1968 Illinois elections

none February 2026 September 2023 1968 Illinois elections Illinois 1915 presidential no 1966 Illinois elections 1966 1969 Illinois elections 1969 November 5, 1968 82.91% Elections were held in Illinois on Tuesday, November 5, 1968.OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 5, 1968 JUDICIAL PRIMARY ELECTION GENERAL PRIMARY, JUNE, 11, 1972 https://www.elections.il.gov/DocDisplay.aspx?doc=Downloads/ElectionOperations/VoteTotals/Archived/1968/1968%20GE%20and%20PE.PDF https://web.archive.org/web/20220704213241/https://www.elections.il.gov/DocDisplay.aspx?doc=Downloads/ElectionOperations/VoteTotals/Archived/1968/1968%20GE%20and%20PE.PDF dead July 4, 2022 Illinois State Board of Elections 26 June 2020 Primaries were held on June 11, 1968. 3 Election information Turnout In the primary, turnout was 28.84% with 1,573,173 ballots cast (833,498 Democrat and 739,675 Republican).OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 4, 1986 https://www.elections.il.gov/DocDisplay.aspx?doc=Downloads/ElectionOperations/VoteTotals/Archived/1986/1986%20GE.PDF https://web.archive.org/web/20220602085116/https://www.elections.il.gov/DocDisplay.aspx?doc=Downloads/ElectionOperations/VoteTotals/Archived/1986/1986%20GE.PDF dead June 2, 2022 www.elections.il.gov Illinois State Board of Elections 10 April 2020 In the general election, turnout was 82.91% with 4,705,852 ballots cast. Federal elections United States President 1968 United States presidential election in Illinois 1968 United States presidential election Illinois voted for the Republican ticket of Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew. United States Senate 1968 United States Senate election in Illinois 1968 United States Senate elections Incumbent Senator Everett M. Dirksen, a Republican, won reelection to a fourth term. United States House 1968 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois 1968 United States House of Representatives elections All 24 Illinois seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 1968. No seats switched parties, leaving the Illinois House delegation to continue to consist of 12 Democrats and 12 Republicans. State elections Governor 1968 Illinois gubernatorial election 1968 Illinois gubernatorial election Illinois 1915 presidential no 1964 Illinois gubernatorial election 1964 November 5, 1968 1972 Illinois gubernatorial election 1972 x150px Richard B. Ogilvie Republican Party (United States) 2,307,295 51.2% 1968 Illinois gubernatorial election results map by county.svg 160px County Results Ogilvie: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% Shapiro: #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% Governor Samuel Shapiro Democratic Party (United States) Richard B. Ogilvie Republican Party (United States) x150px Samuel Shapiro Democratic Party (United States) 2,179,501 48.4% 79.39% Incumbent Democratic Governor Samuel Shapiro lost reelection to Republican Richard B. Ogilvie. Gubernatorial election Republican Party (United States) Richard B. Ogilvie 2,307,295 51.21 Democratic Party (United States) Samuel H. Shapiro (incumbent) 2,179,501 48.37 Socialist Labor Party Edward C. Gross 19,175 0.43 Write-in Others 29 0.00 4,506,000 Lieutenant governor 1968 Illinois lieutenant gubernatorial election Illinois 1915 presidential no 1964 Illinois lieutenant gubernatorial election 1964 1972 Illinois gubernatorial election 1972 November 5, 1968 File:Paul Simon (Illinois Blue Book Portrait 1971-1972).jpg 150x150px Paul Simon Democratic Party (United States) 2,222,331 50.87% File:3x4.svg Robert A. Dwyer Republican Party (United States) 2,125,910 48.67% 1968 Illinois lieutenant gubernatorial election results map by county.svg 300 County resultsSimon: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% Dwyer: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% Lieutenant Governor Vacant Paul Simon Democratic Party (United States) 76.96% Democrat Paul Simon was elected to serve as lieutenant governor. This was the only time in Illinois history that the state had the elected a governor and a lieutenant governor from different political parties (there were, however, instances in Illinois where an appointed lieutenant governor had been of a different political party than the governor). Due to changes implemented by the passage of the 1970 Constitution of Illinois, in all subsequent elections, gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial candidates have been jointly elected on a ticket. Therefore, this was the last Illinois election held for the sole purpose of electing a lieutenant governor. Democratic primary Lieutenant gubernatorial Democratic