1940_Illinois_elections
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.
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]
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.
Governor
 | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
County Results Green: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Hershey: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
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
- Harry B. Hershey, former mayor of Taylorville
- Albert Lagerstedt, unsuccessful candidate for Democratic nomination in 1938 United States Senate election in Illinois
- Robert W. McKinlay
- James O. Monroe
- John H. Stelle, incumbent lieutenant governor of Illinois
Results
| 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
- Dwight H. Green, Republican nominee for mayor of Chicago in 1939
- Richard J. Lyons, former Illinois state representative
| 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
| 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
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
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
| 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
- John V. Clinnin, unsuccessful candidate for Republican nomination for lieutenant governor in 1936
- Guy C. Crapple
- Hugh W. Cross, State Representative
- Charles Hindley
- William C. Jerome
- Arnold L. Lund, Republican nominee for the 6th congressional district in 1934
- Earle Benjamin Searcy, Illinois state senator[2]
Results
| 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
| 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
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
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
| 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
- George F. Barrett
- Oscar E. Carlstrom, former Illinois attorney general
- Frank R. Eagleton, former assistant Illinois attorney general[3]
- Charles W. Hadley
- Edward A. Hayes, former commander of The American Legion
- George Landon
Results
| 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
| 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
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
County results Hughes: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Johnson: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
Incumbent second-term Secretary of State Edward J. Hughes, a Democrat, was reelected.
Democratic primary
| 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.
| 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
| 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
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
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.
| 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
- John William Chapman, former Chicago alderman
- Henry G. Hansen
- Arthur C. Lueder, former Chicago postmaster and Republican nominee for mayor of Chicago in 1923
- William R. McCauley
- Oscar Nelson, former Illinois auditor of public accounts, former Chicago alderman, former interim president of the Building Service Employees International Union
- Edward A. O'Connor
- Charles W. Vail
- Edward T. O'Connor
Results
| 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
| 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
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4 out of 9 seats on the University of Illinois Board of Trustees 5 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
.jpg){kind=link}
.PNG){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
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
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
3 out of 9 seats on the University of Illinois Board of Trustees | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Park Livingston | 2,017,302½ | 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 | 1,954,221½ | 16.55 | |
| Democratic | Beulah (Mrs. Bruce A.) Campbell | 1,941,938½ | 16.44 | |
| Democratic | Mrs. Glenn E. Plumb | 1,910,171½ | 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 | 7,631½ | 0.07 | |
| Prohibition | Maude Swits Stowell | 7,420½ | 0.06 | |
| Prohibition | Lois Gilbert Krandell | 7,270½ | 0.06 | |
| Write-in | Others | 39 | 0.00 | |
| Total votes | 11,810,176½ | 100 | ||
Special election
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
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]
| 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]
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 775,170 | 68.10 | |
| No | 363,136 | 31.90 | |
| Total votes | 1,138,306 | 100 | |
Local elections were held.
- "OFFICIAL VOTE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS CAST AT THE GENERAL ELECTION, NOV. 5, 1940 JUDICIAL ELECTIONS, 1939–1940 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.
- "It's always campaign season". The Visual Journal. November 24, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- "County of Will v. State, 5 Ill. Ct. Cl. 249 (1927) | Caselaw Access Project". cite.case.law. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- "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.
- "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.[permanent dead link]
- "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.[permanent dead link]
- "Trustees, University of Illinois Board of Trustees" (PDF). University of Illinois. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- "Illinois General Banking Law Amendment (1940)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved December 10, 2020.