1984Flipped from RepublicanFinal results
1984 election for U.S. Senate in Illinois
U.S. Senate · Illinois
Paul Simon (D) won with 50.1% of the vote, defeating Charles H. Percy (R) by 1.9 points, a seat Republicans won last time.
Paul SimonDemocrat · winner
50.1%2,397,165
Charles H. PercyRepublican
48.2%2,308,039
Steven I. GivotLibertarian
1.2%59,777
Marjorie H. PriesOther party
0.3%12,366
Nelson GonzalezSocialist Workers
0.1%4,913
Ishmael FloryCommunist
0.1%4,802
4,787,335 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 1984
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Paul SimonCharles H. Percy
$4.6M
Raised by the campaign
$5.4M
$4.6M
Spent by the campaign
$5.4M
$4.8K
Cash on hand
$125.1K
Other candidates' campaigns: Steven I. Givot $164.8K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1984.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1984
The candidates
Paul Simon (D)Charles H. Percy (R)
Also on the ballot: Steven I. Givot (Libertarian), 1.2%; Marjorie H. Pries (Other party), 0.3%; Nelson Gonzalez (Socialist Workers), 0.1%; Ishmael Flory (Communist), 0.1%