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1968 Illinois elections

(Redirected from 1968 Illinois Senate election)

Elections were held in Illinois on Tuesday, November 5, 1968.[1]

1968 Illinois elections
← 1966 November 5, 1968 1969 →
Turnout82.91%

Primaries were held on June 11, 1968.[1]

Election information

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Turnout

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In the primary, turnout was 28.84% with 1,573,173 ballots cast (833,498 Democrat and 739,675 Republican).[1][2][3]

In the general election, turnout was 82.91% with 4,705,852 ballots cast.[1]

Federal elections

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United States President

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Main article: 1968 United States presidential election in Illinois
See also: 1968 United States presidential election

Illinois voted for the Republican ticket of Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew.[1]

United States Senate

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Main article: 1968 United States Senate election in Illinois
See also: 1968 United States Senate elections

Incumbent Senator Everett M. Dirksen, a Republican, won reelection to a fourth term.

United States House

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Main article: 1968 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois
See also: 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

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Governor

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Main article: 1968 Illinois gubernatorial election
1968 Illinois gubernatorial election
 
← 1964 November 5, 1968 1972 →
Turnout79.39%[1]
     
Nominee Richard B. Ogilvie Samuel H. Shapiro
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 2,307,295 2,179,501
Percentage 51.2% 48.4%
 
County Results

Ogilvie:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

Shapiro:      40–50%      50–60%
Governor before election

Samuel H. Shapiro
Democratic

Elected Governor

Richard B. Ogilvie
Republican

Incumbent Democratic Governor Samuel H. Shapiro, lost reelection to Republican Richard B. Ogilvie.

Gubernatorial election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Richard B. Ogilvie 2,307,295 51.21
Democratic Samuel H. Shapiro (incumbent) 2,179,501 48.37
Socialist Labor Edward C. Gross 19,175 0.43
Write-in Others 29 0.00
Total votes 4,506,000

Lieutenant governor

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1968 Illinois lieutenant gubernatorial election
 
← 1964 November 5, 1968 1972 →
Turnout76.96%[1]
     
Nominee Paul Simon Robert A. Dwyer
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,222,331 2,125,910
Percentage 50.87% 48.67%
 
County results
Simon:      50–60%      60–70%
Dwyer:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Lieutenant Governor before election

Vacant

 Elected Lieutenant Governor

Paul Simon
Democratic

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

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Lieutenant gubernatorial Democratic primary[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Paul Simon 600,369 100
Write-in Others 6 0.00
Total votes 600,375 100

Republican primary

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Robert A. Dwyer, an insurance executive from Winnetka ran unopposed for the Republican nomination.[4]

Lieutenant gubernatorial Republican primary[1][2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert A. Dwyer 534,882 100
Write-in Others 6 0.00
Total votes 534,888 100

General election

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Lieutenant gubernatorial election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Paul Simon 2,222,331 50.87
Republican Robert A. Dwyer 2,125,910 48.67
Socialist Labor Stanley L. Prorok 20,122 0.46
Write-in Others 2 0.00
Total votes 4,368,365

Attorney general

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1968 Illinois Attorney General election
 
← 1964 November 5, 1968 1972 →
Turnout79.79%[1]
     
Nominee William J. Scott Francis S. Lorenz
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 2,898,198 2,322,572
Percentage 52.71% 46.89%
 
County results
Scott:     50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Lorenz:      50–60%
Tie:      40–50%
Attorney General before election

William G. Clark
Democratic

Elected Attorney General

William J. Scott
Republican

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

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Attorney General Democratic primary[1][2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Francis S. Lorenz 611,138 100
Write-in Others 14 0.00
Total votes 611,152 100

Republican primary

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Attorney General Republican primary[1][2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William J. Scott 581,595 76.67
Write-in Others 1 0.00
Total votes 581,595 100

General election

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Attorney General election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William J. Scott 2,322,572 52.71
Democratic Francis S. Lorenz 2,065,984 46.89
Socialist Labor George P. Milonas 17,488 0.40
Write-in Others 2 0.00
Total votes 4,528,836 100

Secretary of State

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1968 Illinois Secretary of State election
 
← 1964 November 5, 1968 1972 →
Turnout78.81%[1]
     
Nominee Paul Powell Donald D. Carpentier
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,278,868 2,173,839
Percentage 50.94% 48.59%
Secretary of State before election

Paul Powell
Democratic

Elected Secretary of State

Paul Powell
Democratic

Incumbent Secretary of State Paul Powell, a Democrat, was reelected to a second term.

