1940 Illinois elections

November 5, 1940

Elections were held in Illinois on Tuesday, November 5, 1940.[1]

Primaries were held April 9, 1940.[1]

While the Democratic ticket of Franklin D. Roosevelt 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, as well as control of the executive offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Auditor of Public Accounts, and Treasurer, 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. Republicans also won the state's special United States Senate election and flipped 6 Illinois seats in the United States House of Representatives.

Election information

Turnout

In the primaries, 2,647,467 ballots were cast (1,503,706 Democratic and 1,143,761 Republican).[1]

In the general election, 4,262,196 ballots were cast.[1]

Federal elections

United States President

Illinois voted for the Democratic ticket of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Henry A. Wallace.

United States Senate

Republican Charles W. Brooks unseated Democrat James M. Slattery, who had been appointed to the seat left vacant by the death in office of Democrat J. Hamilton Lewis.

United States House

All 27 Illinois seats in the United States House of Representatives 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

1940 Illinois gubernatorial election

November 5, 1940
 
Nominee Dwight H. Green Harry B. Hershey
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 2,197,778 1,940,833
Percentage 52.93% 46.74%

County Results

Green:      40โ€“50%      50โ€“60%      60โ€“70%      70โ€“80%

Hershey:      50โ€“60%      60โ€“70%

Governor before election

Henry Horner (before primary)
Democratic
John Henry Stelle
(before general election)
Democratic

Elected Governor

Dwight H. Green
Republican

Before the primary, incumbent governor Henry Horner, a Democrat, opted not to seek a third term. In October, before the general election, his death in office made John Henry Stelle assume the governorship. However, Stelle had previously failed to win the Democratic nomination in the primary.

Republican Dwight H. Green won the election.

Democratic primary

Candidates
Results
Gubernatorial Democratic primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Harry B. Hershey 815,604 59.73
Democratic John H. Stelle 484,454 35.48
Democratic Robert W. McKinlay 27,593 2.02
Democratic James O. Monroe 24,862 1.82
Democratic Albert Lagerstedt 12,925 0.95
Write-in Others 2 0.00
Total votes 1,365,440 100

Republican primary

Candidates
Gubernatorial Republican primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dwight H. Green 610,025 57.14
Republican Richard J. Lyons 457,643 42.86
Total votes 1,067,668 100

General election

Gubernatorial election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dwight H. Green 2,197,778 52.93
Democratic Harry B. Hershey 1,940,833 46.74
Socialist Labor Arthur G. McDowell 7,523 0.18
Prohibition Clay Freeman Gaumer 6,467 0.16
Total votes 4,152,622 100

Lieutenant governor

1940 Illinois lieutenant gubernatorial election

November 5, 1940
 
Nominee Hugh W. Cross Louie E. Lewis
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 2,073,679 1,955,834
Percentage 51.27% 48.36%

Lieutenant Governor before election

John Henry Stelle (before primary)
Democratic Party
Vacant (before general election)

Elected Lieutenant Governor

Hugh W. Cross
Republican

Incumbent lieutenant governor John Henry Stelle, 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
Results
Lieutenant gubernatorial Democratic primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Louie E. Lewis 945,586 77.47
Democratic George M. Maypole 275,016 22.53
Total votes 1,220,602 100

Republican primary

Candidates
Results
Lieutenant gubernatorial Republican primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Hugh W. Cross 390,941 41.53
Republican Arnold L. Lund 216,471 22.99
Republican Earle B. Searcy 168,692 17.92
Republican John V. Clinnin 61,049 6.49
Republican Charles Hindley 43,461 4.62
Republican William C. Jerome 40,671 4.32
Republican Guy C. Crapple 20,132 2.14
Write-in Others 1 0.00
Total votes 941,418 100

General election

Lieutenant gubernatorial election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Hugh W. Cross 2,073,679 51.27
Democratic Louie E. Lewis 1,955,834 48.36
Socialist Joe Tonielli 7,695 0.19
Prohibition Henry Johnson Long 7,181 0.18
Total votes 3,882,439 100

Attorney general

1940 Illinois Attorney General election

November 5, 1940
 
Nominee George F. Barrett Harold G. Ward
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 2,061,807 1,956,744
Percentage 51.12% 48.51%

Attorney General before election

John Edward Cassidy
Democratic

Elected Attorney General

George F. Barrett
Republican

Incumbent Attorney General John Edward Cassidy, a Democrat appointed in 1938 after fellow Democrat Otto Kerner Sr. 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

Attorney General Democratic primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Harold G. Ward 821,247 73.10
Democratic Samuel H. Block 302,184 26.90
Total votes 1,123,431 100

Republican primary

Candidates
Results
Attorney General Republican primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George F. Barrett 277,744 29.41
Republican Edward A. Hayes 253,555 26.85
Republican Oscar E. Carlstrom 241,739 25.60
Republican Charles W. Hadley 102,358 10.84
Republican George Landon 53,461 5.66
Republican Frank R. Eagleton 15,468 1.64
Total votes 944,325 100

