1936 Illinois elections
November 3, 1936

Elections were held in Illinois on Tuesday, November 3, 1936.[1]

Primaries were held April 14, 1936.[1]

The elections overall saw a strong performance by the Democratic Party.

Democrats retained their control of both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly and all statewide executive offices, winning all the statewide executive offices by broad margins. Democrats swept the election for University of Illinois trustees. Democrats also carried the state in the presidential election. Democratic United States senator J. Hamilton Lewis was reelected. Democrats retained all 21 U.S. congressional seats they held in the state, while Republicans 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).[1]

In the general election, 3,995,088 ballots were cast.[1]

Federal elections

United States President

Illinois voted for the Democratic ticket of Franklin D. Roosevelt and John Nance Garner.

United States Senate

Democrat J. Hamilton Lewis 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 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

1936 Illinois gubernatorial election
November 3, 1936
 
Nominee Henry Horner C. Wayland Brooks
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,067,861 1,682,685
Percentage 53.13% 43.24%
County Results
Horner:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Brooks:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Governor before election

Henry Horner
Democratic

 Elected Governor

Henry Horner
Democratic

Incumbent first-term governor Henry Horner, a Democrat, won reelection.

Democratic primary

The Chicago political machine unsuccessfully ran Chicago Board of Health president Herman Bundesen against the incumbent Henry Horner in retribution for Horner having vetoed a bill that would have allowed bookies to legally operate, a bill favored by Chicago political bosses such as Edward J. Kelly.[2]

Candidates
Results
Democratic gubernatorial primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Henry Horner (incumbent) 820,313 54.39
Democratic Herman Bundesen 659,221 43.71
Democratic James Fred Robertson 28,600 1.90
Write-in Others 1 0.00
Total votes 1,508,135 100

Republican primary

Candidates
Republican gubernatorial primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican C. Wayland Brooks 596,446 59.05
Republican Len Small 268,903 26.62
Republican Oscar E. Carlstrom 53,266 5.27
Republican Thomas P. Gunning 31,194 3.09
Republican J. Paul Kuhn 29,423 2.91
Republican H. Wallace Caldwell 16,079 1.59
Republican John G. Oglesby 7,568 0.75
Republican George W. Dowell 7,125 0.71
Write-in Others 1 0.00
Total votes 1,010,005 100

General election

Challenging both Democratic nominee Henry Horner and Republican nominee Charles W. Brooks, Republican former Chicago mayor William Hale Thompson ran on the Union Progressive Party of Illinois' ballot line. There were also several other minor candidates.

Gubernatorial election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Henry Horner (incumbent) 2,067,861 53.13
Republican C. Wayland Brooks 1,682,685 43.24
Union Progressive William Hale Thompson 128,962 0.18
Socialist John Fisher 6,966
Prohibition Harmon W. Reed 2,896 0.07
Socialist Labor O. Alfred Olson 2,602 0.07
Write-in Others 4
Total votes 3,891,976 100

Lieutenant governor

1936 Illinois lieutenant gubernatorial election
November 3, 1936
 
Nominee John Henry Stelle George Hatzenbuhler
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,103,226 1,539,342
Percentage 56.17% 41.11%
Lieutenant Governor before election

Thomas Donovan
Democratic

 Elected Lieutenant Governor

John Henry Stelle
Democratic

Incumbent first-term lieutenant governor Thomas Donovan, a Democrat, did not seek reelection. Democrat John Henry Stelle was elected to succeed him.

Democratic primary

Candidates
Results
Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Stelle 544,215 42.85
Democratic John E. Cassidy 500,347 39.40
Democratic John L. McCormack 172,313 13.57
Democratic Isaac Epstein 53,118 4.18
Total votes 1,269,993 100

Republican primary

Candidates
  • John V. Clinnin
  • Harry F. Hamlin
  • George Hatzenbuhler
  • James A. McCallum
  • Theodore D. Smith
  • A. Lincoln Wisler
Results
Republican lieutenant gubernatorial primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George Hatzenbuhler 234,884 28.49
Republican James A. McCallum 190,009 23.04
Republican John V. Clinnin 179,002 21.71
Republican Theodore D. Smith 97,118 11.78
Republican Harry F. Hamlin 90,837 11.02
Republican A. Lincoln Wisler 32,695 3.97
Total votes 824,545 100

General election

Lieutenant gubernatorial election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Stelle 2,103,226 56.17
Republican George Hatzenbuhler 1,539,342 41.11
Union Progressive Fred R. Wolf 88,595 2.37
Socialist Joseph Goldman 7,487 0.20
Prohibition Clay F. Gaumer 3,153 0.08
Socialist Labor Jacob Johns 2,324 0.06
Total votes 3,744,127 100

Attorney general

1936 Illinois Attorney General election
November 3, 1936
 
Nominee Otto Kerner Sr. Charles W. Hadley
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,116,673 1,531,842
Percentage 56.47% 40.87%
Attorney General before election

Otto Kerner Sr.
Democratic

 Elected Attorney General

Otto Kerner Sr.
Democratic

Incumbent first-term Attorney General Otto Kerner Sr., a Democrat, was reelected.

