NATIONAL ELECTION RETURNS : EDITION-TIME COMPILATIONS : State-by-State Election Reports of Key Races and Issues : Illinois
Republican Gov. James Thompson won a fourth term after a vitriolic rematch of his 1982 race against Democrat Adlai Stevenson III, who ran on a third-party ticket to dissociate himself from candidates backed by Lyndon H. LaRouche Jr. Thompson received 57% of the vote to Stevenson’s 43%.
Stevenson’s uphill struggle began with the March primary when two LaRouche followers, in stunning upsets, won spots on the Democratic ticket. Declaring himself unwilling to run with them, he formed the Illinois Solidarity Party, but his candidacy never recovered.
The candidates who wrecked Stevenson’s campaign were landslide losers; Mark Fairchild polled 7% of the vote for lieutenant governor, and secretary of state candidate Janice Hart won 22% of that vote.
In the Senate race, Democrat incumbent Alan J. Dixon was easily reelected with 66% of the vote to Republican state Rep. Judy Koehler’s 33%. Einar V. Dyhrkopp, running on the Illinois Solidarity ticket with Stevenson, got 1%.
In House races, Democrats won 13 seats and Republicans took 8.
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