General election

Attorney General election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George F. Barrett 2,061,807 51.12
Democratic Harold G. Ward 1,956,744 48.51
Socialist Kellam Foster 7,819 0.19
Prohibition Joseph L. Shaw 7,090 0.18
Write-in Others 11 0.00
Total votes 4,033,460 100

Secretary of State

1940 Illinois Secretary of State election

November 5, 1940
 
Nominee Edward J. Hughes Justus L. Johnson
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,095,698 1,962,405
Percentage 51.46% 48.19%

County results
Hughes:      40โ€“50%      50โ€“60%      60โ€“70%
Johnson:      40โ€“50%      50โ€“60%      60โ€“70%      70โ€“80%

Secretary of State before election

Edward J. Hughes
Democratic

Elected Secretary of State

Edward J. Hughes
Democratic

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

Democratic primary

Secretary of State Democratic primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Edward J. Hughes (incumbent) 1,167,788 100
Write-in Others 1 0.00
Total votes 1,167,789 100

Republican primary

Justus L. Johnson won the Republican primary, defeating businessman Richard Yates Rowe and Illinois state senator Arthur J. Bidwill.

Secretary of State Republican primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Justus L. Johnson 349,731 37.10
Republican Richard Yates Rowe 297,795 31.59
Republican Arthur J. Bidwill 295,136 31.31
Total votes 942,662 100

General election

Secretary of State election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Edward J. Hughes (incumbent) 2,095,698 51.46
Republican Justus L. Johnson 1,962,405 48.19
Socialist Mordecai Shulman 7,700 0.19
Prohibition Harriet L. McBride 6,829 0.17
Write-in Others 11 0.00
Total votes 4,072,632 100

Auditor of Public Accounts

1940 Illinois Auditor of Public Accounts election

November 5, 1940
 
Nominee Arthur C. Lueder John C. Martin
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 2,027,571 1,988,366
Percentage 50.30% 49.33%

Auditor of Public Accounts before election

Edward J. Barrett
Democratic

Elected Auditor of Public Accounts

Arthur C. Lueder
Republican

Incumbent third-term Auditor of Public Accounts Edward J. Barrett, lost renomination in the Democratic primary. Republican Arthur C. Lueder was elected to succeed him.

Democratic primary

Incumbent Edward J. Barrett narrowly lost renomination to U.S. congressman and former Illinois state treasurer John C. Martin.

Auditor of Public Accounts Democratic primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John C. Martin 630,729 50.72
Democratic Edward J. Barrett (incumbent) 612,914 49.28
Total votes 1,243,643 100

Republican primary

Candidates
Results
Auditor of Public Accounts Republican primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Arthur C. Lueder 261,541 28.18
Republican William R. McCauley 147,274 15.87
Republican Oscar Nelson 141,750 15.27
Republican Edward T. O'Connor 101,983 10.99
Republican Charles W. Vail 70,852 7.63
Republican John William Chapman 64,717 6.97
Republican Harry W. Nelson 58,321 6.28
Republican Henry G. Hansen 40,044 4.31
Republican Joseph Edward Scanlon 22,103 2.38
Republican Edward A. O'Connor 19,608 2.11
Total votes 928,193 100

General election

Auditor of Public Accounts election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Arthur C. Lueder 2,027,571 50.30
Democratic John C. Martin 1,988,366 49.33
Socialist Georgia Albright 7,896 0.20
Prohibition Carl T . E. Schultze 6,884 0.17
Write-in Others 10 0.00
Total votes 4,030,727 100

Treasurer

1940 Illinois State Treasurer election

November 5, 1940
 
Nominee Warren Wright Homer Mat Adams
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 2,030,513 1,983,667
Percentage 50.40% 49.24%

Treasurer before election

Louie E. Lewis
Democratic

Elected Treasurer

Warren Wright
Republican

Incumbent first-term Treasurer 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

Treasurer Democratic primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Homer Mat Adams 805,964 70.90
Democratic Edwin C. Gordon 330,733 29.10
Total votes 1,136,697 100

Republican primary

Treasurer Republican primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Warren Wright 378,168 42.33
Republican A. C. Lewis 278,112 31.130
Republican Howard W. Trovillion 111,169 12.44
Republican James A. Dayton 94,078 10.53
Republican Frank J. Store 31,839 3.56
Total votes 893,366 100

General election

Treasurer election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Warren Wright 2,030,513 50.40
Democratic Homer Mat Adams 1,983,667 49.24
Socialist Ina M. White 7,890 0.20
Prohibition John H. Everitt 6,894 0.17
Total votes 4,028,964 100

State Senate

Seats of the Illinois Senate were up for election in 1940. Republicans flipped control of the chamber.

