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2014 Illinois elections

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A general election was held in the U.S. state of Illinois on November 4, 2014. All of Illinois' executive officers were up for election as well as a United States Senate seat, and all of Illinois' eighteen seats in the United States House of Representatives. Primary elections were held on March 18, 2014.

Quick facts Turnout ...
2014 Illinois elections

← 2012
November 4, 2014
2016 →
Turnout49.18%
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Election information

2014 was a midterm election year in the United States.

Turnout

Primary election

For the primary election, turnout was 18.09%, with 1,357,807 votes cast.[1]

Turnout by county[1]

More information County, Registration ...
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General election

For the general election, turnout was 49.18%, with 3,680,417 votes cast.[2]

Turnout by county[2]

More information County, Registration ...
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Federal elections

United States Senate

Incumbent Democratic senator and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin won reelection to a fourth term.

More information Party, Candidate ...
United States Senate election in Illinois, 2014[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dick Durbin (incumbent) 1,929,637 53.5
Republican Jim Oberweis 1,538,522 42.7
Libertarian Sharon Hansen 135,316 3.8
Write-in 44 0.0
Total votes 3,603,519 100.0
Democratic hold
Close

United States House

All of Illinois' 18 seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 2014.

The Republican Party flipped two Democratic-held seat, making the composition of Illinois' House delegation 10 Democrats and 8 Republicans.

Governor and Lieutenant Governor

Incumbent Democratic Governor Pat Quinn ran for re-election to a second full term as governor. Quinn, the then-lieutenant governor, assumed the office of governor on January 29, 2009, when Rod Blagojevich was impeached and removed from office. He was narrowly elected to a first full term in 2010.[4]

Quinn was renominated by the Democrats, while the Republicans chose businessman and venture capitalist Bruce Rauner and the Libertarians nominated political activist Chad Grimm.

Previously in Illinois, there were separate primary elections for governor and lieutenant governor, with the winners then running together on the same ticket. In 2011, the law was changed and candidates for governor now pick their own running mate. Incumbent Democratic lieutenant governor Sheila Simon did not run for re-election, instead running unsuccessfully for Comptroller.[5] She was replaced as Quinn's running mate by former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas. Rauner chose Wheaton City Councilwoman Evelyn Sanguinetti and Grimm chose Alex Cummings.[6]

Rauner defeated Quinn in the general election by 50.3% of the vote to Quinn's 46.4%. Rauner won every county in Illinois except for Cook County, home to the city of Chicago and 40% of the state's residents.[7]

More information Party, Candidate ...
Illinois gubernatorial election, 2014[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bruce Rauner/Evelyn Sanguinetti 1,823,627 50.3
Democratic Pat Quinn/Paul Vallas (incumbent) 1,681,343 46.4
Libertarian Chad Grimm/Alex Cummings 121,534 3.3
Write-in 1,186 0.0
Total votes 3,627,690 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic
Close

Attorney General

Quick facts Turnout, Nominee ...
2014 Illinois Attorney General election

← 2010
November 4, 2014
2018 →
Turnout48.15%
 
Nominee Lisa Madigan Paul Schimpf
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,142,558 1,360,763
Percentage 59.46% 37.77%

County results
Madigan:      40–50%      50–60%      70–80%
Schimpf:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Attorney General before election

Lisa Madigan
Democratic

Elected Attorney General

Lisa Madigan
Democratic

Close

Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Lisa Madigan ran for re-election to a fourth term in office.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Democratic primary results[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Lisa Madigan (incumbent) 427,639 100.0
Total votes 427,639 100.0
Close

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared
Withdrew
  • Mark Curran, Lake County sheriff[12]
  • Mike Webster, attorney, accountant, and president Cass School District 63 Board of Education (ran for secretary of state)[13]
Declined

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican primary results[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Schimpf 640,595 100.0
Total votes 640,595 100.0
Close

General election

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Lisa
Madigan (D)
Paul
Schimpf (R)
Ben
Koyl (L)
Other Undecided
APC Research[16] October 16–21, 2014 800 ± 3.5% 61% 24% 6% 1% 8%
We Ask America[17] October 6, 2014 1,097 ± 3% 56% 31% 5% — 8%
We Ask America[18] September 17, 2014 1,071 ± 3.1% 53% 32% 6% — 9%
We Ask America[19] September 3, 2014 1,096 ± 3% 54% 30% 5% — 11%
We Ask America[20] July 30, 2014 1,057 ± 3.02% 52% 35% — — 13%
McKeon & Associates[21] July 9–10, 2014 800 ± 3.9% 46% 37% — — 17%
We Ask America[22] June 16, 2014 1,023 ± 3.06% 51% 35% — — 14%
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Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Illinois Attorney General election, 2014[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Lisa Madigan (incumbent) 2,142,558 59.46% −5.26%
Republican Paul Schimpf 1,360,763 37.77% +6.12%
Libertarian Ben Koyl 99,903 2.77% +1.30%
Total votes 3,603,224 100.0%
Democratic hold
Close

