He did surprisingly well in 2006 when more than 360,000 Illinoisans cast their ballots for him. They gave him a double-digit vote total of more than 10 percent of the popular vote. He finished third behind Democratic incumbent Rod Blagojevich and Republican Judy Baar Topinka.
Whitney lives in downstate Carbondale. He has been active in health care reform, civil rights, labor issues, and environmental protection.