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2008 United States Senate election in Illinois Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge

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Study Guide: The 2008 Illinois Senate Election: Analysis and Outcomes

Cheat Sheet:
The 2008 Illinois Senate Election: Analysis and Outcomes Study Guide

Election Overview and Key Participants

The 2008 United States Senate election for the Illinois seat convened on November 4, 2008.

Answer: True

Explanation: The established date for the general election for the Illinois Senate seat in 2008 was November 4, 2008.

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What was the specific date of the 2008 United States Senate election in Illinois?

Answer: November 4, 2008

Explanation: The general election for the Illinois Senate seat in 2008 was held on November 4, 2008.

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Who was the incumbent U.S. Senator from Illinois seeking re-election in 2008?

Answer: Dick Durbin

Explanation: The incumbent U.S. Senator from Illinois seeking re-election in 2008 was Dick Durbin.

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What was the overall outcome of the 2008 Illinois Senate election for the incumbent?

Answer: Dick Durbin won re-election, securing his third term in office.

Explanation: The incumbent Democratic Senator, Dick Durbin, successfully won re-election, securing his third term in office.

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Incumbent Senator Dick Durbin's Performance

Dick Durbin was the Republican challenger seeking re-election in the 2008 Illinois Senate race.

Answer: False

Explanation: Contrary to the assertion, Dick Durbin was the incumbent Democratic Senator, not the Republican challenger, in the 2008 Illinois Senate race.

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Incumbent Democratic Senator Dick Durbin lost his bid for a third term in the 2008 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: False

Explanation: The incumbent Democratic Senator, Dick Durbin, successfully won re-election, securing his third term in office, contrary to the statement.

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Dick Durbin received 3,615,844 votes in the 2008 Illinois Senate general election.

Answer: True

Explanation: The official results confirm that Dick Durbin received 3,615,844 votes in the 2008 Illinois Senate general election.

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Dick Durbin won approximately 60% of the vote in the 2008 Illinois Senate general election.

Answer: False

Explanation: Dick Durbin secured approximately 67.84% of the vote in the 2008 Illinois Senate general election, exceeding 60%.

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Dick Durbin's vote total in 2008 was the highest ever recorded in an Illinois statewide election up to that point.

Answer: True

Explanation: The source confirms that Dick Durbin's vote total of 3,615,844 in 2008 set a record for an Illinois statewide election at that time.

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Dick Durbin won all 102 counties in Illinois during the 2008 general election.

Answer: False

Explanation: Dick Durbin achieved broad support, winning 98 of Illinois's 102 counties, not all of them.

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Dick Durbin faced multiple opponents in the Democratic primary for the 2008 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: False

Explanation: Dick Durbin ran unopposed in the Democratic primary for the 2008 Illinois Senate election.

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Dick Durbin won the Democratic primary with 100% of the vote.

Answer: True

Explanation: As the sole candidate, Dick Durbin secured 100% of the vote in the Democratic primary for the 2008 Illinois Senate election.

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Dick Durbin's vote percentage in 2008 showed a positive change compared to his previous election.

Answer: True

Explanation: Dick Durbin's vote percentage showed a positive change of +7.51% compared to his previous election cycle.

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The 2008 election resulted in Dick Durbin's narrowest victory margin of his career.

Answer: False

Explanation: The source characterizes Dick Durbin's 2008 victory margin as the most significant of his career, not his narrowest.

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Dick Durbin received 1,653,833 votes in the Democratic primary.

Answer: True

Explanation: Dick Durbin received 1,653,833 votes in the Democratic primary, reflecting his unopposed status.

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What percentage of the vote did Dick Durbin win in the 2008 Illinois Senate general election?

Answer: 67.84%

Explanation: Dick Durbin secured approximately 67.84% of the vote in the 2008 Illinois Senate general election.

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How many votes did Dick Durbin receive in the 2008 general election?

Answer: 3,615,844

Explanation: Dick Durbin received 3,615,844 votes in the 2008 Illinois Senate general election.

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Which statement accurately describes Dick Durbin's vote total in the 2008 election?

Answer: It was a record for a statewide election in Illinois at that time.

Explanation: The source confirms that Dick Durbin's vote total of 3,615,844 in 2008 set a record for an Illinois statewide election at that time.

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How many counties did Dick Durbin win in the 2008 Illinois Senate election?

