1968 Illinois gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1968 United States gubernatorial elections.

1968 Illinois gubernatorial election

←  1964 November 5, 1968 1972  →
Turnout	79.39% 4.76 pp
Nominee Richard B. Ogilvie Samuel H. Shapiro Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 2,307,295 2,179,501 Percentage 51.21% 48.37%
County results Ogilvie:     40-50%     50-60%     60-70%     70-80% Shapiro:     40–50%     50–60%
Governor before election Samuel H. Shapiro Democratic Elected Governor Richard B. Ogilvie Republican

The 1968 Illinois gubernatorial election was held in Illinois on November 5, 1968. ^[1] Democratic nominee, incumbent governor Samuel H. Shapiro (who had assumed the governorship in May 1968, after Otto Kerner Jr. resigned in order to accept a judicial appointment), lost reelection to Republican nominee Richard B. Ogilvie, who was the president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners and former sheriff of Cook County.

Background

The election coincided with those for federal offices (United States President, Senate, and House) and those for other state offices. ^[1] The election was part of the 1968 Illinois elections.

The primaries were held on June 11, 1968. ^[1]

In the primary, turnout was 24.44% with 1,332,832 votes cast. ^{[1] [2]} In the general election, turnout was 79.39% with 4,506,000 votes cast. ^[1]

Democratic primary

Governor Samuel H. Shapiro won renomination without opposition.

1968 Democratic gubernatorial primary, Illinois ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Samuel H. Shapiro (incumbent)	646,028	99.97	N/A
	Write-in	Others	204	0.03	N/A
Majority			645,824	99.94
Turnout			626,232

Republican primary

Ogilvie won the nomination against 1964 lieutenant gubernatorial candidate John Henry Altorfer, former Governor William G. Stratton, and S. Thomas Sutton.

Candidates

• John Henry Altorfer, 1964 lieutenant gubernatorial candidate
• Richard B. Ogilvie, president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners and former sheriff of Cook County
• William G. Stratton, former governor of Illinois
• S. Thomas Sutton

Results

1968 Republican gubernatorial primary, Illinois ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Richard B. Ogilvie	335,727	47.51	N/A
	Republican	John Henry Altorfer	288,904	40.89	N/A
	Republican	William G. Stratton	50,041	7.08	N/A
	Republican	S. Thomas Sutton	31,925	4.52	N/A
	Write-in	Others	3	0.00	N/A
Majority			46,823	6.63
Turnout			706,600

General election

Ogilive won 83 of the state's 102 counties. However, among the 19 counties Shapiro won was the state's most populous, Cook County. ^[1]

1968 gubernatorial election, Illinois ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Richard B. Ogilvie	2,307,295	51.21	+3.13
	Democratic	Samuel H. Shapiro (incumbent)	2,179,501	48.37	−3.56
	Socialist Labor	Edward C. Gross	19,175	0.43	N/A
	Write-in	Others	29	0.00	N/A
Majority			127,794	2.84	6.69
Turnout			4,506,000	79.39
	Republican gain from Democratic		Swing

References

1. "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 5, 1968 JUDICIAL PRIMARY ELECTION GENERAL PRIMARY, JUNE, 11, 1972" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved June 26, 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. Retrieved April 10, 2020.^{[ permanent dead link ]}