Secretary of State

Quick facts Turnout, Nominee ...
2014 Illinois Secretary of State election

← 2010
November 4, 2014
2018 →
Turnout48.30%
 
Nominee Jesse White Mike Webster
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,374,849 1,134,452
Percentage 65.70% 31.39%

County results
White:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Webster:      40–50%      50–60%

Secretary of State before election

Jesse White
Democratic

Elected Secretary of State

Jesse White
Democratic

Close

Incumbent Democratic Secretary of State Jesse White ran for re-election to a fifth term in office.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Democratic primary results[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jesse White (incumbent) 448,025 100.0
Total votes 448,025 100.0
Close

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared
  • Mike Webster, attorney, accountant, and president of the Cass School District 63 Board of Education[24]
Withdrew
  • Will Lindsey, businessman[25]

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican primary results[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Webster 644,248 100.0
Total votes 644,248 100.0
Close

General election

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Jesse
White (D)
Mike
Webster (R)
Christopher
Michel (L)
Other Undecided
APC Research[26] October 16–21, 2014 800 ± 3.5% 68% 19% 5% 1% 7%
We Ask America[18] September 17, 2014 1,071 ± 3.1% 61% 28% 5% — 6%
We Ask America[27] September 3, 2014 1,096 ± 3% 61% 26% 5% — 7%
We Ask America[28] July 30, 2014 1,057 ± 3.02% 60% 31% — — 9%
We Ask America[29] June 16, 2014 1,023 ± 3.06% 63% 29% — — 9%
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Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Illinois Secretary of State election, 2014[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jesse White (incumbent) 2,374,849 65.70% −4.17%
Republican Mike Webster 1,134,452 31.39% +4.37%
Libertarian Christopher Michel 104,498 2.89% −0.22%
Write-in 809 0.02% N/A
Total votes 3,614,608 100.0%
Democratic hold
Close

Comptroller

Quick facts Turnout, Nominee ...
2014 Illinois State Comptroller election

← 2010
November 4, 2014
Turnout47.89%
 
Nominee Judy Baar Topinka Sheila Simon
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,775,983 1,636,593
Percentage 49.56% 45.67%

County results
Topinka:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Simon:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

State Comptroller before election

Judy Baar Topinka
Republican

Elected State Comptroller

Judy Baar Topinka
Republican

Close

Incumbent Republican Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka ran for re-election to a second term in office. As of 2022, this was the last time a Republican was elected Comptroller.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Democratic primary results[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheila Simon 411,623 100.0
Total votes 411,623 100.0
Close

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared
Withdrew

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican primary results[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Judy Baar Topinka (incumbent) 680,768 100.0
Total votes 680,768 100.0
Close

General election

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Judy Baar
Topinka (R)
Sheila
Simon (D)
Julie
Fox (L)
Other Undecided
APC Research[33] October 16–21, 2014 800 ± 3.5% 49% 31% 8% 1% 11%
Communication Express[34] September 30, 2014 1,167 ± 2.87% 53% 31% 5% — 11%
We Ask America[18] September 17, 2014 1,071 ± 3.1% 55% 32% 6% — 8%
We Ask America[35] September 2, 2014 1,064 ± 3% 51% 32% 8% — 9%
We Ask America[36] July 31, 2014 1,005 ± 3.1% 51% 32% — — 17%
We Ask America[37] June 17, 2014 1,021 ± 3.07% 48% 37% — — 15%
We Ask America[38][39] April 27, 2014 — ± 3.14% 51% 38% — — 11%
We Ask America[38][40] April 21, 2014 — ± 3.21% 56% 29% — — 15%
Close

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Illinois State Comptroller election, 2014[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Judy Baar Topinka (incumbent) 1,775,983 49.56% −3.06%
Democratic Sheila Simon 1,636,593 45.67% +4.79%
Libertarian Julie Fox 170,534 4.76% +1.45%
Write-in 176 0.01% N/A
Total votes 3,583,286 100.0
Republican hold
Close

Aftermath

Topinka died on December 10, 2014. Governor Pat Quinn appointed Jerry Stermer to serve out the remainder of her term. A special election was held for the office in 2016.

