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2014 United States Senate election in Illinois Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge

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Study Guide: 2014 Illinois Senate Election Analysis

Cheat Sheet:
2014 Illinois Senate Election Analysis Study Guide

Election Overview and Incumbency

The 2014 United States Senate election in Illinois was convened to elect a representative for the state to serve in the U.S. Senate.

Answer: False

Explanation: The primary purpose of the 2014 United States Senate election in Illinois was to elect a representative for the state to the U.S. Senate, not the U.S. House of Representatives.

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In 2014, Dick Durbin, the incumbent Senator from Illinois, was seeking his fourth term in the Senate, not his second.

Answer: False

Explanation: Dick Durbin was first elected to the Senate in 1996, making the 2014 election his bid for a fourth term, not his second.

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Prior to the 2014 election, Dick Durbin held the position of Senate Majority Whip, not Senate Minority Leader.

Answer: False

Explanation: Dick Durbin served as the Senate Majority Whip from 2007 until the end of the 114th Congress in 2017, not as Senate Minority Leader.

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Dick Durbin was first elected to represent Illinois in the U.S. Senate in 1996.

Answer: True

Explanation: Dick Durbin's initial election to the U.S. Senate representing Illinois occurred in 1996.

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Dick Durbin faced a primary challenger from within the Democratic party in the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: False

Explanation: Dick Durbin was unopposed in the Democratic primary for the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

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The 2014 Illinois Senate election occurred independently of other major federal and state elections.

Answer: False

Explanation: The 2014 Illinois Senate election was held concurrently with other significant federal and state elections, including the election for Governor of Illinois.

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What was the principal objective of the 2014 United States Senate election held in Illinois?

Answer: To elect a member of the U.S. Senate to represent Illinois.

Explanation: The fundamental purpose of the election was to select an individual to represent the state of Illinois in the United States Senate.

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Identify the incumbent U.S. Senator from Illinois who was seeking re-election in 2014.

Answer: Dick Durbin

Explanation: Dick Durbin, the incumbent Democratic Senator from Illinois, was seeking re-election in 2014.

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Prior to the 2014 election, what significant leadership position did Dick Durbin occupy within the U.S. Senate?

Answer: Senate Majority Whip

Explanation: Before the 2014 election, Dick Durbin held the influential position of Senate Majority Whip.

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Ascertain the year in which Dick Durbin was initially elected to the U.S. Senate representing Illinois.

Answer: 1996

Explanation: Dick Durbin's first election to the U.S. Senate from Illinois occurred in 1996.

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Describe Dick Durbin's status in the Democratic primary for the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: He was unopposed.

Explanation: Dick Durbin faced no opposition and was unopposed in the Democratic primary for the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

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The 2014 Illinois Senate election occurred concurrently with which other significant statewide election?

Answer: Governor of Illinois Election

Explanation: The 2014 Illinois Senate election was held concurrently with the election for Governor of Illinois, among other federal and state races.

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Republican Primary Contest

Jim Oberweis and Doug Truax were among the principal candidates competing in the Republican primary for the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: True

Explanation: Jim Oberweis and Doug Truax were key contenders in the Republican primary for the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

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Jim Oberweis won the Republican primary election with over 60% of the vote.

Answer: False

Explanation: Jim Oberweis won the Republican primary election with 56.08% of the vote, which is not over 60%.

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The earliest poll mentioned for the Republican primary showed Doug Truax leading Jim Oberweis.

Answer: False

Explanation: The earliest poll cited for the Republican primary showed Jim Oberweis leading Doug Truax.

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Identify the victor of the Republican primary election for the 2014 Illinois Senate race.

Answer: Jim Oberweis

Explanation: Jim Oberweis emerged as the winner of the Republican primary election for the 2014 Illinois Senate race.

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Identify the candidate who was removed from the Republican primary ballot for the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: William Lee

Explanation: William Lee was among the candidates removed from the Republican primary ballot for the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

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Describe Jim Oberweis's background prior to his nomination for the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: He was a state senator with previous statewide candidacies.

Explanation: Prior to his nomination, Jim Oberweis had served as a state senator and had previously run for statewide office multiple times.

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General Election Candidates and Parties

The Republican nominee in the 2014 Illinois Senate election was Doug Truax.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Republican nominee in the 2014 Illinois Senate election was Jim Oberweis. Doug Truax was a candidate in the Republican primary but did not win the nomination.

