Elections were held in

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...

on Tuesday, November 3, 1936.

Primaries Primary elections, or direct primary are a voting process by which voters can indicate their preference for their party's candidate, or a candidate in general, in an upcoming general election, local election, or by-election. Depending on the c ...

were held April 14, 1936. The elections overall saw a strong performance by the

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

. Democrats retained their control of both chambers of the

Illinois General Assembly The Illinois General Assembly is the legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. It has two chambers, the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate. The General Assembly was created by the first state constitution adopted in 181 ...

and all statewide executive offices, winning all the statewide executive offices by broad margins. Democrats swept the election for

University of Illinois The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U of I, Illinois, University of Illinois, or UIUC) is a public land-grant research university in Illinois in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana. It is the flagship institution of the University ...

trustees. Democrats also carried the state in the presidential election. Democratic

United States senator The United States Senate is the Upper house, upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States House of Representatives, House of Representatives being the Lower house, lower chamber. Together they compose the national Bica ...

J. Hamilton Lewis James Hamilton Lewis (May 18, 1863 – April 9, 1939) was an American attorney and politician. Sometimes referred to as J. Ham Lewis or Ham Lewis, he represented Washington in the United States House of Representatives, and Illinois in the Unite ...

was reelected. Democrats retained all 21 U.S. congressional seats they held in the state, while

Republicans Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

retained all 6 seats they held.

Election information

Turnout

In the primaries, 2,674,613 ballots were cast (1,597,418 Democratic and 1,077,195

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

). In the general election, 3,995,088 ballots were cast.

Federal elections

United States President

Illinois voted for the Democratic

ticket Ticket or tickets may refer to: Slips of paper * Lottery ticket * Parking ticket, a ticket confirming that the parking fee was paid (and the time of the parking start) * Toll ticket, a slip of paper used to indicate where vehicles entered a tol ...

Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt (; ; January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), often referred to by his initials FDR, was an American politician and attorney who served as the 32nd president of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945. As the ...

and

John Nance Garner John Nance Garner III (November 22, 1868 – November 7, 1967), known among his contemporaries as "Cactus Jack", was an American History of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic politician and lawyer from History of Texas, Texas who ...

United States Senate

Democrat

won reelection to a second consecutive, and third overall, term in the United States Senate.

United States House

All 27 Illinois seats in the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the Lower house, lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States Senate, Senate being ...

were up for election in 1936. No seats switched parties. The partisan makeup of the state's United States House of Representatives delegation remained 21 Democrats and 6 Republicans.

State elections

Governor

Incumbent first-term

governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

Henry Horner Henry Horner (November 30, 1878 – October 6, 1940) was an American politician. Horner served as the 28th Governor of Illinois, serving from January 1933 until his death in October 1940. Horner was noted as the first Jewish governor of Illinois ...

, a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

, won reelection.

Democratic primary

The Chicago

political machine In the politics of Representative democracy, representative democracies, a political machine is a party organization that recruits its members by the use of tangible incentives (such as money or political jobs) and that is characterized by a hig ...

unsuccessfully ran

Chicago Board of Health The Chicago Board of Health is the local board of health for the city of Chicago. Two previous iterations existed before the modern board was formed in 1932. The modern board is a policy-making body for health related matters and advises the Chicago ...

president

Herman Bundesen Herman Niels Bundesen (April 27, 1882August 25, 1960) was a German-American medical professional, politician, and author. He served two tenures as the chief health official of the city of Chicago, Illinois (cumulatively holding this role for mor ...

against the incumbent

in retribution for Horner having

veto A veto is a legal power to unilaterally stop an official action. In the most typical case, a president or monarch vetoes a bill to stop it from becoming law. In many countries, veto powers are established in the country's constitution. Veto ...

ed a bill that would have allowed

bookies A bookmaker, bookie, or turf accountant is an organization or a person that accepts and pays off bets on sporting and other events at agreed-upon odds. History The first bookmaker, Ogden, stood at Newmarket in 1795. Range of events Bookma ...

to legally operate, a bill favored by Chicago

political boss In politics, a boss is a person who controls a faction or local branch of a political party. They do not necessarily hold public office themselves; most historical bosses did not, at least during the times of their greatest influence. Numerous off ...

es such as

Edward J. Kelly Edward Joseph Kelly (May 1, 1876October 20, 1950) was an American politician who served as the 46th Mayor of Chicago from April 17, 1933 until April 15, 1947. Prior to being mayor of Chicago, Kelly served as chief engineer of the Chicago Sani ...

=Candidates

= *

, Chicago Board of Health president and Chicago health commissioner, former

Cook County coroner The Cook County Medical Examiner is the coroner of Cook County, Illinois. Occupants are credential medical examiners, appointed by president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, subject to confirmation by the Cook County Board of Commission ...