primary Democratic Party (United States) Paul Simon 600,369 100 Write-in Others 6 0.00 600,375 100 Republican primary Robert A. Dwyer, an insurance executive from Winnetka ran unopposed for the Republican nomination.Trani Eugene P. The Man and the Land: The Politics of Paul Simon and Southern Illinois, 1950-1973 July 2010 The Simon Review Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale October 15, 2024 https://paulsimoninstitute.siu.edu/_common/documents/simon-review/simon-review-21.pdf Lieutenant gubernatorial Republican primary Republican Party (United States) Robert A. Dwyer 534,882 100 Write-in Others 6 0.00 534,888 100 General election Lieutenant gubernatorial election Democratic Party (United States) Paul Simon 2,222,331 50.87 Republican Party (United States) Robert A. Dwyer 2,125,910 48.67 Socialist Labor Party Stanley L. Prorok 20,122 0.46 Write-in Others 2 0.00 4,368,365 Attorney general 1968 Illinois Attorney General election Illinois 1915 presidential no 1964 Illinois Attorney General election 1964 1972 Illinois Attorney General election 1972 November 5, 1968 x150px William J. Scott, circa 1976 (3x4).jpg William J. Scott Republican Party (United States) 2,898,198 52.71% Francis Lorenz 1961.jpg Francis S. Lorenz Democratic Party (United States) 2,322,572 46.89% 1968 Illinois Attorney General election results map by county.svg County results Scott:#e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% Lorenz: #7996e2 50–60% Tie: #D2B1D9 40–50% 250px Attorney General William G. Clark Democratic Party (United States) William J. Scott Republican Party (United States) 79.79% Incumbent attorney general William G. Clark, a Democrat, did not seek a third term. Republican William J. Scott was elected to succeed him. Democratic primary Attorney General Democratic primary Democratic Party (United States) Francis S. Lorenz 611,138 100 Write-in Others 14 0.00 611,152 100 Republican primary Attorney General Republican primary Republican Party (United States) William J. Scott 581,595 76.67 Write-in Others 1 0.00 581,595 100 General election Attorney General election Republican Party (United States) William J. Scott 2,322,572 52.71 Democratic Party (United States) Francis S. Lorenz 2,065,984 46.89 Socialist Labor Party (United States) George P. Milonas 17,488 0.40 Write-in Others 2 0.00 4,528,836 100 Secretary of State 1968 Illinois Secretary of State election Illinois 1915 presidential no 1964 Illinois elections#Secretary of State 1964 1972 Illinois elections#Secretary of State 1972 November 5, 1968 x150px Paul Powell circa 1967 (3x4).jpg Paul Powell Democratic Party (United States) 2,278,868 50.94% 3x4.svg Donald D. Carpentier Republican Party (United States) 2,173,839 48.59% 1968 Illinois secretary of state election results map by county.svg 300px County resultsPowell: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70%Carpentier: #FFB2B2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% Secretary of State Paul Powell Democratic Party (United States) Paul Powell Democratic Party (United States) 78.81% Incumbent Secretary of State Paul Powell, a Democrat, was reelected to a second term. Democratic primary Secretary of State Democratic primary Democratic Party (United States) Paul Powell (incumbent) 617,231 100 Write-in Others 47 0.01 617,278 100 Republican primary Secretary of State Republican primary Republican Party (United States) Donald D. Carpentier 502,497 76.67 Republican Party (United States) Brian B. Duff 153,017 23.34 Write-in Others 6 0.00 655,520 100 General election Secretary of State election Democratic Party (United States) Paul T. Powell (incumbent) 2,278,868 50.94 Republican Party (United States) Donald D. Carpentier 2,173,839 48.59 Socialist Labor Party (United States) George LaForest 20,664 0.46 Write-in Others 9 0.00 4,473,380 100 Auditor of Public Accounts 1968 Illinois Auditor of Public Accounts election Illinois 1915 presidential no 1964 Illinois elections#Auditor of Public Accounts 1964 1972 Illinois elections#Comptroller 1972 (Comptroller) November 3, 1968 x150px Michael J. Howlett (3x4).jpg Michael Howlett Democratic Party (United States) 2,215,401 50.99% William C. Harris circa 1967 (3x4).jpg William C. Harris Republican Party (United States) 2,106,676 48.49% Auditor of Public Accounts Michael Howlett Democratic Party (United States) Michael Howlett Democratic Party (United States) 76.54% Incumbent Auditor of Public Accounts Michael Howlett, a Democrat, was reelected to a third term. Democratic primary Auditor of Public Accounts Democratic primary Democratic Party (United States) Michael J. Howlett (incumbent) 591,297 100 Write-in Others 