of incumbent Republican Judith Reese to a second term, as well as the election of new trustees Republican Bill Engelbrecht and Democrat Martha R. O'Malley. ^[12]

First-term incumbent Democrat Ken Boyle lost reelection. ^{[3] [12]} First-term incumbent Republican Donald W. Grabowski was not nominated for reelection. ^{[3] [12]}

Trustees of the University of Illinois election ^{[3] [12]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Judith Reese (incumbent)	1,432,013	17.55
	Republican	William D. "Bill" Engelbrecht	1,330,511	16.31
	Democratic	Martha R. O'Malley	1,312,075	16.08
	Democratic	Ken Boyle (incumbent)	1,305,334	16.00
	Republican	Brian C. Silverman	1,240,397	15.20
	Democratic	Ross Harano	1,088,218	13.34
	Libertarian	Robin J. Miller	196,068	2.40
	Libertarian	Joni Garcia Rubio	148,395	1.82
	Libertarian	Kirby R. Cundiff	105,994	1.30
	Write-in	Robin Kessinger	4	0.00
Total votes			8,159,009	100

Judicial elections

Multiple judicial positions were up for election in 1994. ^[3]

Ballot measures

Illinois voters voted on a two ballot measures in 1994, ^[13] both of them legislatively referred constitutional amendment In order to be approved, the measures required either 60% support among those specifically voting on the amendment or 50% support among all ballots cast in the elections. ^[13]

Illinois Criminal Defendants' Right to Meet Witnesses Amendment

Voters approved the Illinois Criminal Defendants' Right to Meet Witnesses Amendment (also known as "Amendment 1"), a legislatively referred constitutional amendment which amended Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution of Illinois, which allowed criminal defendants be given the right to be confronted by witnesses. ^{[13] [14]}

Illinois Criminal Defendants' Right to Meet Witnesses Amendment [13]
Option	Votes	% of votes on measure	% of all ballots cast
Yes	1,525,525	62.73	47.39
No	906,383	37.27	28.16
Total votes	2,431,908	100	75.55
Voter turnout	39.74%

Illinois Legislative Session Length Amendment

Voters approved Illinois Legislative Session Length (also known as "Amendment 2"), a legislatively referred constitutional amendment which amended Article IV, Section 10 of the Constitution of Illinois to change the legislative adjournment date from June 20 to May 3. ^{[13] [15] [16]}

Illinois Legislative Session Length Amendment [13]
Option	Votes	% of votes on measure	% of all ballots cast
Yes	1,476,615	68.87	45.87
No	667,585	31.14	20.74
Total votes	2,144,200	100	66.61
Voter turnout	35.04%

Local elections

Local elections were held. These included county elections, such as the Cook County elections.

References

1. "State of Illinois official vote cast at the primary election held on ..." Illinois State Board of Elections. 1966. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
2. "Party control of Illinois state government". Ballotpedia. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
3. "State of Illinois official vote cast at the general election ." Illinois State Board of Elections. 1978. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
4. Terry, Don (November 9, 1994). "THE 1994 ELECTIONS: THE HOUSE ILLINOIS; Rostenkowski, The Old Lion, Is Defeated By a Cub". The New York Times. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
5. "LAWYER JEFF LADD SEEKS ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL POST". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. October 26, 1993. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
6. Presecky, William (March 17, 1994). "PRIMARY-TESTED RYAN AWAITS HOFELD". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
7. Hardy, Thomas; Pearson, Rick. "DEMOCRATS HAVE LEARNED LESSON ABOUT LAROUCHE SLATE". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
8. Pearson, Rick (March 8, 1994). "MAVERICKS QUINN, JACOBS VIE FOR SECRETARY OF STATE". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
9. Kuczka, Susan (March 1, 1994). "PRIMARY SPLITTING UP TEAM". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
10. Young, Linda (October 9, 1994). "KEARNS PROVES PIVOTAL". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
11. Kuczka, Susan (October 20, 1994). "TREASURER'S RACE SURE TO BRING CHANGE TO OFFICE-FIRST WOMAN TO HOLD POST". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
12. "Trustees, University of Illinois Board of Trustees" (PDF). University of Illinois. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
13. "Illinois Constitution - Amendments Proposed". www.ilga.gov. Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
14. "Illinois Criminal Defendants' Right to Meet Witnesses". Ballotpedia. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
15. "Illinois Legislative Session Length, Amendment 2 (1994)". Ballotpedia.
16. "Illinois 1994 ballot measures". Ballotpedia.