1964 Illinois gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1964 United States gubernatorial elections.

1964 Illinois gubernatorial election

←  1960 November 3, 1964 1968  →
Turnout	84.15% 0.84 pp
Nominee Otto Kerner Jr. Charles H. Percy Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,418,394 2,239,095 Percentage 51.93% 48.08%
County results Kerner:      50–60%     60–70% Percy:      50–60%     60–70%
Governor before election Otto Kerner Jr. Democratic Elected Governor Otto Kerner Jr. Democratic

The 1964 Illinois gubernatorial election was held in Illinois on November 3, 1964. ^[1] The Democratic nominee, incumbent Governor Otto Kerner, Jr., won reelection against the Republican nominee, Charles H. Percy.

Background

The primaries and general election both coincided with those for federal offices (United States President and congress) and those for other state offices. The election was part of the 1964 Illinois elections.

In the primary election, turnout was 37.89% with 1,956,238 votes cast. ^{[1] [2]} In the general election, turnout was 84.15% with 4,657,500 votes cast. ^{[1] [2]}

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary was held on April 14, 1964. Incumbent governor Otto Kerner Jr. won without opposition.

Candidates

• Otto Kerner Jr., incumbent Governor since 1961

Declined

• Sargent Shriver, director of the Peace Corps and former President of the Chicago Board of Education

Sargent Shriver had considered a possible run, but opted against a campaign after President Lyndon B. Johnson asked him to remain in Washington to assist with Great Society programs. ^[3]

Results

1964 Democratic gubernatorial primary, Illinois ^{[1] [4]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Otto Kerner Jr. (incumbent)	917,455	99.98	N/A
	N/A	write-ins	161	0.02	N/A
Majority			917,294	99.96
Total votes			917,616	100

Republican primary

The Republican primary was also held on April 14. Business executive ^[5] Charles Percy won the nomination against Illinois state treasurer William Scott, and a field of minor candidates.

Candidates

• Charles H. Percy, president of Bell & Howell and former advisor to Dwight D. Eisenhower and Nelson Rockefeller
• Barnept J. "Barney" Neidle
• William J. Scott, Treasurer of Illinois since 1963
• Alfred A. Skallish

Withdrew

• Charles F. Carpentier, Secretary of State
• Hayes Robertson, chair of the Cook County Republican Party and candidate for governor in 1960 (endorsed Scott)

Campaign

Illinois secretary of state Charles F. Carpentier was originally running, but dropped-out in January after suffering a heart attack. ^[5] Also originally running was Cook County Republican Party chairman Hayes Robertson, ^{[5] [6]} who had unsuccessfully challenged William Stratton in the 1960 Republican gubernatorial primary. Robertson also withdrew in January, throwing his support behind Scott. ^[6]

Results

1964 Republican gubernatorial primary, Illinois ^{[1] [4]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Charles H. Percy	626,111	60.28	N/A
	Republican	William J. Scott	388,903	37.44	N/A
	Republican	Lar "America First" Daly	9,228	0.89	N/A
	Republican	Barnept J. "Barney" Neidle	6,508	0.63	N/A
	Republican	Alfred A. Skallish	7,661	0.74	N/A
	Write-in	Others	211	0.02	N/A
Majority			237,208	22.84
Total votes			1,038,622	100

General election

1964 gubernatorial election, Illinois ^{[1] [2]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Otto Kerner Jr. (incumbent)	2,418,394	51.92	−3.58
	Republican	Charles H. Percy	2,239,095	48.08	+3.78
	Write-in	Others	11	0.00	N/A
Majority			179,095	3.85	7.37
Turnout			4,657,500	84.15
	Democratic hold		Swing

References

1. "OFFICIAL VOTE of the STATE OF ILLINOIS Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION, NOVEMBER 3, 1964 JUDICIAL ELECTION, 1963–1964 • PRIMARY ELECTION GENERAL PRIMARY, APRIL, 14, 1964" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 1, 2020.^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
2. "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 4, 1986" (PDF). www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 2, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
3. Stossel, Scott (2004). Sarge: The life and times of Sargent Shriver. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Books. ISBN   978-1-58834-127-3.
4. Illinois Blue Book 1963-1964. Illinois Secretary of State. p. 901. Retrieved March 28, 2020.^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
5. "CARPENTIER QUITS RACE IN ILLINOIS; G.O.P. Leader in Governor's Contest Has Heart Attack (Published 1964)". The New York Times. January 22, 1964. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
6. "Governor Race, Election Bill Stir Illinois Politics". The Daily Egyptian. Associated Press. January 24, 1964.