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 5, 1940.

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 9, 1940. While 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 Henry A. Wallace won the state's electors in the presidential election, the election overall saw significant victories for the Republican Party. The Republican Party retained their control of the Illinois House, and flipped control 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 ...

, as well as control of the executive offices of

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

, Auditor of Public Accounts, and

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 ...

, all of which had previously been under Democratic Party control. Democrats retained their hold on the executive office of Secretary of State. Additionally, Republicans won all seats up for election on the Board of Trustees of the

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 ...

. Republicans also won the state's special

United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and pow ...

election and flipped 6 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 ...

Election information

Turnout

In the primaries, 2,647,467 ballots were cast (1,503,706 Democratic and 1,143,761

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, 4,262,196 ballots were cast.

Federal elections

United States President

Illinois voted for the Democratic

and Henry A. Wallace.

United States Senate

Republican

Charles W. Brooks Charles Wayland Brooks (March 8, 1897 – January 14, 1957) was a Republican U.S. Senator from Illinois from 1940 to 1949. Early life Born in West Bureau, Illinois, Brooks served in the Marines during World War I as a first lieutenant fro ...

unseated Democrat

James M. Slattery James Michael Slattery (July 29, 1878 – August 28, 1948) was a United States senator from Illinois. Born in Chicago, he attended parochial schools and St. Ignatius College (now known as Loyola University Chicago). He was employed as a sec ...

, who had been appointed to the seat left vacant by the

death in office A death in office is the death of a person who was incumbent of an office-position until the time of death. Such deaths have been usually due to natural causes, but they are also caused by accidents, suicides, disease and assassinations. The dea ...

of Democrat J. Hamilton Lewis.

United States House

All 27 Illinois seats in the

were up for election in 1940. Republicans flipped six Democratic-held seats, making the composition of Illinois' House delegation 16 Republicans and 11 Democrats.

State elections

Governor

Before the primary, incumbent

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, opted not to seek a third term. In October, before the general election, his

made

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

assume the governorship. However, Stelle had previously failed to win the Democratic nomination in the primary. Republican

Dwight H. Green Dwight Herbert Green (January 9, 1897 – February 20, 1958) was an American politician who served as the 30th Governor of the US state of Illinois, serving from 1941 to 1949. From childhood to early adulthood Green was born in Ligonier, No ...

won the election.

Democratic primary

=Candidates

= * Harry B. Hershey, former mayor of Taylorville *Albert Lagerstedt, unsuccessful candidate for Democratic nomination in 1938 United States Senate election in Illinois *Robert W. McKinlay *James O. Monroe *

John H. 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 ...

, incumbent lieutenant governor of Illinois

=Results

Republican primary

=Candidates

= *

, Republican nominee for

mayor of Chicago 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 ...

1939 This year also marks the start of the Second World War, the largest and deadliest conflict in human history. Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January * January 1 ** Third Reich *** Jews are forbidden to ...

Richard J. Lyons Richard J. Lyons (May 9, 1895 – March 13, 1959) was an American politician and lawyer. Lyons was born in Chicago, Illinois. He went to the Chicago public schools and then received his law degree from John Marshall Law School (Chicago), John ...

, former

Illinois state representative 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 ...

General election

Lieutenant governor

Incumbent

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 ...

, a Democrat, did not seek reelection to a second term, instead opting to run for governor. Republican Hugh W. Cross was elected to succeed him.

Democratic primary

=Candidates

= * Louie E. Lewis,

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 ...

* George M. Maypole,

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 ...

=Results

Republican primary

=Candidates

= *John V. Clinnin, unsuccessful candidate for Republican nomination for lieutenant governor in 1936 *Guy C. Crapple * Hugh W. Cross,

State Representative A state legislature is a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system. Two federations literally use the term "state legislature": * The legislative branches of each of the fifty state governments of the United Sta ...

*Charles Hindley *William C. Jerome *Arnold L. Lund, Republican nominee for the 6th congressional district in

1934 Events January–February * January 1 – The International Telecommunication Union, a specialist agency of the League of Nations, is established. * January 15 – The 8.0 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake, Nepal–Bihar earthquake strik ...

* Earle Benjamin Searcy,

=Results

General election

Attorney general

Incumbent

John Edward Cassidy, a Democrat appointed in 1938 after fellow Democrat

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 ...

resigned to accept a federal judgeship, did not seek reelection to a full term. Republican George F. Barrett was elected to succeed him.

