1972 Illinois gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1970 United States gubernatorial elections.

The 1972 Illinois gubernatorial election was held in Illinois on November 7, 1972. Incumbent first-term Republican governor Richard B. Ogilvie lost reelection in an upset to the Democratic nominee, Dan Walker.

1972 Illinois gubernatorial election

November 7, 1972
Turnout	75.28% 4.11 pp
Nominee Dan Walker Richard B. Ogilvie Party Democratic Republican Running mate Neil Hartigan Jim Nowlan Popular vote 2,371,303 2,293,809 Percentage 50.68% 49.02%
County results Walker:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Ogilvie:      50–60%      60–70%
Governor before election Richard B. Ogilvie Republican Elected Governor Dan Walker Democratic

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 would be 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 elections 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 those for other state offices. The election was part of the 1972 Illinois elections. Walker was the last Democrat to be elected governor of Illinois until Rod Blagojevich 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. Paul Simon had been the candidate slated by the state party.

County map of the 1972 Illinois Democratic gubernatorial primary
Walker:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
Simon:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%

1972 Democratic gubernatorial primary, Illinois

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Daniel Walker	735,193	51.41	N/A
	Democratic	Paul Simon	694,900	48.59	N/A
	Write-in	Others	24	0.00	N/A
Majority			40,293	2.82
Total votes			1,430,117

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

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Neil F. Hartigan	802,449	65.37
	Democratic	Neal E. Eckert	425,021	34.63
	Write-in	Others	16	0.00
Total votes			1,227,486	100

Republican primary

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

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Richard B. Ogilvie (incumbent)	442,323	75.54	N/A
	Republican	John M. Mathis	143,053	24.43	N/A
	Write-in	Others	201	0.03	N/A
Majority			299,270	51.11
Total votes			585,577

Lieutenant governor

James D. Nowlan won the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor, running unopposed.

Republican lieutenant gubernatorial primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	James D. Nowlan	473,916	100
	Write-in	Others	16	0.00
Total votes			473,932	100

General election

1972 gubernatorial election, Illinois

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Daniel Walker/Neil F. Hartigan	2,371,303	50.68	+2.31
	Republican	Richard B. Ogilvie (incumbent)/James D. Nowlan	2,293,809	49.02	−2.19
	Socialist Labor	George LaForest/Stanley L. Prorok	7,966	0.17	−0.26
	Communist	Ishmael Flory/Theodore Pearson	4,592	0.10	N/A
	Write-in	Others	1,373	0.03	N/A
Majority			77,494	1.66	−1.18
Total votes			4,679,043
	Democratic gain from Republican		Swing