2014 Illinois elections explained

Election Name:2014 Illinois elections
Country:Illinois
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2012 Illinois elections
Previous Year:2012
Next Election:2016 Illinois elections
Next Year:2016
Election Date:November 4, 2014
Turnout:49.18%

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.

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]

General election

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

Turnout by county[3]

Federal elections

United States Senate

See main article: 2014 United States Senate election in Illinois.

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

United States House

See main article: 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois.

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

See main article: 2014 Illinois gubernatorial election.

Election Name:2014 Illinois gubernatorial election
Country:Illinois
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2010 Illinois gubernatorial election
Previous Year:2010
Next Election:2018 Illinois gubernatorial election
Next Year:2018
Election Date:November 4, 2014
Nominee1:Bruce Rauner
Running Mate1:Evelyn Sanguinetti
Party1:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:1,823,627
Percentage1:50.3%
Nominee2:Pat Quinn
Running Mate2:Paul Vallas
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:1,681,343
Percentage2:46.4%
Governor
Before Election:Pat Quinn
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Bruce Rauner
After Party:Republican Party (United States)
Turnout:48.48%

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.[5]

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.[6] 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.[7]

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.[8]

Attorney General

Election Name:2014 Illinois Attorney General election
Country:Illinois
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2010 Illinois Attorney General election
Previous Year:2010
Next Election:2018 Illinois Attorney General election
Next Year:2018
Election Date:November 4, 2014
Nominee1:Lisa Madigan
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:2,142,558
Percentage1:59.46%
Nominee2:Paul Schimpf
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:1,360,763
Percentage2:37.77%
Attorney General
Before Election:Lisa Madigan
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Lisa Madigan
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)
Turnout:48.15%

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

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared
Withdrew
Declined

Results

General election

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin
of error		Lisa
Madigan (D)		Paul
Schimpf (R)		Ben
Koyl (L)		OtherUndecided
APC ResearchOctober 16–21, 2014800± 3.5% align=center61%24%6%1%8%
We Ask AmericaOctober 6, 20141,097± 3% align=center56%31%5%—8%
We Ask AmericaSeptember 17, 20141,071± 3.1% align=center53%32%6%—9%
We Ask AmericaSeptember 3, 20141,096± 3% align=center54%30%5%—11%
We Ask AmericaJuly 30, 20141,057± 3.02% align=center52%35%——13%
McKeon & AssociatesJuly 9–10, 2014800± 3.9% align=center46%37%——17%
We Ask AmericaJune 16, 20141,023± 3.06% align=center51%35%——14%

Results

Secretary of State

Election Name:2014 Illinois Secretary of State election
Country:Illinois
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:Illinois elections, 2010#Secretary of State
Previous Year:2010
Next Election:Illinois elections, 2018#Secretary of State
Next Year:2018
Election Date:November 4, 2014
Nominee1:Jesse White
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:2,374,849
Percentage1:65.70%
Nominee2:Mike Webster
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:1,134,452
Percentage2:31.39%
Secretary of State
Before Election:Jesse White
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Jesse White
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)
Turnout:48.30%

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

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared
Withdrew

Results

General election

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin
of error		Jesse
White (D)		Mike
Webster (R)		Christopher
Michel (L)		OtherUndecided
APC ResearchOctober 16–21, 2014800± 3.5% align=center68%19%5%1%7%
We Ask AmericaSeptember 17, 20141,071± 3.1% align=center61%28%5%—6%
We Ask AmericaSeptember 3, 20141,096± 3% align=center61%26%5%—7%
We Ask AmericaJuly 30, 20141,057± 3.02% align=center60%31%——9%
We Ask AmericaJune 16, 20141,023± 3.06% align=center63%29%——9%

Results

Comptroller

Election Name:2014 Illinois State Comptroller election
Country:Illinois
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:Illinois elections, 2010#Comptroller
Previous Year:2010
Next Election:2016 Illinois Comptroller special election
Next Year:2016 (special)
Election Date:November 4, 2014
Nominee1:Judy Baar Topinka
Party1:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:1,775,983
Percentage1:49.56%
Nominee2:Sheila Simon
Popular Vote2:1,636,593
Percentage2:45.67%
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
State Comptroller
Before Election:Judy Baar Topinka
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:Judy Baar Topinka
After Party:Republican Party (United States)
Turnout:47.89%

