Election Name: | 1960 Illinois gubernatorial election |
Country: | Illinois |
Flag Year: | 1915 |
Type: | presidential |
Ongoing: | no |
Previous Election: | 1956 Illinois gubernatorial election |
Previous Year: | 1956 |
Election Date: | November 8, 1960 |
Next Election: | 1964 Illinois gubernatorial election |
Next Year: | 1964 |
Image1: | File:Otto Kerner (Illinois Blue Book Portrait 1961-1962).png |
Nominee1: | Otto Kerner Jr. |
Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
Popular Vote1: | 2,594,731 |
Percentage1: | 55.51% |
Nominee2: | William Stratton |
Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
Popular Vote2: | 2,070,479 |
Percentage2: | 44.30% |
Map Size: | 300px |
Governor | |
Before Election: | William Stratton |
Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
After Election: | Otto Kerner Jr. |
After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
Turnout: | 84.99% 2.30 pp |
The 1960 Illinois gubernatorial election was held in Illinois on November 8, 1960.[1]
Heading into this election, Stratton was seen as vulnerable to being unseated if the Democrats ran a strong candidate, as he had only narrowly won reelection in 1956 (despite a strong overall performance by the Republican party in the state that year), and since the Democratic Party had nationally had a strong performance in the 1958 elections.[2] Incumbent Governor William Stratton, a Republican seeking a third term, lost reelection to Democrat Otto Kerner Jr.
The primaries and general election both coincided with those for federal offices (United States President, House, and United States Senate) and those for other state offices. The election was part of the 1960 Illinois elections.
In the primaries, turnout was 37.54%, with 1,910,956 votes cast.[1] [3]
In the general election, turnout was 84.99%, with 4,674,187 votes cast.[1] [3]
Primaries were held on April 12, 1960.[1]
Names floated as potential Democratic contenders included former Illinois Governor John Stelle, former Illinois Attorney General John Edward Cassidy, former United States Senator Scott W. Lucas, President of the Chicago Board of Education Sargent Shriver, and Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley, all of whom opted not to run.[4] [2] Daley, the head of the Cook County Democratic Party and a political boss, helped slate Otto Kerner for the nomination.[2] Kerner won the Democratic primary.[1]