Elizabeth Pahlke
Elizabeth Pahlke was a 2016 Republican candidate who sought election to the U.S. Senate from Illinois.[1] She was removed from the ballot after her petitions, many of which were covered with twigs, grass and bird droppings, were challenged.[2]
Pahlke ran as an independent in the special election to the U.S. House representing the 2nd Congressional District of Illinois in 2013. Pahlke was defeated in the general election on April 9, 2013.[3]
Elections
2016
The race for Illinois' U.S. Senate seat was one of nine competitive battleground races in 2016. U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D) defeated incumbent Mark Kirk (R)—who was seeking re-election to his second term—Kenton McMillen (L), and Scott Summers (G) in the general election on November 8, 2016.
In her victory speech, Duckworth said, “Tonight, we showed a campaign that respects voters and is focused on practical solutions rather than shopworn slogans can be successful. We showed that a relentless focus on rebuilding Illinois’ middle class and respecting hard worth rather than wealth can be successful, too.”[4]
During his concession speech, Kirk said, "What unites us as Americans is much stronger than what divides us." Kirk also invited Duckworth to have a beer with him as a peace offering. He said, “This beer summit with [sic] show kids across Illinois that opponents can peacfully [sic] bury the hatchet.”[4][5]
Numerous analysts labeled Kirk the most vulnerable GOP incumbent in 2016 due to Illinois' tendency to vote overwhelmingly for Democrats during presidential election cycles. Kirk faced significant opposition from national Democrats who targeted Illinois as an essential seat needed to regain the majority in the U.S. Senate. Democrats picked up two seats in Election Day, but they fell short of the five seats that they needed to take control of the Senate.[6]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |  Tammy Duckworth |
54.9% | 3,012,940 | |
| Republican | Mark Kirk Incumbent | 39.8% | 2,184,692 | |
| Libertarian | Kenton McMillen | 3.2% | 175,988 | |
| Green | Scott Summers | 2.1% | 117,619 | |
| N/A | Write-in | 0% | 639 | |
| Total Votes | 5,491,878 | |||
| Source: Illinois State Board of Elections | ||||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mark Kirk Incumbent |
70.6% | 931,619 | ||
| James Marter | 29.4% | 388,571 | ||
| Total Votes | 1,320,190 | |||
| Source: Illinois State Board of Elections |
||||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tammy Duckworth |
64.4% | 1,220,128 | ||
| Andrea Zopp | 24% | 455,729 | ||
| Napoleon Harris | 11.6% | 219,286 | ||
| Total Votes | 1,895,143 | |||
| Source: Illinois State Board of Elections |
||||
Pahlke filed to run in the race but was removed from the ballot in January 2016 when her filing petitions were challenged.[2]
2013
Pahlke ran in the 2013 special election for the U.S. House, representing Illinois' 2nd District. The general election took place on April 9, 2013.[7] Pahlke was defeated in the general election.[8]
| U.S. House, Illinois District 2 Special Election, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Robin Kelly |
70.7% | 58,834 | |
| Republican | Paul McKinley | 22.1% | 18,387 | |
| Independent | Elizabeth Pahlke | 3% | 2,525 | |
| Green | LeAlan M. Jones | 1.8% | 1,531 | |
| Independent | Marcus Lewis | 1.6% | 1,359 | |
| Independent | Curtis Llong Bey | 0.7% | 548 | |
| Write-in | Steve Piekarczyk | 0% | 9 | |
| Total Votes | 83,193 | |||
| Source: Results via Illinois State Board of Elections | ||||
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Elizabeth + Pahlke + Illinois + Senate"
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Candidate List," accessed November 30, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Illinois Review, "U.S. Senate candidate - whose petitions included grass, twigs - booted from IL GOP ballot," January 12, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "2013 Election Results" accessed April 9, 2013
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 WTTW.com, "Duckworth Defeats Kirk in Heated US Senate Race," accessed November 15, 2016
- ↑ CBS Chicago, "Tammy Duckworth Defeats Mark Kirk In U.S. Senate Race," accessed November 15, 2016
- ↑ Roll Call, "Democrats Could Face Primary Mess in Illinois Senate Race," January 23, 2015
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "SPECIAL GENERAL ELECTION - 4/9/2013," accessed February 14, 2013
- ↑ Politico, "2013 Election Results" accessed April 9, 2013
