The 1976 Illinois gubernatorial election was held in Illinois on November 2, 1976.[1]Incumbent first-term DemocraticgovernorDan Walker lost renomination to Illinois Secretary of StateMichael Howlett, who was an ally of Chicago mayorRichard J. Daley. Howlett then lost the general election to Republican nominee James R. Thompson. This election was the first of seven consecutive Republican gubernatorial victories in Illinois, a streak not broken until the election of Democrat Rod Blagojevich in 2002.
This election is the most recent time an Illinois gubernatorial election was held concurrently with a Presidential election.
Background
This election was for a two-year term which would synchronize future gubernatorial elections with midterm election years, rather than presidential election years, as the 1970 Constitution of Illinois required gubernatorial elections to be held in midterm election years starting in 1978.[2] The previous election had been in 1972.
Turnout in the primaries saw 38.79% in the gubernatorial primaries, with a total of 2,231,910 votes cast, and 33.89% in the lieutenant gubernatorial primary, with 1,949,469 votes cast.[1] Turnout during the general election was 74.18%, with 4,639,010 votes cast.[1]
Democratic primary
Governor
The incumbent Governor, Dan Walker, had a contentious relationship with the DaleyMachine, which backed Secretary of State Michael Howlett. Walker carried most of the state's counties, but Howlett carried Cook county by a wide margin and was ultimately nominated.
County map of the 1976 Illinois Democratic gubernatorial primary Howlett: 50-60% 60-70% Walker: 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 80-90%.
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