Answer: All but four counties

Explanation: Dick Durbin achieved broad support, winning 98 of Illinois's 102 counties in the 2008 general election.

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Who was the sole candidate in the Democratic primary for the 2008 Illinois Senate election?

Answer: Dick Durbin

Explanation: Dick Durbin ran unopposed in the Democratic primary for the 2008 Illinois Senate election.

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What was the result for Dick Durbin in the Democratic primary?

Answer: He won with 100% of the vote.

Explanation: As the sole candidate, Dick Durbin secured 100% of the vote in the Democratic primary for the 2008 Illinois Senate election.

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How did Dick Durbin's vote percentage in 2008 compare to his previous election?

Answer: It increased by 7.51%.

Explanation: Dick Durbin's vote percentage showed a positive change of +7.51% compared to his previous election cycle.

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How is the margin of victory for Dick Durbin in the 2008 election described in the source?

Answer: His best margin of victory in his career.

Explanation: The source characterizes Dick Durbin's 2008 victory margin as the most significant of his career.

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Republican Primary and Challenger Dynamics

Steve Sauerberg was the incumbent U.S. Senator from Illinois in 2008.

Answer: False

Explanation: The incumbent U.S. Senator from Illinois in 2008 was Dick Durbin; Steve Sauerberg was a challenger.

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Steve Sauerberg was the only candidate in the Republican primary for the 2008 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Republican primary featured multiple candidates, including Steve Sauerberg, Andy Martin, and Mike Psak; Sauerberg was not the sole candidate.

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Andy Martin won the Republican primary election for the 2008 Illinois Senate race.

Answer: False

Explanation: Steve Sauerberg, not Andy Martin, secured victory in the Republican primary election for the 2008 Illinois Senate race.

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Steve Sauerberg received 55.62% of the vote in the Republican primary.

Answer: True

Explanation: Steve Sauerberg secured 55.62% of the vote in the Republican primary election.

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Andy Martin received more votes than Steve Sauerberg in the Republican primary.

Answer: False

Explanation: Steve Sauerberg garnered more votes and a higher percentage than Andy Martin in the Republican primary.

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Mike Psak received the highest percentage of the vote among the Republican primary candidates.

Answer: False

Explanation: Mike Psak received 10.53% of the vote in the Republican primary, which was the lowest share among the listed candidates.

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Steve Sauerberg's vote percentage showed a positive change compared to the previous election cycle.

Answer: False

Explanation: Steve Sauerberg's vote percentage showed a negative change of -9.49% compared to the previous election cycle.

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Identify the Republican challenger who ran against Dick Durbin in the 2008 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: Steve Sauerberg

Explanation: Steve Sauerberg emerged as the Republican challenger who competed against Dick Durbin in the 2008 Illinois Senate election.

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Which of the following was NOT a candidate in the Republican primary for the 2008 Illinois Senate election?

Answer: Dick Durbin

Explanation: Dick Durbin was the incumbent Democratic Senator and did not participate in the Republican primary.

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Who won the Republican primary election for the 2008 Illinois Senate race?

Answer: Steve Sauerberg

Explanation: Steve Sauerberg won the Republican primary election for the 2008 Illinois Senate race.

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Steve Sauerberg won the Republican primary with what percentage of the vote?

Answer: 55.62%

Explanation: Steve Sauerberg secured 55.62% of the vote in the Republican primary election.

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What percentage of the vote did Andy Martin receive in the Republican primary?

Answer: 33.85%

Explanation: Andy Martin received 33.85% of the vote in the Republican primary for the 2008 Illinois Senate election.

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What was the percentage change for Steve Sauerberg's vote compared to the previous election cycle?

Answer: -9.49%

Explanation: Steve Sauerberg's vote percentage showed a negative change of -9.49% compared to the previous election cycle.

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Minor and Third-Party Candidate Contributions

The Green Party candidate Kathy Cummings received 2.24% of the vote in the general election.

Answer: True

Explanation: Kathy Cummings, representing the Green Party, secured 2.24% of the vote in the 2008 Illinois Senate general election.

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Larry A. Stafford, the Libertarian candidate, received more votes than the Green Party candidate.

Answer: False

Explanation: Larry A. Stafford (Libertarian) received 0.94% of the vote, while Kathy Cummings (Green Party) received 2.24%, indicating Cummings received more votes.

