1986Final results
1986 election for Illinois's 18th District
U.S. House · Illinois
Robert Michel (R) won with 62.6% of the vote, defeating Jim Dawson (D) by 25.2 points.
Robert MichelRepublican · winner
62.6%94,308
Jim DawsonDemocrat
37.4%56,331
150,639 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 1986
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.
Jim DawsonRobert Michel
$12.2K
Raised by the campaign
$689.8K
$11.9K
Spent by the campaign
$639.8K
$258
Cash on hand
$100.3K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1986.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1986