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Sharon Hansen represented the Green Party in the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: False

Explanation: Sharon Hansen represented the Libertarian Party in the 2014 Illinois Senate election, not the Green Party.

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Joe Walsh, a former U.S. representative, ran as the Republican nominee in the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: False

Explanation: Joe Walsh, a former U.S. representative, did not run as the Republican nominee in the 2014 Illinois Senate election; he declined to run. The nominee was Jim Oberweis.

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Fuji Shioura ran as the official candidate for the Libertarian Party in the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: False

Explanation: Fuji Shioura ran as an Independent write-in candidate, not as the official candidate for the Libertarian Party. Sharon Hansen represented the Libertarian Party.

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Identify the Republican nominee for the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: Jim Oberweis

Explanation: Jim Oberweis secured the Republican nomination for the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

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Specify the political party represented by Sharon Hansen in the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: Libertarian Party

Explanation: Sharon Hansen was the candidate for the Libertarian Party in the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

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Beyond Sharon Hansen, identify another individual who ran as an Independent write-in candidate in the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: Fuji Shioura

Explanation: Fuji Shioura was an Independent write-in candidate in the 2014 Illinois Senate election, in addition to Sharon Hansen.

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Identify the third-party candidates explicitly mentioned as having been removed from the ballot for the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: Chad Koppie and Omar Lopez

Explanation: Chad Koppie and Omar Lopez were third-party candidates who were removed from the ballot for the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

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Election Results and Vote Share

Dick Durbin won the 2014 United States Senate election in Illinois.

Answer: True

Explanation: Dick Durbin successfully won the 2014 United States Senate election in Illinois.

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Dick Durbin received approximately 42.69% of the vote in the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: False

Explanation: Dick Durbin received 53.55% of the vote in the 2014 Illinois Senate election. The figure 42.69% corresponds to Jim Oberweis's vote share.

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Jim Oberweis secured 1,538,522 votes in the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: True

Explanation: Jim Oberweis received exactly 1,538,522 votes in the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

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The Libertarian candidate, Sharon Hansen, garnered over 5% of the vote in the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: False

Explanation: Sharon Hansen, the Libertarian candidate, received 3.76% of the vote in the 2014 Illinois Senate election, which is not over 5%.

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Dick Durbin's vote percentage in 2014 was higher than his percentage in the 2008 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: False

Explanation: Dick Durbin's vote percentage in 2014 (53.55%) was lower than his percentage in the 2008 Illinois Senate election (67.84%).

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The Republican candidate in 2014 received a lower percentage of the vote compared to the Republican candidate in 2008.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Republican candidate in 2014 (Jim Oberweis, 42.69%) received a higher percentage of the vote compared to the Republican candidate in 2008 (15.77% for Alan Keyes), representing an increase.

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Identify the winner of the 2014 United States Senate election in Illinois.

Answer: Dick Durbin

Explanation: Dick Durbin was the victor in the 2014 United States Senate election held in Illinois.

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Determine the percentage of the total vote secured by Dick Durbin in the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: 53.55%

Explanation: Dick Durbin received 53.55% of the total vote in the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

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Quantify the number of votes received by Jim Oberweis in the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: 1,538,522

Explanation: Jim Oberweis received 1,538,522 votes in the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

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Calculate the percentage of the vote obtained by Sharon Hansen, the Libertarian candidate, in the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: 3.76%

Explanation: Sharon Hansen, representing the Libertarian Party, received 3.76% of the vote in the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

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Analyze the trend in Dick Durbin's vote percentage in 2014 relative to his performance in the 2008 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: It decreased.

Explanation: Dick Durbin's vote percentage decreased from the 2008 election to the 2014 election.

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Compare Jim Oberweis's 2014 vote percentage to that of the Republican candidate in the 2008 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: It was an increase.

Explanation: Jim Oberweis's 2014 vote percentage represented an increase compared to the Republican candidate's performance in the 2008 Illinois Senate election.

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State the total number of votes cast in the general election for the 2014 Illinois Senate race.

Answer: 3,603,519

Explanation: A total of 3,603,519 votes were cast in the general election for the 2014 Illinois Senate race.

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Campaign Finance

Dick Durbin's campaign spent less money than it raised during the 2014 election cycle.