13 0.00 591,310 100 Republican primary Auditor of Public Accounts Republican primary Republican Party (United States) William C. Harris 272,742 46.26 Republican Party (United States) Terrel E. Clarke 183,855 31.19 Republican Party (United States) Wesley W. "Wes" Olson 132,932 22.55 Write-in Others 1 0.00 589,530 100 General election Auditor of Public Accounts election Democratic Party (United States) Michael J. Howlett (incumbent) 2,215,401 50.99 Republican Party (United States) William C. Harris 2,106,676 48.49 Socialist Labor Party (United States) Elizabeth Schnur 22,591 0.52 Write-in Others 1 0.00 4,344,669 100 Clerk of the Supreme Court 1968 Clerk of the Supreme Court election Illinois presidential no 1962 Illinois elections#Clerk of the Supreme Court 1962 November 5, 1968 x150px Justin Taft, circa 1969 (3x4a).jpg Justin Taft Republican Party (United States) 2,286,086 52.68% 3x4.svg Fannie G. Jones Democratic Party (United States) 2,032,768 46.84% Clerk Clell Woods Justin Taft Republican Party (United States) 76.46% The Clerk of the Supreme Court election was won by Republican nominee Justin Taft. Ahead of the election, the incumbent clerk was Clell Woods, who had temporarily assumed the office after the death of clerk Fae Searcy earlier in 1968. Woods, like Searcy, was a Republican.Clell Woods Named High Court Clerk https://www.newspapers.com/image/1304191361 Newspapers.com subscription The Illinois State Journal March 28, 2026 March 26, 1968 The 1970 Constitution of Illinois made it so that the office would become an appointive office by 1975, thus rendering the 1968 election the last instance in which an election was held for this office. Democratic primary Clerk of the Supreme Court Democratic primaryIllinois Blue Book 1967-1968 Illinois Secretary of State 884 http://www.idaillinois.org/cdm/ref/collection/bb/id/20934 28 March 2020 Democratic Party (United States) Fannie G. Jones 565,289 100 Write-in Others 5 0.00 565,294 100 Republican primary Incumbent Clerk of the Supreme Court Fae Searcy died in office on March 25, 1968. However, she had already filed to be on the ballot before her death.Mrs. Fae Searcy Dies; Clerk of Supreme Court https://www.newspapers.com/image/340090589 The Dispatch (Moline Illinois) The Associated Press 13 August 2021 en subscription 25 March 1968 Instead of being listed by her own name, Fae Searcy opted to be listed on the ballot as "Mrs. Earle Benjamin Searcy", her legal name. She had succeeded her husband in the office after his own death. Mrs. Searcy remained on the ballot, and received 32 percent of the vote despite being dead. However, Justin Taft outperformed her, with 45.01 percent of the vote, winning the nomination. Clerk of the Supreme Court Republican primary Republican Party (United States) Justin Taft 264,959 45.01 Republican Party (United States) Fae Searcy (deceased; was incumbent at time of death) 188,635 32.04 Republican Party (United States) Louise Emerson 135,103 22.95 Write-in Others 5 0.00 588,702 100 General election Clerk of the Supreme Court election Justin Taft Republican Party (United States) 2,286,086 52.68 Democratic Party (United States) Fannie G. Jones 2,032,768 46.84 Socialist Labor Party (United States) Gregory P. Lyngas 21,117 0.49 Write-in Others 1 0.00 4,339,972 100 State Senate Seats of the Illinois Senate were up for election in 1968. Republicans retained control of the chamber. State House of Representatives Seats in the Illinois House of Representatives were up for election in 1968. Republicans retained control of the chamber. Trustees of University of Illinois 1968 Trustees of University of Illinois election presidential no 1966 Illinois elections#Trustees of University of Illinois 1966 1970 Illinois elections#Trustees of University of Illinois 1970 November 5, 1968 An election using cumulative voting was held for three of nine seats for Trustees of University of Illinois system. The election saw the reelection of incumbent third-term Republican Timothy W. Swain and incumbent second-term Republican member Earl M. Hughes and the election of new Republican member Russell W. "Ruck" Steger. Incumbent Democrat Kenney E. Williamson (appointed in 1967 after the death in office of Wayne A. Johnston) lost reelection. Trustees of the University of Illinois electionTrustees, University of Illinois Board of Trustees https://www.bot.uillinois.edu/UserFiles/Servers/Server_694865/File/UI-trustees-chronological.pdf University of Illinois 1 April 2020 Republican Party (United States) Timothy W. Swain (incumbent) 2,246,505 17.49 Republican Party (United States) Earl M. Hughes (incumbent) 2,222,696 17.30 Republican Party (United