1980Final results

1980 election for U.S. Senate in Illinois

Name: 1980 election for U.S. Senate in Illinois
Start: 1980-11-04
Location: Illinois

U.S. Senate · Illinois

Alan Dixon (D) won with 56.0% of the vote, defeating David C. O'Neal (R) by 13.5 points.

Alan DixonDemocrat · winner

56.0%2,565,302

42.5%1,946,296

0.6%29,328

0.4%19,213

0.3%11,453

0.1%5,626

Burton Lee ArtzSocialist Workers

0.1%2,715

4,580,029 votes

Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET

The seat over time

D − R margin in this seat's races around 1980

Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET

Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.

Alan DixonDavid C. O'Neal

$2.4M

Raised by the campaign

$1.3M

$2.3M

Spent by the campaign

$1.3M

Cash on hand

Other candidates' campaigns: Bruce Green $22.7K · Sidney Lens $2.1K · Michael Soriano $283 · Burton Lee Artz $100.

Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1980.

Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1980

Also on the ballot: Bruce Green (Libertarian), 0.6%; Sidney Lens (Other party), 0.4%; Charles F. Wilson (Communist), 0.3%; Michael Soriano (Workers World), 0.1%; Burton Lee Artz (Socialist Workers), 0.1%