Democratic primary

Republican primary

=Candidates

= * George F. Barrett * Oscar E. Carlstrom, former Illinois attorney general *Frank R. Eagleton, former assistant Illinois attorney general *Charles W. Hadley *Edward A. Hayes, former commander of

The American Legion The American Legion, commonly known as the Legion, is a non-profit organization of U.S. war veterans headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is made up of state, U.S. territory, and overseas departments, and these are in turn made up of l ...

*George Landon

=Results

General election

Secretary of State

Incumbent second-term 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.

Democratic primary

Republican primary

Justus L. Johnson won the Republican primary, defeating businessman Richard Yates Rowe and

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 ...

General election

Auditor of Public Accounts

Incumbent third-term Auditor of Public Accounts Edward J. Barrett, lost renomination in the Democratic primary. Republican

Arthur C. Lueder Arthur Charles Lueder (March 12, 1876 – May 7, 1957) was an American lawyer businessman, and politician. Born in Elmhurst, Illinois, Lueder served in the United States Army during the Spanish–American War. He graduated from Elmhurst College ...

was elected to succeed him.

Democratic primary

Incumbent Edward J. Barrett narrowly lost renomination to U.S. congressman and former

Illinois state 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 hea ...

John C. Martin.

Republican primary

=Candidates

= * John William Chapman, former

Chicago alderman The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Chicago in Illinois. It consists of 50 alderpersons elected from 50 wards to serve four-year terms. The council is gaveled into session regularly, usually mont ...

*Henry G. Hansen *

, former Chicago postmaster and Republican nominee for

in 1923 *William R. McCauley *

Oscar Nelson Oscar Nelson (April 22, 1874 – April 2, 1951) was a politician and union leader who served as Illinois treasurer Illinois auditor of public accounts. He also served as the interim president of the Building Service Employees International Union ...

, former Illinois auditor of public accounts, former

, former interim president of the

Building Service Employees International Union Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is a labor union representing almost 1.9 million workers in over 100 occupations in the United States and Canada. SEIU is focused on organizing workers in three sectors: healthcare (over half of members ...

*Edward A. O'Connor *Charles W. Vail *Edward T. O'Connor

=Results

General election

Treasurer

Incumbent first-term

Louie E. Lewis, a Democrat, did not seek reelection, instead running for lieutenant governor. Republican Warren Wright was elected to succeed him in office.

Democratic primary

Republican primary

General election

State Senate

Seats of the

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

University of Illinois trustees

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

to six year terms, and a special election was held to fill the partial term of a seat that was vacated. Republicans swept all four seats in the two elections. The election was for six-year terms.

Regular election

An election was held for three six-year terms to the board. Former two-term Republican member Helen M. H. Grigsby was returned to the board. New Republican members John R. Fornof and Park Livingston were elected to the board. Incumbent first-term Democrat Marie Coyle Plumb lost reelection. First-term Democrats Oscar G. Mayer Sr. and

Harold Pogue Harold Pogue (November 25, 1893 – October 23, 1969) was an American football player and businessman. He played quarterback and halfback for Robert Zuppke's University of Illinois football teams and was selected as a first-team All-American ...

did not seek reelection. Marie Coyle Plumb was listed on the ballot as "Mrs. Glenn E. Plumb", and Beulah Campbell was listed as "Belulah (Mrs. Bruce A.) Campbell".

Special election

A special election was held to fill the term left vacant by the

of Democrat Louis Conrad Moschel in 1940. Republican Chester R. Davis was elected, defeating incumbent Kenny E. Williamson (who had been appointed to hold the seat after the death of Moschel).

Judicial elections

On June 3, 1940, an election was held for judges of the

Superior Court of Cook County The Superior Court of Cook County was a court in Cook County, Illinois. It was preceded by earlier courts. 1845 saw the creation of the County Court of Cook County. In 1849, this was renamed The Cook County Court of Common Pleas. In 1859, this was ...

. On November 5, 1940, an election was held to fill a vacancy on the Eighth Judicial Circuit.

Ballot measure

legislatively referred state statute A legislative referral (or legislative referendum) is a referendum in which a legislature puts proposed legislation up for popular vote. This may either be voluntarily or, as is the case in many countries for a constitutional amendment, as a man ...

was brought before the voters.

Illinois Banking Law Amendment

Voters approved the Illinois Banking Law Amendment, a legislatively referred state statute which made it easier to establish new banks in small municipalities that lack banks. It amended sections 11 and 12 of the general banking law.

Local elections

Local elections were held.

Notes

: 5,806,332½ in regular election and 1,910,902 in special election : 5,957,269½ in regular election and 1,943,117 in special election : 49.16% of regular election and 49.58% of special election : 50.44% of regular election and 50.42% of special election

References

{{Illinois elections

1940 state legislature elections in the United States