State House of Representatives

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

University of Illinois trustees

1940 University of Illinois trustees elections
November 5, 1940

4 out of 9 seats on the University of Illinois Board of Trustees
5 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Democratic Republican
Seats before 9 0
Seats after 5 4
Seat change Decrease 4 Increase 4
Popular vote 7,717,234A 7,900,386ยฝ[B]
Percentage 49.27%[C] 50.44%[D]
Swing Decrease 5.99% Increase 2.59%
Seats up 4 0
Races won 0 4

[1][4][5][6][7]

An election was held for three of the nine seats for Trustees of University of Illinois to six year terms, and a special election was held to fill the partial term of a seat that was vacated.[1] Republicans swept all four seats in the two elections.[1] The election was for six-year terms.

Regular election

1940 University of Illinois trustees (regular election)
November 5, 1940

3 out of 9 seats on the University of Illinois Board of Trustees
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 5,957,269 5,806,332
Percentage 50.44% 49.16%
Swing Increase 2.59% Decrease 2.61%
Seats up 0 3
Races won 3 0

[1][6]

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.[1][7] New Republican members John R. Fornof and Park Livingston were elected to the board.[1][7]

Incumbent first-term Democrat Marie Coyle Plumb lost reelection.[1][7]

First-term Democrats Oscar G. Mayer Sr. and Harold Pogue did not seek reelection.[1][7]

Marie Coyle Plumb was listed on the ballot as "Mrs. Glenn E. Plumb", and Beulah Campbell was listed as "Belulah (Mrs. Bruce A.) Campbell".[1][7]

University of Illinois trustees election[1][7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Park Livingston 2,017,302ยฝ 17.08
Republican Helen Mathews Grigsby 1,972,433 16.70
Republican John R. Fornof 1,967,534 16.66
Democratic W. E. C. Clifford 1,954,221ยฝ 16.55
Democratic Beulah (Mrs. Bruce A.) Campbell 1,941,938ยฝ 16.44
Democratic Mrs. Glenn E. Plumb 1,910,171ยฝ 16.17
Socialist Kate M. Ward 8,286 0.07
Socialist Jack Sessions 8,001 0.07
Socialist Eva S. Cowan 7,927 0.07
Prohibition Mildred E. Young 7,631ยฝ 0.07
Prohibition Maude Swits Stowell 7,420ยฝ 0.06
Prohibition Lois Gilbert Krandell 7,270ยฝ 0.06
Write-in Others 39 0.00
Total votes 11,810,176ยฝ 100

Special election

1940 University of Illinois trustee special election

November 5, 1940
 
Nominee Chester R. Davis Kenney E. Williamson
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,943,117 1,910,902
Percentage 50.42% 49.58%

Trustee before election

Kenney E. Williamson
Democratic

Elected Trustee

Chester R. Davis
Republican

A special election was held to fill the term left vacant by the death in office of Democrat Louis Conrad Moschel in 1940.[1][7] Republican Chester R. Davis was elected, defeating incumbent Kenny E. Williamson (who had been appointed to hold the seat after the death of Moschel).[1][7]

University of Illinois trustee special election[1][7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Chester R. Davis 1,943,117 50.42
Democratic Kenney E. Williamson (incumbent) 1,910,902 49.58
Total votes 3,854,019 100

Judicial elections

On June 3, 1940, an election was held for judges of the Superior Court of Cook County.

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

Ballot measure

A legislatively referred state statute 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.[1][8] It amended sections 11 and 12 of the general banking law.[1]

Illinois Banking Law Amendment[1]
Candidate Votes  %
Yes 775,170 68.10
No 363,136 31.90
Total votes 1,138,306 100

Local elections

Local elections were held.

Notes

^A 5,806,332ยฝ in regular election and 1,910,902 in special election
^B 5,957,269ยฝ in regular election and 1,943,117 in special election
^C 49.16% of regular election and 49.58% of special election
^D 50.44% of regular election and 50.42% of special election

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 35 36 37 38 "OFFICIAL VOTE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS CAST AT THE GENERAL ELECTION, NOV. 5, 1940 JUDICIAL ELECTIONS, 1939โ€“1940 PRIMARY ELECTION General Primary, APRIL 9, 1940" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 24, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  2. โ†‘ "It's always campaign season". The Visual Journal. November 24, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  3. โ†‘ "County of Will v. State, 5 Ill. Ct. Cl. 249 (1927) | Caselaw Access Project". cite.case.law. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  4. โ†‘ "OFFICIAL VOTE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS CAST AT THE GENERAL ELECTION, NOV. 6, 1934 JUDICIAL ELECTIONS, 1933-34 PRIMARY ELECTION GENERAL PRIMARY, APRIL 10, 1934" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  5. โ†‘ "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.
  6. 1 2 "OFFICIAL VOTE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS CAST AT THE GENERAL ELECTION, November 8, 1938 JUDICIAL ELECTIONS, 1937-1938 PRIMARY ELECTION GENERAL PRIMARY, April 12, 1938" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Trustees, University of Illinois Board of Trustees" (PDF). University of Illinois. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  8. โ†‘ "Illinois General Banking Law Amendment (1940)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
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