Democratic primary

Attorney General Democratic primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Otto Kerner (incumbent) 1,126,894 58.20
Democratic Charles W. Hadley 405,062 20.92
Democratic Thomas V. Sullivan 308,669 15.94
Democratic Berthold A. Cronson 95,627 4.94
Total votes 1,936,252 100

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.[1]

General election

Attorney General election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Otto Kerner (incumbent) 2,116,673 56.47
Republican Charles W. Hadley 1,531,842 40.87
Union Progressive Thomas V. Sullivan 86,351 2.30
Socialist Meyer J. Myer 7,708 0.21
Prohibition Frank S. Regan 3,254 0.09
Socialist Labor Titus Anderson 2,495 0.07
Total votes 3,748,323 100

Secretary of State

1936 Illinois Secretary of State election
November 3, 1936
 
Nominee Edward J. Hughes William J. Stratton
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,120,071 1,576,939
Percentage 55.95% 41.62%
Secretary of State before election

Edward J. Hughes
Democratic

 Elected Secretary of State

Edward J. Hughes
Democratic

Incumbent first-term Democratic Secretary of State Edward J. Hughes, a Democrat, was reelected.

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

Democratic primary

Secretary of State Democratic primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Edward J. Hughes (incumbent) 1,027,919 84.79
Democratic Joseph Andrew Lasecki 184,331 15.21
Total votes 1,212,250 100

Republican primary

Secretary of State Republican primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William J. Stratton 632,451 72.22
Republican John W. Kapp, Jr. 243,327 27.78
Total votes 875,778 100

General election

Secretary of State election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Edward J. Hughes (incumbent) 2,120,071 55.95
Republican William J. Stratton 1,576,939 41.62
Union Progressive Stanley J. Piotrowicz 79,310 2.09
Socialist Harry A. Crawford 7,553 0.20
Prohibition Harriet L. McBride 3,123 0.08
Socialist Labor Sam French 2,179 0.06
Total votes 3,789,175 100

Auditor of Public Accounts

1936 Illinois Auditor of Public Accounts election
November 3, 1936
 
Nominee Edward J. Barrett Arthur J. Bidwill
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,107,911 1,561,920
Percentage 56.06% 41.54%
Auditor of Public Accounts before election

Edward J. Barrett
Democratic

 Elected Auditor of Public Accounts

Edward J. Barrett
Democratic

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

Democratic primary

Auditor of Public Accounts Democratic primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Edward J. Barrett (incumbent) 573,898 47.36
Democratic Homer Mat Adams 397,490 32.80
Democratic Thomas J. Barrett 173,954 14.36
Democratic Stanley A. Besdon 66,416 5.48
Write-in Others 1 0.00
Total votes 1,211,759 100

Republican primary

State senator Arthur J. Bidwill won the Republican nomination, defeating, among others, fellow state senator Earle Benjamin Searcy.

Results
Auditor of Public Accounts Republican primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Arthur J. Bidwill 253,329 30.98
Republican Earle B. Searcy 215,697 26.38
Republican E. E. Nicholson 114,943 14.06
Republican Charles W. Vail 103,992 12.72
Republican Amelia Laura Magee 51,222 6.27
Republican Oscar George Lehr 48,379 5.92
Republican Vandorf Gray 30,044 3.68
Total votes 817,606 100

General election

Auditor of Public Accounts election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Edward J. Barrett (incumbent) 2,107,911 56.06
Republican Arthur J. Bidwill 1,561,920 41.54
Union Progressive Harry A. Steinmeyer 77,436 2.06
Socialist Anton Udovic 7,607 0.20
Prohibition Carl T . E. Schultze 3,115 0.08
Socialist Labor Gus A. Jenning 2,416 0.06
Write-in Others 1 0.00
Total votes 3,760,406 100

Treasurer

1936 Illinois State Treasurer election
November 3, 1936
 
Nominee John C. Martin Clarence F. Buck
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,090,130 1,561,124
Percentage 55.86% 41.72%
Treasurer before election

John Henry Stelle
Democratic

 Elected Treasurer

John C. Martin
Democratic

Incumbent first-term Treasurer John Henry Stelle, a Democrat, 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.

