1972 Illinois gubernatorial election

none related races 1972 United States gubernatorial elections January 2025 September 2023 1972 Illinois gubernatorial election Illinois presidential no 1968 (Gov)1968 (Lt. Gov) 1976 Illinois gubernatorial election 1976 November 7, 1972 Dan Walker (1974) (1).jpg Dan Walker Democratic Party (United States) Neil Hartigan 2,371,303 50.68% Richard Ogilvie (3x4).jpg Richard B. Ogilvie Republican Party (United States) Jim Nowlan 2,293,809 49.02% 1972 Illinois gubernatorial election results map by county.svg 160px County resultsWalker: #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% Ogilvie: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% Governor Richard B. Ogilvie Republican Party (United States) Dan Walker Democratic Party (United States) 75.28% 4.11 pp The 1972 Illinois gubernatorial election was held in Illinois on November 7, 1972.OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 7, 1972 JUDICIAL PRIMARY ELECTION GENERAL PRIMARY, MARCH, 21, 1972 https://www.elections.il.gov/DocDisplay.aspx?doc=Downloads/ElectionOperations/VoteTotals/Archived/1972/1972%20GE%20and%20PE.pdf Illinois State Board of Elections 26 June 2020 February 2021 InternetArchiveBot yes Incumbent first-term Republican governor Richard B. Ogilvie lost reelection in an upset to the Democratic nominee, Dan Walker. This was the first election in which each party's nominee for lieutenant governor of Illinois ran on a ticket with the gubernatorial nominee for the general election. Previously, there had been two separate elections for the two offices. This was the last election of the 20th century in which a Democrat won the governorship of Illinois, with all seven remaining elections of that century being won by Republican nominees. Background This was the first gubernatorial election in which gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial candidates were elected on a ticket in the general election, per the 1970 Constitution of Illinois. The election coincided with those for federal offices (United States president, Senate, and House) and other state offices. The election was part of the 1972 Illinois elections. Walker was the last Democrat to be elected governor of Illinois for 30 years, until Rod Blagojevich was elected in 2002. The primaries were held on March 21, 1972. Turnout in the primaries saw 36.09% in the gubernatorial primaries, with a total of 2,015,694 votes cast, and 30.46% in the lieutenant gubernatorial primary, with 1,701,418 votes cast. Turnout during the general election was 75.28%, with 4,679,043 votes cast. Democratic primaries Governor In an upset, Dan Walker won a close primary against then-Lt. Governor Paul Simon. Simon had been the candidate slated by the state party. 1972 Democratic gubernatorial primary, Illinois Democratic Party (United States) Daniel Walker 735,193 51.41 Democratic Party (United States) Paul Simon 694,900 48.59 24 0.00 40,293 2.82 1,430,117 thumb|center|County map of the 1972 Illinois Democratic gubernatorial primary Walker: #ac9393 50–60% #916f6f 60–70% #6c5353 70–80% Simon: #de8787 50–60% #d35f5f 60–70% #c83737 70–80% #a02c2c 80–90% Lieutenant governor Neil Hartigan, the candidate slated by the state party, defeated Carbondale mayor Neal Eckert, Walker's declared preferred running mate. Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial primary Democratic Party (United States) Neil F. Hartigan 802,449 65.37 Democratic Party (United States) Neal E. Eckert 425,021 34.63 16 0.00 1,227,486 100 Republican primaries Governor Ogilvie won renomination easily. His main rival, John M. Mathis, was a favorite son of the Peoria area, and fared poorly elsewhere. 1972 Republican gubernatorial primary, Illinois Republican Party (United States) Richard B. Ogilvie (incumbent) 442,323 75.54 Republican Party (United States) John M. Mathis 143,053 24.43 201 0.03 299,270 51.11 585,577 Lieutenant governor James D. Nowlan won the Republican primary for lieutenant governor, running unopposed. Republican lieutenant gubernatorial primary Republican Party (United States) James D. Nowlan 473,916 100 16 0.00 473,932 100 General election 1972 gubernatorial election, Illinois Democratic Party (United States) Daniel Walker/Neil F. Hartigan 2,371,303 50.68 +2.31 Republican Party (United States) Richard B. Ogilvie (incumbent)/James D. Nowlan 2,293,809 49.02 -2.19 Socialist Labor Party George LaForest/Stanley L. Prorok 7,966 0.17 -0.26 Communist Party USA Ishmael Flory/Theodore Pearson 4,592 0.10 N/A 1,373 0.03 N/A 77,494 1.66 -1.18 4,679,043 Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) References 1972 Gubernatorial Illinois