Why did abraham lincoln lose the 1858 senatorial election even though he won the popular vote?

I think the answer on edge nuity is D. Democrats won a majority in the Illinois legislature.

On election day, the voters of Illinois chose members of the state legislature who in turn reelected Douglas to the Senate in January 1859.

But this situation only benefited lincoln n the future because he gained a massive popularity in the north while Douglass election created a major divide of power in Democratic party.