, incumbent governor *James Fred Robertson, 1934 U.S. congress candidate and

1935 Events January * January 7 – Italian premier Benito Mussolini and French Foreign Minister Pierre Laval conclude Franco-Italian Agreement of 1935, an agreement, in which each power agrees not to oppose the other's colonial claims. * ...

Chicago mayoral candidate

=Results

Republican primary

=Candidates

= * C. Wayland Brooks * Oscar E. Carlstrom, former

Illinois attorney general The Illinois Attorney General is the highest legal officer of the state of Illinois in the United States. Originally an appointed office, it is now an office filled by statewide election. Based in Chicago and Springfield, Illinois, the attorney ...

* George W. Dowell,

Progressive Progressive may refer to: Politics * Progressivism, a political philosophy in support of social reform ** Progressivism in the United States, the political philosophy in the American context * Progressive realism, an American foreign policy par ...

nominee for

Illinois's 25th congressional district The 25th congressional district of Illinois was a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives in Illinois. It was eliminated as a result of the United States Census, 1960, 1960 Census. It was last represented by Kenneth ...

1914 This year saw the beginning of what became known as World War I, after Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir to the Austrian throne was Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, assassinated by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip. It als ...

* Thomas P. Gunning,

Illinois state senator The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the State of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. Under the I ...

*J. Paul Kuhn * John G. Oglesby, former lieutenant governor of Illinois (publicly withdrew before primary) *

Len Small Lennington "Len" Small (June 16, 1862 – May 17, 1936) was an American politician who served as the 26th Governor of Illinois from 1921 to 1929. He previously was a member of the Illinois state senate from the 16th District from 1901 to 1903 a ...

, former governor of Illinois

General election

Challenging both Democratic nominee Henry Horner and Republican nominee Charles W. Brooks, Republican former

Chicago mayor The mayor of Chicago is the chief executive of city government in Chicago, Illinois, the third-largest city in the United States. The mayor is responsible for the administration and management of various city departments, submits proposals and r ...

William Hale Thompson William Hale Thompson (May 14, 1869 – March 19, 1944) was an American politician who served as mayor of Chicago from 1915 to 1923 and again from 1927 to 1931. Known as "Big Bill", Reynolds, Paul (November 29, 2009)"US-UK 'Special Relationshi ...

ran on the Union Progressive Party of Illinois' ballot line. There were also several other minor candidates.

Lieutenant governor

Incumbent first-term

lieutenant governor A lieutenant governor, lieutenant-governor, or vice governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction. Often a lieutenant governor is the deputy, or lieutenant, to or ranked under a governor — a "second-in-comm ...

Thomas Donovan, a Democrat, did not seek reelection. Democrat

John Henry Stelle John Henry Stelle (August 10, 1891 – July 5, 1962) was an American politician who served as the National Commander of The American Legion from 1945 to 1946. He previously served as the 29th Governor of Illinois (1940–41), the 34th lieuten ...

was elected to succeed him.

Democratic primary

=Candidates

= * John Edward Cassidy, attorney *Isaac Epstein *

Illinois treasurer The Treasurer of Illinois is an elected official of the U.S. state of Illinois. The office was created by the Constitution of Illinois. Current Occupant The current Treasurer of Illinois is Democrat Mike Frerichs. He was first elected to head t ...

*John L. McCormack

=Results

Republican primary

=Candidates

= *John V. Clinnin *Harry F. Hamlin *George Hatzenbuhler *James A. McCallum *Theodore D. Smith *A. Lincoln Wisler

=Results

General election

Attorney general

Incumbent first-term

Attorney General In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have exec ...

Otto Kerner Sr. Otto Kerner (February 22, 1884 – December 13, 1952) was the attorney general of Illinois and a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. He was a member of the Democratic Party. Education and ...

, a Democrat, was reelected.

Democratic primary

Republican primary

No candidates ran in the Republican primary. The party ultimately nominated Charles W. Hadley, who had been the distant runner-up in the Democratic primary.

General election

Secretary of State

Incumbent first-term Democratic Secretary of State

Edward J. Hughes Edward J. Hughes (July 26, 1888 – June 28, 1944) was an American politician. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Hughes studied law and then switched to engineering. Hughes served in the Illinois State Senate from 1914 to 1930 as a Democratic Party ...

, a Democrat, was reelected. Hughes faced Republican former secretary of state William J. Stratton in a rematch of the 1932 race.

Democratic primary

Republican primary

General election

Auditor of Public Accounts

Incumbent first-term Auditor of Public Accounts Edward J. Barrett, a

, was reelected.

Democratic primary

Republican primary

State senator A state senator is a member of a state's senate in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a member of the unicameral Nebraska Legislature. Description A state senator is a member of an upper house in the bicameral legislatures of 49 U ...