States) Russell W. Steger 2,176,223 16.94 Kenney E. Williamson (incumbent) Democratic Party (United States) 2,063,859 16.06 Timothy R. Ives Democratic Party (United States) 2,043,974 15.91 Frances Best Watkins Democratic Party (United States) 2,003,652 15.60 Edwin L. Williams Socialist Labor Party of America 33,031 0.26 Henry Schilling Socialist Labor Party of America 31,399 0.24 Clarys L. Essex Socialist Labor Party of America 26,768 0.21 Others Write-in 2 0.00 12,848,109 100 Judicial elections Judicial elections were held, including two elections to fill vacancies on the Illinois Appellate Court. Ballot measures Three ballot measures were up for election in 1968, a legislatively referred state statute, a bond measure, and a call for a constitutional convention. In order to be approved, legislatively referred state statues required the support of a majority of those voting on the statute. Bond measures needed a vote equal to majority of the votes cast for whichever chamber of the Illinois General Assembly had the highest cumulative vote count. A call for a constitutional convention required votes equal to a majority of the all ballots cast in the general election. Illinois Banking Act Illinois Banking Act was approved by voters as a legislatively referred state statue. It enabled Illinois state banks to have foreign branches.Illinois Banking Act, Amendment 1 (1968) https://ballotpedia.org/Illinois_Banking_Act,_Amendment_1_(1968) Ballotpedia 29 March 2020 en Illinois Banking Act Yes 1,776,492 61.95 No 1,091,116 38.05 2,867,608 100 50.52 300px|thumb|Act results by county Yes: #47729E 70–80% #7D9CBB 60–70% #B6C8D9 50–60% No: #BCBC83 60–70% #DEDEBD 50–60% Illinois Natural Resources Development Bond Act Illinois Natural Resources Development Bond Act, a legislatively referred bond question, failed to pass.Illinois Natural Resources Development Bond Act, Amendment 2 (1968) https://ballotpedia.org/Illinois_Natural_Resources_Development_Bond_Act,_Amendment_2_(1968) Ballotpedia 29 March 2020 en It proposed a $1 billion bond act for the development of natural resources. Bond measures needed a vote equal to majority of the votes cast for whichever chamber of the Illinois General Assembly had the highest cumulative vote count. In this election, the highest turnout for a chamber's elections was 4,268,956, so the needed vote total for the measure to have pass would have been 2,134,479. Illinois Natural Resources Development Bond Act Option Votes % of highest legislative votecast Yes 1,656,600 38.81 No 1,216,814 28.50 Total votes 2,873,414 67.31 Voter turnout 50.62% 300px|thumb|Act results by county No: #8B8B54 70–80% #BCBC83 60–70% #DEDEBD 50–60% Yes: #47729E 70–80% #7D9CBB 60–70% #B6C8D9 50–60% Proposed call for a Constitutional Convention In 1968, voters were presented with a referendum on whether to call a constitutional convention.CALLING AND HOLDING ILLINOIS' SIXTH CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION 23 February 1972 Illinois Legislative Council 2 http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lru/7-803.pdf 28 March 2020Klemens Michael D. The state of the State Preparing for the next call for a constitutional convention Illinois Issues June 1987 https://www.lib.niu.edu/1987/ii870606.html 28 March 2020 This was the first such vote held in the State of Illinois since 1934. That call failed. The chief sponsor of the legislation that created this ballot measure was Senate Republican leader W. Russell Arrington.87. Senate Joint Resolution 2 Calling for a Constitutional Convention (1967) https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/online_exhibits/100_documents/1967-calling-constitutional-convention.html www.cyberdriveillinois.com Office of Illinois Secretary of State 29 March 2020 Democratic Governor Otto Kerner Jr. was supportive of holding a constitutional convention. The call for the convention required the votes of an equal majority of all ballots cast in the 1968 general elections. A constitutional convention was subsequently held, and the resulting Constitution of Illinois was approved by Illinois voters in a 1970 special election. Proposed call for a Constitutional ConventionIllinois Constitutional Convention Question (1968) https://ballotpedia.org/Illinois_Constitutional_Convention_Question_(1968) Ballotpedia 29 March 2020 en Option Votes % of all ballotscast Yes 2,979,972 63.33 No 1,135,440 24.13 Total votes 4,115,412 87.45 Voter turnout 72.50% 300px|thumb|Convention results by county Yes: #28497C 80–90% #47729E 70–80% #7D9CBB 60–70% #B6C8D9 50–60% No: #BCBC83 60–70% #DEDEBD 50–60% Local elections Local elections were held. References Illinois