Democratic primary

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Secretary of State Democratic primary[1][2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Paul Powell (incumbent) 617,231 100
Write-in Others 47 0.01
Total votes 617,278 100

Republican primary

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Secretary of State Republican primary[1][2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Donald D. Carpentier 502,497 76.67
Republican Brian B. Duff 153,017 23.34
Write-in Others 6 0.00
Total votes 655,520 100

General election

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Secretary of State election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Paul T. Powell (incumbent) 2,278,868 50.94
Republican Donald D. Carpentier 2,173,839 48.59
Socialist Labor George LaForest 20,664 0.46
Write-in Others 9 0.00
Total votes 4,473,380 100

Auditor of Public Accounts

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1968 Illinois Auditor of Public Accounts election
 
← 1964 November 3, 1968 1972 (Comptroller) →
Turnout76.54%[1]
     
Nominee Michael Howlett William C. Harris
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,215,401 2,106,676
Percentage 50.99% 48.49%
Auditor of Public Accounts before election

Michael Howlett
Democratic

Elected Auditor of Public Accounts

Michael Howlett
Democratic

Incumbent Auditor of Public Accounts Michael Howlett, a Democrat, was reelected to a third term.

Democratic primary

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Auditor of Public Accounts Democratic primary[1][2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael J. Howlett (incumbent) 591,297 100
Write-in Others 13 0.00
Total votes 591,310 100

Republican primary

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Auditor of Public Accounts Republican primary[1][2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William C. Harris 272,742 46.26
Republican Terrel E. Clarke 183,855 31.19
Republican Wesley W. "Wes" Olson 132,932 22.55
Write-in Others 1 0.00
Total votes 589,530 100

General election

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Auditor of Public Accounts election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael J. Howlett (incumbent) 2,215,401 50.99
Republican William C. Harris 2,106,676 48.49
Socialist Labor Elizabeth Schnur 22,591 0.52
Write-in Others 1 0.00
Total votes 4,344,669 100

Clerk of the Supreme Court

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1968 Clerk of the Supreme Court election
 
← 1962 November 5, 1968
Turnout76.46%[1]
 
Nominee Justin Taft Fannie G. Jones
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 2,286,086 2,032,768
Percentage 52.68% 46.84%
Clerk before election

Cleli Woods

 Elected Clerk

Justin Taft
Republican

The Clerk of the Supreme Court was Cleli Woods, who took office after the death in office of Fae Searcy earlier in 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

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Clerk of the Supreme Court Democratic primary[1][2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Fannie G. Jones 565,289 100
Write-in Others 5 0.00
Total votes 565,294 100

Republican primary

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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.[5] Instead of being listed by her own name, Fae Searcy opted to be listed on the ballot as "Mrs. Earle Benjamin Searcy",[1][2] 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[1][2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Justin Taft 264,959 45.01
Republican Fae Searcy (deceased; was incumbent at time of death) 188,635 32.04
Republican Louise Emerson 135,103 22.95
Write-in Others 5 0.00
Total votes 588,702 100

General election

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Clerk of the Supreme Court election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Justin Taft 2,286,086 52.68
Democratic Fannie G. Jones 2,032,768 46.84
Socialist Labor Gregory P. Lyngas 21,117 0.49
Write-in Others 1 0.00
Total votes 4,339,972 100

State Senate

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Seats of the Illinois Senate were up for election in 1968. Republicans retained control of the chamber.

State House of Representatives

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Seats in the Illinois House of Representatives were up for election in 1968. Republicans retained control of the chamber.