Treasurer Democratic primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John C. Martin 646,300 54.25
Democratic Joseph T. Spiker 375,490 31.52
Democratic Raymond J. Anderson 169,579 14.23
Total votes 1,191,369 100

Republican primary

Former Illinois state senator Clarence F. Buck won the Republican nomination defeating businessman Anton J. Johnson, former U.S. congressman and former Illinois Treasurer Edward E. Miller, among others.

Treasurer Republican primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Clarence F. Buck 374,324 45.92
Republican Anton J. Johnson 103,010 12.64
Republican Edward E. Miller 101,519 12.45
Republican Deneen A. Watson 84,534 10.37
Republican Joseph L. Moore 82,577 10.13
Republican Francis A. Horrigan 69,300 8.50
Total votes 815,264 100

General election

Treasurer election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John C. Martin 2,090,130 55.86
Republican Clarence F. Buck 1,561,124 41.72
Union Progressive H. W. Trovillion 77,031 2.06
Socialist Benjamin Williger 7,767 0.21
Prohibition Enoch A. Holtwick 3,245 0.09
Socialist Labor Frank H. McKinzie 2,433 0.07
Total votes 3,741,730 100

State Senate

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

State House of Representatives

Seats in the Illinois House of Representatives were up for election in 1940. Democrats retained control of the chamber. Cumulative voting 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

1936 Trustees of University of Illinois election
November 3, 1936

An election was held for three of the nine seats for Trustees of University of Illinois to six year terms.[1][6] Democrats swept all three seats.[1][6]

All three incumbents whose terms were expiring (second-term Republican George A. Barr, first-term Republican Edward E. Barrett, and first-term Democrat Walter W. Winslow) were not nominated for reelection.[1][6]

New Democratic members Homer Mat Adams, James Mansfield Cleary, and Louis C. Moschel were elected.[1][6]

Trustees of the University of Illinois election[1][6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Homer Mat Adams 2,048,328 18.44
Democratic James Mansfield Cleary 2,047,680 18.43
Democratic Louis C. Moschel 2,042,819 18.39
Republican Frank H. McKelvey 1,566,214 14.10
Republican Frank M. White 1,565,030 14.09
Republican Charles S. Pillsbury 1,557,458 14.02
Union Progressive Minnie Clarke Webster 79,468 0.72
Union Progressive John L. Wellington 78,788 0.71
Union Progressive Elsie B. Johnston 77,824 0.70
Socialist Edward L. Adams, Jr. 8,813 0.08
Socialist Roy E. Burt 8,648 0.08
Socialist Georgia Albright 8,349 0.08
Prohibition Mildred E. Young 3,666 0.03
Prohibition Lawrence Britton 3,549 0.03
Prohibition John Ashe 3,383 0.03
Socialist Labor Nels C. Gustafson 2,731 0.03
Socialist Labor Mary Starcevic 2,725 0.03
Socialist Labor John L. Lindsey 2,631 0.02
Total votes 11,108,104 100

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 was reelected.

Illinois Supreme Court 5th district election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Clyde E. Stone (incumbent) 39,091 55.83
Democratic Josef T. Skinner 30,922 44.17
Total votes 70,013 100

Circuit Courts

Several special elections were held November 3, 1936 for the Illinois Circuit Courts.

Robert J. Dunne 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 by the resignation of fellow Democrat Francis S. Wilson.[1]

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.[1]

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.[1]

Democratic nominee Francis J. Coyle defeated Republican nominee Albert M. Crampton (51,609 votes to 50,163 votes) to fill the 14th district vacancy left by death of J. Paul Califf.[1]

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.[1]

Local elections

Local elections were held.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 "OFFICIAL VOTE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS CAST AT THE GENERAL ELECTION, NOV. 3, 1936 PRIMARY ELECTIONS GENERAL PRIMARY, APRIL 14, 1936 PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE, APRIL 14, 1936" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  2. 1 2 Grossman, Ron (October 20, 2017). "The Chicago public health czar who craved celebrity". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  3. ↑ "James Fred Robertson". The Pantagraph. Bloomington, Illinois. March 24, 1936. p. 11. Retrieved June 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "George W. Dowell of Duquoin, 25th congressional district". The Pearl City News. Pearl City, Illinois. July 16, 1914. p. 7. Retrieved June 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Dowell Out For Governor". Perry County Advocate. Pinckneyville, Illinois. January 24, 1936. p. 1. Retrieved June 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Trustees, University of Illinois Board of Trustees" (PDF). University of Illinois. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
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