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

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared
Withdrew

Results

General election

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin
of error		Judy Baar
Topinka (R)		Sheila
Simon (D)		Julie
Fox (L)		OtherUndecided
APC ResearchOctober 16–21, 2014800± 3.5% align=center49%31%8%1%11%
Communication ExpressSeptember 30, 20141,167± 2.87% align=center53%31%5%—11%
We Ask AmericaSeptember 17, 20141,071± 3.1% align=center55%32%6%—8%
We Ask AmericaSeptember 2, 20141,064± 3% align=center51%32%8%—9%
We Ask AmericaJuly 31, 20141,005± 3.1% align=center51%32%——17%
We Ask AmericaJune 17, 20141,021± 3.07% align=center48%37%——15%
We Ask America[21] April 27, 2014 —± 3.14% align=center51%38%——11%
We Ask America[22] April 21, 2014 —± 3.21% align=center56%29%——15%

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

Election Name:2014 Illinois State Treasurer election
Country:Illinois
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2010 Illinois elections#Treasurer
Previous Year:2010
Next Election:2018 Illinois elections#Treasurer
Next Year:2018
Election Date:November 4, 2014
Nominee1:Mike Frerichs
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:1,694,885
Percentage1:48.05%
Nominee2:Tom Cross
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:1,685,659
Percentage2:47.79%
Treasurer
Before Election:Dan Rutherford
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:Mike Frerichs
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)
Turnout:47.14%

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

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin
of error		Tom
Cross		Bob
Grogan		Bob
Schillerstrom		OtherUndecided
Battleground PollingNovember 3–11, 2013535± 3.97% align=center27%13%—— align=center60%
Battleground PollingMay 20–27, 2013400± 4.8%— align=center21%18% align=center61%—

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Results

General election

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin
of error		Tom
Cross (R)		Mike
Frerichs (D)		Matthew
Skopek (L)		OtherUndecided
McKeon & AssociatesOctober 28, 2014823± 3.9% align=center35%32%7%—26%
APC ResearchOctober 16–21, 2014800± 3.5% align=center38%34%7%2%20%
We Ask AmericaOctober 7, 20141,083± 2.98% align=center40%39%6%—15%
Communication ExpressSeptember 30, 20141,134± 2.87% align=center44%34%3%—19%
We Ask AmericaSeptember 17, 20141,071± 3.1% align=center43%35%7%—15%
We Ask AmericaSeptember 4, 20141,014± 3.08% align=center43%37%6%—14%
We Ask AmericaJuly 31, 20141,005± 3.1% align=center45%33%——21%
We Ask AmericaJune 17, 20141,021± 3.07% align=center43%34%——23%
We Ask AmericaApril 27, 2014 —± 3.14% align=center41%37%——22%
We Ask AmericaApril 21, 2014 —± 3.21% align=center33%20%—— align=center47%

Results

State Senate

See main article: 2014 Illinois Senate election. One-third of the seats of the Illinois Senate were up for election in 2014.

State House of Representatives

See main article: 2014 Illinois House of Representatives election. 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

See main article: 2014 Illinois 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.[30]

Ballot measures

Illinois voters voted on a two ballot measures in 2014.[31] 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.[31]

Illinois Crime Victims' Bill of Rights

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

Results

Illinois Crime Victims' Bill of Rights[32]
OptionVotes% of votes
on measure		% of all ballots
cast
text align=center Yestext align=center 2,653,475text align=center 78.4text align=center 72.10
text align=center Notext align=center 728,991text align=center 21.6text align=center 19.81
text align=center Total votestext align=center 3,382,466text align=center 100text align=center 91.90
Voter turnout colspan=3 text align=right 45.07%

Illinois Right to Vote Amendment

See main article: 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.[33]

Both proponents and opponents argued that the legislation was intended to block Voter Identification laws from being passed in Illinois.[33]

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

Results

Illinois Right to Vote Amendment
OptionVotes% of votes
on measure		% of all ballots
cast
text align=center Yestext align=center 2,350,114text align=center 70.99text align=center 63.85
text align=center Notext align=center 960,181text align=center 29.01text align=center 26.09
text align=center Total votestext align=center 3,310,295text align=center 100text align=center 89.94
Voter turnout colspan=3 text align=right 44.24%

