1956 Illinois gubernatorial election

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1956 Illinois gubernatorial election
Flag of Illinois (1915-1969).svg
  1952 November 6, 1956 1960  
Turnout82.69% Decrease2.svg 0.57 pp
  William G. Stratton (Illinois Blue Book Portrait 1955-1956).jpg Richard B Austin (3x4 a).jpg
Nominee William Stratton Richard B. Austin
(replacing Herbert C. Paschen)
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote2,171,7862,134,909
Percentage50.34%49.48%

1956 Illinois gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results

Stratton:     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%

Austin:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%

Governor before election

William Stratton
Republican

Elected Governor

William Stratton
Republican

The 1956 Illinois gubernatorial election was held in Illinois on November 6, 1956. [1] Incumbent Governor William Stratton, a Republican, narrowly won reelection to a second term. Stratton's narrow victory came despite the fact that the Republican ticket of Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard Nixon carried the state of Illinois in a landslide in the presidential election. [2]

Contents

Background

The primaries and general election both coincided with those for federal offices (United States President, House, and United States Senate) and those for other state offices. The election was part of the 1956 Illinois elections.

In the primaries (held on April 10, 1960), turnout was 32.56%, with a total of 1,620,871 votes cast. [1] [3]

In the general election, turnout was 82.69%, with a total of 4,314,611 ballots cast. [1] [4]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Ran
Declined to run

Results

Democratic primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Herbert C. Paschen 475,813 57.80
Democratic Morris B. Sachs347,45842.20
Write-in 100.00
Total votes823,281 100

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican William G. Stratton (incumbent) 556,909 69.82
Republican Warren E. Wright 187,64523.53
Republican Lar "America First" Daly 24,8083.11
Republican Sidney McKee Ward15,9792.00
Republican Anthony A. Polley12,2171.53
Write-in 320.00
Total votes797,590 100

General election

Democratic nominee Herbert C. Paschen became embroiled in scandal related to his tenure as Cook County Treasurer. [6] Paschen withdrew as the nominee, [9] and was replaced by Richard B. Austin. [7]

Gubernatorial election [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican William G. Stratton (incumbent) 2,171,786 50.34
Democratic Richard B. Austin 2,134,90949.48
Socialist Labor Edward C. Cross7,8740.18
Write-in 420.00
Total votes4,314,611 100

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "OFFICIAL VOTE of the STATE OF ILLINOIS Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION, NOVEMBER 6, 1956 JUDICIAL ELECTION, 1955, 1956 • PRIMARY ELECTION GENERAL PRIMARY, APRIL 10 1958" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 4, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  2. "Former Illinois Governor William G. Stratton dies at 86". The Quad-City Times. Associated Press. March 3, 2001. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  3. "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the PRIMARY ELECTION MARCH 16, 1982" (PDF). www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 4, 2020.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 2, 1982" (PDF). www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 4, 2020.[ permanent dead link ]
  5. "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Herbert C. Paschen". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  6. 1 2 "The Daily Banner 28 August 1956 — Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program". newspapers.library.in.gov. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  7. 1 2 "Judge Austin Signs On The Dotted Line" . Chicago Tribune. October 11, 1956. Retrieved November 15, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  8. Stossel, Scott (2004). Sarge: The life and times of Sargent Shriver. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Books. ISBN   978-1-58834-127-3.
  9. "National Affairs: Substitution in Illinois". Time. September 17, 1956. Retrieved December 21, 2020.