Arthur J. Bidwill Arthur J. Bidwill (June 24, 1903 – October 4, 1985) was an American politician and lawyer. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Bidwill received his law degree from Notre Dame Law School and lived in River Forest, Illinois. He was a Republican. He ser ...

won the Republican nomination, defeating, among others, fellow state senator

Earle Benjamin Searcy Earle Benjamin Searcy was an American politician who served as clerk of the Supreme Court of Illinois, Illinois state senator, and Illinois state representative. Early life Searcy was born on May 4, 1887, in Palmyra, Illinois. He worked as a rep ...

=Results

General election

Treasurer

Incumbent first-term

Treasurer A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The significant core functions of a corporate treasurer include cash and liquidity management, risk management, and corporate finance. Government The treasury o ...

, a

, did not seek reelection, instead running for lieutenant governor. Democrat John C. Martin was elected to succeed him in office, granting Martin a second nonconsecutive term as Illinois Treasurer.

Democratic primary

Former Illinois Treasurer, John C. Martin, won the Democratic primary.

Republican primary

Former

Clarence F. Buck won the Republican nomination defeating businessman

Anton J. Johnson Anton Joseph Johnson (October 20, 1878 – April 16, 1958) was a United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative from Illinois. Born in Peoria, Illinois to Sweden, Swedish immigrant parents, Johnson attended the public schools and ...

, former U.S. congressman and former Illinois Treasurer

Edward E. Miller Edward Edwin Miller (July 22, 1880 – August 1, 1946) was a United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative from Illinois. Biography Born in Creston, Iowa, Miller attended the common schools. He moved to East St. Louis, St. Clair ...

, among others.

General election

State Senate

Seats of the

Illinois Senate The Illinois Senate is the Upper house, upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state, State of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adop ...

were up for election in 1940. Democrats retained control of the chamber.

State House of Representatives

Seats in the

Illinois House of Representatives The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The House under the current constitution as amended in 1980 consists of 118 re ...

were up for election in 1940. Democrats retained control of the chamber.

Cumulative voting Cumulative voting (also accumulation voting, weighted voting or multi-voting) is a multiple-winner method intended to promote more proportional representation than winner-take-all elections such as block voting or first past the post. Cumulative ...

and 59 three-seat districts were used in this election. Member(s) of both of the two main parties were elected in each district.

Trustees of University of Illinois

An election was held for three of the nine seats for Trustees of

to six year terms. Democrats swept all three seats. All three incumbents whose terms were expiring (second-term

George A. Barr, first-term Republican Edward E. Barrett, and first-term Democrat Walter W. Winslow) were not nominated for reelection. New Democratic members Homer Mat Adams, James Mansfield Cleary, and Louis C. Moschel were elected.

Judicial elections

Supreme Court

One seat on the Illinois Supreme Court had an election on June 1, 1936.

=5th district election

= Republican

Clyde E. Stone Clyde E. Stone (March 23, 1876 – January 14, 1948) was an American jurist. Biography Born near Mason City, Illinois, Stone graduated from Mason City High School and received his bachelor's degree from University of Illinois. He taught sch ...

was reelected.

Circuit Courts

Several special elections were held November 3, 1936 for the

Illinois Circuit Courts The Illinois circuit courts are state courts of the U.S. state of Illinois. They are trial courts of original jurisdiction. There are 24 judicial circuits in the state, each comprising one or more of Illinois' 102 counties. The jurisdiction of s ...

Robert J. Dunne Robert Jerome "Duke" Dunne (August 29, 1899 – May 18, 1980) was an American football player and coach, and state court judge in Illinois. He played for the University of Michigan from 1918 to 1921, and competed at the 1920 Summer Olympics. Af ...

was defeated John F. Tyrrell (1,157,312 votes to 709,625 votes) in a nonpartisan race to fill the vacancy left on the

Circuit Court of Cook County The Circuit Court of Cook County is the largest of the 24 judicial circuits in Illinois as well as one of the largest unified court systems in the United States — second only in size to the Superior Court of Los Angeles County since that court ...

by the resignation of fellow Democrat Francis S. Wilson. Democratic nominee Grendel F. Bennett defeated Republican nominee V. W. McIntire (50,216 votes to 42,026 votes) to fill the 5th district vacancy left by the resignation of Craig Van Meter. Democratic nominee Horace H. Baker defeated Republican nominee Lester H. Martin (43,987 votes to 43,877 votes) to fill the 11th district vacancy left by death of Peter Murphy. Democratic nominee Francis J. Coyle defeated Republican nominee

Albert M. Crampton Albert M. Crampton (January 7, 1900 – March 13, 1953) was an American jurist. Born in Moline, Illinois, Crampton graduated from Moline High School. Crampton received his law degree from Cornell Law School in 1922 and was admitted to the Ill ...

(51,609 votes to 50,163 votes) to fill the 14th district vacancy left by death of J. Paul Califf. Despite dying before the election, Republican nominee William J. Emerson defeated Democratic nominee James B. Sheean (38,712 votes to 30,184 votes) to fill the 15th district vacancy left by death of Frank T. Sheean.

Local elections

Local elections were held.

References

{{Illinois elections

1936 state legislature elections in the United States