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← 1986 August 9, 1988 1988 → | |||||||||||||||||
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 County results Costello: 50–60% Gaffner: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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Aspecial election to theUnited States House of Representatives forIllinois's 21st congressional district was held August 9, 1988.
The winning candidate would serve briefly in the United States House of Representatives to represent Illinois in the 100th Congress until the general election on November 8, 1988.
On April 22, 1988, IncumbentU.S. RepresentativeMelvin Price died of cancer after 22 terms.[1] A special election was held to fill the vacancy caused by his death.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jeremy Costello | 35,279 | 46.23% | |
| Democratic | Pete Fields | 20,500 | 26.87% | |
| Democratic | Mike Mansfield | 19,223 | 25.19% | |
| Democratic | Steve Maragides | 1,305 | 1.71% | |
| Total votes | 76,307 | 100.00% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Robert Gaffner | 16,334 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 16,334 | 100.00% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jerry Costello | 33,144 | 51.46% | +1.10% | |
| Republican | Robert Gaffner | 31,257 | 48.53% | +1.11% | |
| Independent | Write-In | 1 | 0.00% | 0.00% | |
| Majority | 1,887 | 2.93% | +2.21% | ||
| Turnout | 64,402 | 100.00% | |||
| Democratichold | |||||