Trustees of University of Illinois

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1968 Trustees of University of Illinois election
← 1966 November 5, 1968 1970 →

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.[1][6]

Incumbent Democrat Kenney E. Williamson (appointed in 1967 after the death in office of Wayne A. Johnston) lost reelection.[1][6]

Trustees of the University of Illinois election[1][6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Timothy W. Swain (incumbent) 2,246,505 17.49
Republican Earl M. Hughes (incumbent) 2,222,696 17.30
Republican Russell W. Steger 2,176,223 16.94
Democratic Kenney E. Williamson (incumbent) 2,063,859 16.06
Democratic Timothy R. Ives 2,043,974 15.91
Democratic Frances Best Watkins 2,003,652 15.60
Socialist Labor Edwin L. Williams 33,031 0.26
Socialist Labor Henry Schilling 31,399 0.24
Socialist Labor Clarys L. Essex 26,768 0.21
Write-in Others 2 0.00
Total votes 12,848,109 100

Judicial elections

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Judicial elections were held, including two elections to fill vacancies on the Illinois Appellate Court.[1]

Ballot measures

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Three ballot measures were up for election in 1968, a legislatively referred state statute, a bond measure, and a call for a constitutional convention.[1]

In order to be approved, legislatively referred state statues required the support of a majority of those voting on the statute.[1] 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.[1] A call for a constitutional convention required votes equal to a majority of the all ballots cast in the general election.[1]

Illinois Banking Act

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Illinois Banking Act was approved by voters as a legislatively referred state statue.[1] It enabled Illinois state banks to have foreign branches.[7]

Illinois Banking Act[1][7]
Candidate Votes %
Yes 1,776,492 61.95
No 1,091,116 38.05
Total votes 2,867,608 100
Voter turnout 50.52%

Illinois Natural Resources Development Bond Act

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Illinois Natural Resources Development Bond Act, a legislatively referred bond question, failed to pass.[1][8] It proposed a $1 billion bond act for the development of natural resources.[8]

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.[1] 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.[1]

Illinois Natural Resources Development Bond Act[1][8]
Option Votes % of highest legislative vote
cast
Yes 1,656,600 38.81
No 1,216,814 28.50
Total votes 2,873,414 67.31
Voter turnout 50.62%

Proposed call for a Constitutional Convention

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In 1968, voters were presented with a referendum on whether to call a constitutional convention.[9][10] This was the first such vote held in the State of Illinois since 1934.[10] That call failed. The chief sponsor of the legislation that created this ballot measure was Senate Republican leader W. Russell Arrington.[11] Democratic Governor Otto Kerner Jr. was supportive of holding a constitutional convention.[11]

The call for the convention required the votes of an equal majority of all ballots cast in the 1968 general elections.[1]

A constitutional convention was subsequently held, and the resulting Constitution of Illinois was approved by Illinois voters in a 1970 special election.[10]

Proposed call for a Constitutional Convention[1][12]
Option Votes % of all ballots
cast
Yes 2,979,972 63.33
No 1,135,440 24.13
Total votes 4,115,412 87.45
Voter turnout 72.50%

Local elections

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Local elections were held.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 5, 1968 JUDICIAL PRIMARY ELECTION GENERAL PRIMARY, JUNE, 11, 1972" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved June 26, 2020.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Illinois Blue Book 1967-1968. Illinois Secretary of State. p. 884. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  3. ^ "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 4, 1986" (PDF). www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved April 10, 2020.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ Trani, Eugene P. (July 2010). "The Man and the Land: The Politics of Paul Simon and Southern Illinois, 1950-1973" (PDF). The Simon Review. Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  5. ^ "Mrs. Fae Searcy Dies; Clerk of Supreme Court". The Dispatch (Moline Illinois). The Associated Press. March 25, 1968. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c "Trustees, University of Illinois Board of Trustees" (PDF). University of Illinois. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Illinois Banking Act, Amendment 1 (1968)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  8. ^ a b c "Illinois Natural Resources Development Bond Act, Amendment 2 (1968)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  9. ^ CALLING AND HOLDING ILLINOIS' SIXTH CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION (PDF). Illinois Legislative Council. February 23, 1972. p. 2. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  10. ^ a b c Klemens, Michael D. (June 1987). "The state of the State Preparing for the next call for a constitutional convention". Illinois Issues. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  11. ^ a b "87. Senate Joint Resolution 2 Calling for a Constitutional Convention (1967)". www.cyberdriveillinois.com. Office of Illinois Secretary of State. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  12. ^ "Illinois Constitutional Convention Question (1968)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
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