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1956 Illinois gubernatorial election

← 1952 November 6, 1956 1960 →
Turnout	82.69% 0.57 pp
Nominee William Stratton Richard B. Austin (replacing Herbert C. Paschen) Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 2,171,786 2,134,909 Percentage 50.34% 49.48%
County results Stratton:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Austin:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Governor before election William Stratton Republican Elected Governor William Stratton Republican

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v t e

The 1956 Illinois gubernatorial election was held in Illinois on November 6, 1956. Incumbent Governor William Stratton, a Republican, narrowly won reelection to a second term. Stratton's narrow victory came despite the fact that the Republican ticket of Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard Nixon carried the state of Illinois in a landslide in the presidential election.

Background

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 1956 Illinois elections.

In the primaries (held on April 10, 1960), turnout was 32.56%, with a total of 1,620,871 votes cast.

In the general election, turnout was 82.69%, with a total of 4,314,611 ballots cast.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Ran

• Herbert C. Paschen, Cook County treasurer and 1952 lieutenant gubernatorial nominee
• Morris B. Sachs, Chicago treasurer

Declined to run

• Stephen A. Mitchell, former chair of the Democratic National Committee and candidate for 1960 gubernatorial nomination
• Sargent Shriver, president of the Chicago Board of Education

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Lawrence Joseph Sarsfield Daly, perennial candidate
• William Stratton, incumbent governor
• Sidney McKee Ward
• Anthony A. Polley
• Warren Wright, Illinois treasurer

Results

General election

Democratic nominee Herbert C. Paschen became embroiled in scandal related to his tenure as Cook County Treasurer. Paschen withdrew as the nominee, and was replaced by Richard B. Austin.

References

1. ^ "OFFICIAL VOTE of the STATE OF ILLINOIS Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION, NOVEMBER 6, 1956 JUDICIAL ELECTION, 1955, 1956 • PRIMARY ELECTION GENERAL PRIMARY, APRIL 10 1958" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
2. "Former Illinois Governor William G. Stratton dies at 86". The Quad-City Times. Associated Press. March 3, 2001. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
3. "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the PRIMARY ELECTION MARCH 16, 1982" (PDF). www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
4. "OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 2, 1982" (PDF). www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
5. "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Herbert C. Paschen". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
6. ^ "The Daily Banner 28 August 1956 — Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program". newspapers.library.in.gov. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
7. ^ "Judge Austin Signs On The Dotted Line". Chicago Tribune. October 11, 1956. Retrieved November 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
8. Stossel, Scott (2004). Sarge: The life and times of Sargent Shriver. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Books. ISBN 978-1-58834-127-3.
9. "National Affairs: Substitution in Illinois". Time. September 17, 1956. Retrieved December 21, 2020.

• 1956 United States gubernatorial elections
• Illinois gubernatorial elections
• 1956 Illinois elections