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Chad N. Koppie, the Constitution Party candidate, received a higher percentage of the vote than Larry A. Stafford.

Answer: False

Explanation: Chad N. Koppie (Constitution Party) received 0.45% of the vote, whereas Larry A. Stafford (Libertarian) received 0.94%, meaning Stafford received a higher percentage.

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What percentage of the vote did the Green Party candidate Kathy Cummings receive in the general election?

Answer: 2.24%

Explanation: Kathy Cummings, representing the Green Party, secured 2.24% of the vote in the 2008 Illinois Senate general election.

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What was the approximate vote percentage for the Libertarian Party candidate, Larry A. Stafford?

Answer: 0.94%

Explanation: Larry A. Stafford, the Libertarian Party candidate, received approximately 0.94% of the vote in the general election.

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Election Statistics and Broader Context

Voter turnout for the general election in the 2008 Illinois Senate race was 32.37%.

Answer: False

Explanation: The figure of 32.37% represents the voter turnout for the primary elections; general election turnout was considerably higher.

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A total of 5,329,884 votes were cast in the 2008 Illinois Senate general election.

Answer: True

Explanation: The official records indicate that 5,329,884 votes were cast in the general election for the Illinois Senate seat in 2008.

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Over 2.3 million votes were cast in the primary elections for the 2008 Illinois Senate race.

Answer: True

Explanation: The total number of votes cast in the primary elections for the 2008 Illinois Senate race was 2,364,409.

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Political forecasting groups rated the 2008 Illinois Senate election as 'Safe R'.

Answer: False

Explanation: Prominent political forecasting groups, including The Cook Political Report and CQ Politics, rated the 2008 Illinois Senate election as 'Safe D', not 'Safe R'.

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The 2008 Illinois Senate election saw numerous counties flip from Democratic to Republican.

Answer: False

Explanation: The data indicates that several counties shifted from Republican to Democratic support in the 2008 Illinois Senate election, rather than the reverse.

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Barack Obama was elected President in 2008 while also serving as a Senator from Illinois.

Answer: True

Explanation: Barack Obama achieved election to the presidency in 2008, during which time he concurrently held a seat as a Senator representing Illinois.

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As of 2025, the 2008 Illinois Senate election was the last time a candidate received over 60% of the vote in an Illinois Senate race.

Answer: True

Explanation: The provided data indicates that, as of 2025, the 2008 Illinois Senate election represents the most recent instance where a candidate surpassed 60% of the vote share.

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What was the total number of votes cast in the 2008 Illinois Senate general election?

Answer: 5,329,884

Explanation: The total number of votes cast in the general election for the Illinois Senate seat in 2008 was 5,329,884.

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Which political forecasting group rated the 2008 Illinois Senate election as 'Safe D'?

Answer: Real Clear Politics

Explanation: Real Clear Politics was among the political forecasting groups that rated the 2008 Illinois Senate election as 'Safe D'.

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Which of the following counties is mentioned as having flipped from Republican to Democratic in the 2008 Illinois Senate election?

Answer: DuPage County

Explanation: DuPage County is explicitly mentioned in the provided data as one of the counties that transitioned from Republican to Democratic support in the 2008 Illinois Senate election.

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In which year was Barack Obama elected President while simultaneously serving as a Senator from Illinois?

Answer: 2008

Explanation: Barack Obama achieved election to the presidency in 2008, during which time he concurrently held a seat as a Senator representing Illinois.

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According to the source (as of 2025), when was the last time a candidate received over 60% of the vote in an Illinois Senate election?

Answer: 2008

Explanation: The provided data indicates that, as of 2025, the 2008 Illinois Senate election represents the most recent instance where a candidate surpassed 60% of the vote share.

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What was the total number of votes cast in the *primary* elections for the 2008 Illinois Senate race?

Answer: 2,364,409

Explanation: The total number of votes cast in the primary elections for the 2008 Illinois Senate race was 2,364,409.

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Which forecasting group is NOT mentioned in the source as rating the 2008 Illinois Senate election 'Safe D'?

Answer: FiveThirtyEight

Explanation: The source lists The Cook Political Report, CQ Politics, and Rothenberg Political Report as rating the election 'Safe D'. FiveThirtyEight is not mentioned in this context within the provided data.

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