Answer: False

Explanation: Dick Durbin's campaign spent $12,453,951, which was more than the $10,309,888 it raised during the 2014 election cycle.

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Jim Oberweis's campaign spent approximately $2.4 million in the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: True

Explanation: Jim Oberweis's campaign spent $2,416,774, which is approximately $2.4 million.

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Quantify the total amount raised by Dick Durbin's campaign during the 2014 Illinois Senate election cycle.

Answer: $10,309,888

Explanation: Dick Durbin's campaign raised a total of $10,309,888 during the 2014 election cycle.

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State the approximate amount expended by Jim Oberweis's campaign during the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: $2,416,774

Explanation: Jim Oberweis's campaign spent approximately $2,416,774 in the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

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Voter Turnout and County Shifts

The voter turnout for the general election in the 2014 Illinois Senate race was approximately 15.77%.

Answer: False

Explanation: The voter turnout for the general election in the 2014 Illinois Senate race was 48.16%, not 15.77%. The latter figure represents the primary election turnout.

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Dick Durbin won a majority of Illinois's 102 counties in the 2014 Senate election.

Answer: False

Explanation: Despite winning the election, Dick Durbin won only 14 out of Illinois's 102 counties in the 2014 Senate election.

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Counties such as Will, Kane, and Winnebago flipped from Democratic to Republican support in the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: True

Explanation: Counties including Will, Kane, and Winnebago demonstrated a shift in support from Democratic to Republican in the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

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Approximately 40 counties shifted their support from Republican to Democratic in the 2014 Senate election.

Answer: False

Explanation: Approximately 40 counties shifted their support from Democratic to Republican, not the other way around, in the 2014 Senate election.

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What percentage of eligible voters participated in the primary election for the 2014 Illinois Senate race?

Answer: 15.77%

Explanation: The voter turnout for the primary election in the 2014 Illinois Senate race was recorded at 15.77%.

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Specify the number of Illinois's 102 counties won by the victor, Dick Durbin, in the 2014 Senate election.

Answer: 14

Explanation: Dick Durbin won 14 out of the 102 counties in Illinois during the 2014 Senate election.

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Identify a county noted for shifting its support from Democratic to Republican in the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: Will County

Explanation: Will County was among the counties that shifted from Democratic to Republican support in the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

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Estimate the number of counties that shifted their support from Democratic to Republican in the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: Approximately 40

Explanation: Approximately 40 counties in Illinois shifted their support from Democratic to Republican in the 2014 Senate election.

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Polling and Media Analysis

The main debate between the candidates for the 2014 Illinois Senate election occurred in late September 2014.

Answer: False

Explanation: The main debate between the candidates for the 2014 Illinois Senate election took place on October 22, 2014, not in late September.

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Major political forecasting sites like The Cook Political Report rated the 2014 Illinois Senate election as 'Toss-up'.

Answer: False

Explanation: Major political forecasting sites, including The Cook Political Report, rated the 2014 Illinois Senate election as 'Solid D' or 'Safe D', indicating a strong Democratic advantage, not a 'Toss-up'.

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The polling organization 'We Ask America' conducted the most polls included in the source data for the 2014 Illinois Senate race.

Answer: True

Explanation: The polling organization 'We Ask America' conducted the most frequent polls documented in the source data for the 2014 Illinois Senate race.

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Specify the date on which the principal debate between the candidates for the 2014 Illinois Senate election was held.

Answer: October 22, 2014

Explanation: The primary debate involving the candidates for the 2014 Illinois Senate election occurred on October 22, 2014.

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Characterize the rating assigned by The Cook Political Report to the competitiveness of the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: Solid D

Explanation: The Cook Political Report rated the 2014 Illinois Senate election as 'Solid D', indicating a strong likelihood of a Democratic victory.

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What range did the undecided percentages fall into for the general election polls cited for the 2014 Illinois Senate race?

Answer: Up to 42% in early hypothetical polls, later 8%-14%

Explanation: The undecided percentages in general election polls for the 2014 Illinois Senate race varied, ranging up to 42% in early hypothetical polls and later between 8% and 14%.

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Interpret the meaning of the 'Solid D' rating assigned by The Cook Political Report concerning the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

Answer: The Democratic candidate was highly favored to win.

Explanation: A 'Solid D' rating from The Cook Political Report indicated that the Democratic candidate was strongly favored to win the 2014 Illinois Senate election.

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