1960 United States Senate election in Illinois

The 1960 United States Senate election in Illinois took place on November 8, 1960. Incumbent Democratic United States Senator Paul Douglas was reelected to a third term.

Election information
The primary (held on April 12) and general election coincided with those for other federal offices (President and House) and those for state elections.

Turnout
Turnout in the primaries was 32.98%, with a total of 1,678,954 votes cast.

Turnout during the general election was 84.24%, with 4,632,796 votes cast.

Democratic primary
Incumbent Paul Douglas was renominated, running unopposed.

Republican primary
Samuel W. Witwer won a crowded Republican primary. Witwer was an attorney known for his work on both state and federal constitutional reforms.

Candidates

 * John R. Harrell
 * John W. Lewis Jr., Illinois State Senator
 * William H. Rentschler, newspaper publisher
 * Samuel W. Witwer, attorney
 * Warren E. Wright, former Illinois Treasurer

Socialist Labor nomination
The Socialist Labor Party of America nominated Louis Fisher.