Local elections

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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Voter Turnout . www.elections.il.gov . Illinois State Board of Elections . 22 March 2020.
  2. For more on Cook County primary turnout, see 2014 Cook County, Illinois elections#Voter turnout
  3. Web site: Voter Turnout . www.elections.il.gov . Illinois State Board of Elections . 22 March 2020.
  4. For more on Cook County general election turnout, see 2014 Cook County, Illinois elections#Voter turnout
  5. Web site: Quinn Running Again Because "I Think I'm Doing A Good Job". NBC Chicago. November 29, 2012. November 24, 2013.
  6. Web site: Simon will not run again for lieutenant governor . Chicago Tribune . February 13, 2013 . November 24, 2013.
  7. Web site: Gov candidate Bruce Rauner announces Evelyn Sanguinetti as running mate. October 8, 2013. October 19, 2013. ABC 7 Chicago. Charles. Thomas. https://web.archive.org/web/20131020105944/http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news%2Fpolitics&id=9279300. October 20, 2013. dead.
  8. Web site: Pat Quinn Concedes Illinois Gubernatorial Race to Bruce Rauner. Huffington Post. November 5, 2014. November 6, 2014.
  9. Web site: This just in… Lisa Madigan announces reelection bid . . July 15, 2013 . November 24, 2013.
  10. Web site: Schimpf discusses why he wants Attorney General job . Peoria Public Radio . September 18, 2013 . November 24, 2013.
  11. Web site: Sheriff Curran drops attorney general bid . Lake County News-Sun . February 13, 2013 . November 24, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131202230406/http://newssun.suntimes.com/news/18206653-418/curran-to-run-for-re-election-for-lake-county-sheriff.html . December 2, 2013 . dead . mdy-all .
  12. Web site: Mike Webster Announces Bid for Illinois Attorney General . Joliet Patch . October 24, 2013 . November 24, 2013.
  13. Web site: Leader Cross eyeing attorney general bid . Capitol Fax . May 20, 2013 . November 24, 2013.
  14. Web site: Durkin to run for House GOP Leader, won’t vote for gay marriage . Capitol Fax . May 30, 2013 . November 24, 2013.
  15. Web site: Jesse White launches bid to seek re-election as secretary of state . Chicago Tribune . September 13, 2013 . November 24, 2013.
  16. Web site: Hinsdale attorney to challenge Jesse White for secretary of state . The Doings Hinsdale . November 20, 2013 . December 24, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131225121955/http://hinsdale.suntimes.com/news/government/hinsdale_atty_challenges_jesse_white-HIN-11202013:article . December 25, 2013 . dead .
  17. Web site: Secretary of state candidate headed to Sugar Grove . Kane County Chronicle . September 28, 2013 . November 24, 2013.
  18. Web site: Sheila Simon to run for comptroller . Chicago Tribune . August 1, 2013 . November 24, 2013.
  19. Web site: Judy Baar Topinka running for Comptroller re-election . ABC Local . September 15, 2013 . November 24, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131202221927/http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?id=9247512 . December 2, 2013 . live .
  20. Web site: Simon still thinking about comptroller? . Capitol Fax . March 20, 2013 . July 3, 2014.
  21. Poll identified candidate's party
  22. Poll did not identify candidate's party
  23. Web site: Big GOP guns back Cross' treasurer run, but House Republicans suffer . Chicago Business . September 13, 2013 . November 24, 2013.
  24. Web site: DuPage auditor running for state treasurer . ABC Local . August 27, 2013 . November 24, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131202230555/http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?id=9220715 . December 2, 2013 . live .
  25. Web site: New name emerges in Illinois Treasurer race . Chicago Sun-Times . April 8, 2013 . November 24, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131018183807/http://blogs.suntimes.com/politics/2013/04/new_name_emerges_in_illinois_treasurer_race.html . October 18, 2013 . dead . mdy-all .
  26. Web site: Former DuPage board chairman ends state treasurer bid . Chicago Tribune . September 5, 2013 . November 24, 2013.
  27. Web site: Poe among contenders to replace Cross as GOP House leader . State Journal-Register . August 21, 2013 . November 24, 2013.
  28. Web site: State Treasurer Dan Rutherford to announce run for governor. May 30, 2013. May 31, 2013. Chicago Sun-Times. Neil. Steinberg.
  29. Web site: Frerichs to run for state treasurer . The News-Gazette . June 21, 2013 . November 24, 2013.
  30. Web site: Illinois judicial elections, 2014 . Ballotpedia. en. 2020-04-04.
  31. Web site: Illinois Constitution - Amendments Proposed . www.ilga.gov . Illinois General Assembly . 26 March 2020.
  32. Web site: Election Results: General Election—11/4/2014 . . 4 November 2014 . 2 November 2015 .
  33. Web site: Illinois Right to Vote Amendment (2014) . Ballotpedia . 27 March 2020 . en.

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