Treasurer

Quick facts Turnout, Nominee ...
2014 Illinois State Treasurer election

← 2010
November 4, 2014
2018 →
Turnout47.14%
 
Nominee Mike Frerichs Tom Cross
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,694,885 1,685,659
Percentage 48.05% 47.79%

County results
Frerichs:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Cross:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Treasurer before election

Dan Rutherford
Republican

Elected Treasurer

Mike Frerichs
Democratic

Close

Incumbent Republican Treasurer Dan Rutherford did not run for re-election to a second term in office. He instead ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for governor.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared
Withdrew
Declined

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Tom
Cross
Bob
Grogan
Bob
Schillerstrom
Other Undecided
Battleground Polling[47] November 3–11, 2013 535 ± 3.97% 27% 13% — — 60%
Battleground Polling[48] May 20–27, 2013 400 ± 4.8% — 21% 18% 61% —
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Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican primary results[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Cross 397,691 57.4
Republican Bob Grogan 295,682 42.6
Total votes 693,373 100.0
Close

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Democratic primary results[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Frerichs 385,585 100.0
Total votes 385,585 100.0
Close

General election

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Tom
Cross (R)
Mike
Frerichs (D)
Matthew
Skopek (L)
Other Undecided
McKeon & Associates[50] October 28, 2014 823 ± 3.9% 35% 32% 7% — 26%
APC Research[33] October 16–21, 2014 800 ± 3.5% 38% 34% 7% 2% 20%
We Ask America[51] October 7, 2014 1,083 ± 2.98% 40% 39% 6% — 15%
Communication Express[34] September 30, 2014 1,134 ± 2.87% 44% 34% 3% — 19%
We Ask America[18] September 17, 2014 1,071 ± 3.1% 43% 35% 7% — 15%
We Ask America[52] September 4, 2014 1,014 ± 3.08% 43% 37% 6% — 14%
We Ask America[53] July 31, 2014 1,005 ± 3.1% 45% 33% — — 21%
We Ask America[54] June 17, 2014 1,021 ± 3.07% 43% 34% — — 23%
We Ask America[38][39] April 27, 2014 — ± 3.14% 41% 37% — — 22%
We Ask America[38][40] April 21, 2014 — ± 3.21% 33% 20% — — 47%
Close

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Illinois State Treasurer election, 2014[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Mike Frerichs 1,694,884 48.05% +2.79%
Republican Tom Cross 1,685,659 47.79% −1.89%
Libertarian Matthew Skopek 146,654 4.16% +2.27%
Total votes 3,527,197 100.0%
Democratic gain from Republican
Close

State Senate

One-third of the seats of the Illinois Senate were up for election in 2014.

State House of Representatives

All of Illinois' 118 seats in the Illinois House of Representatives were up for election in 2014.

No seats flipped in this election, retaining the composition at 71 Democrats and 47 Republicans.

Judicial elections

Judicial elections were held, which consisted of both partisan and retention elections, including those one seat of the Supreme Court of Illinois for ten seats in the Illinois Appellate Court.[55]

Ballot measures

Illinois voters voted on a two ballot measures in 2014.[56] 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.[56]

Illinois Crime Victims' Bill of Rights

Illinois voters approved the Illinois Crime Victims' Bill of Rights (commonly known as "Marsy's Law"), a legislatively referred constitutional amendment.

Results

More information Option, Votes ...
Illinois Crime Victims' Bill of Rights[2][56][57]
Option Votes % of votes
on measure
% of all ballots
cast
Yes 2,653,475 78.4 72.10
No 728,991 21.6 19.81
Total votes 3,382,466 100 91.90
Voter turnout 45.07%
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Illinois Right to Vote Amendment

Illinois voters approved the Illinois Right to Vote Amendment, a legislatively referred constitutional amendment. The amendment was designed to provide that no person shall be denied the right to register to vote or cast a ballot in an election based on race, color, ethnicity, language, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation or income.[58]

Both proponents and opponents argued that the legislation was intended to block Voter Identification laws from being passed in Illinois.[58]

The measure added a Section 8 to Article III of the Constitution of Illinois which reads,

No person shall be denied the right to register to vote or to cast a ballot in an election based on race, color, ethnicity, status as a member of a language minority, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or income.[58]

Results

More information Illinois Right to Vote Amendment, Option ...
Illinois Right to Vote Amendment[2][56]
Option Votes % of votes
on measure
% of all ballots
cast
Yes 2,350,114 70.99 63.85
No 960,181 29.01 26.09
Total votes 3,310,295 100 89.94
Voter turnout 44.24%
Close

Local elections

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

Notes

  1. For more on Cook County primary turnout, see 2014 Cook County, Illinois elections#Voter turnout
  2. For more on Cook County general election turnout, see 2014 Cook County, Illinois elections#Voter turnout

References

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