1912 Illinois gubernatorial election explained

The 1912 Illinois gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1912. Incumbent second-term Republican governor Charles S. Deneen was defeated by the Democratic nominee, former mayor of Chicago Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne.

Dunne was the first Democratic Governor of Illinois elected since 1892 and only the second since 1852. As of this is the first and only time that a former mayor of Chicago (Illinois’ largest city) was elected governor of Illinois.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on April 9, 1912.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Samuel Alschuler, former State Representative^{[1] [2]}
• Ben F. Caldwell, former U.S. Representative for the 21st district
• George E. Dickson
• Edward F. Dunne, former mayor of Chicago

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• John J. Brown, former member of the Illinois House of Representatives^[3]
• Charles S. Deneen, incumbent Governor
• Charles F. Hurburgh, State Senator^[4]
• Walter C. Jones, State Senator^[5]
• J. McCan Davis, Clerk of the Supreme Court of Illinois^[6]
• Len Small, former treasurer
• John E. W. Wayman, Cook County State's attorney
• Richard Yates Jr., former governor

Results

Prohibition primary

Candidates

• Edwin R. Worrell, Presbyterian minister^[7]

Results

Socialist primary

Candidates

• John C. Kennedy, alderman for the 27th ward

Results

General election

Candidates

• Charles S. Deneen, Republican
• Edward F. Dunne, Democratic
• John M. Francis, Socialist Labor, perennial candidate
• Frank H. Funk, Progressives for S.J., former State Senator
• John C. Kennedy, Socialist
• Edwin R. Worrell, Prohibition

Results

See also

• 1912 Illinois lieutenant gubernatorial election

Bibliography

• Book: Compiled by Harry Woods, Secretary of State . Harry Woods (Illinois politician) . 1914 . Blue Book of the State of Illinois, 1913–14 . Danville, Illinois . Illinois Printing Company . .
• Book: Compiled by Cornelius J. Doyle, Secretary of State . Cornelius J. Doyle . 1912 . Official vote of the State of Illinois cast at the Primary Election held on April 9, 1912 . Springfield, Illinois . Illinois State Journal Co., State Printers . .
• Book: Compiled by Cornelius J. Doyle, Secretary of State . Cornelius J. Doyle . 1913 . Official vote of the State of Illinois cast at the General Election, November 5, 1912; Judicial Election, June 3, 1912; Special Elections, 1911 and 1912. . Springfield, Illinois . Illinois State Journal Co., State Printers . .

Notes and References

1. Book: Solomon . Rayman L. . History of the Seventh Circuit 1891–1941 . 1981 . The Bicentennial Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States . 94 .
2. Book: . Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the First Session of the Seventy-Fourth Congress . 79 . 7 . Washington D.C. . . 7088 . 1935 .
3. News: John J. Brown Speaks in Twins. Urbana Daily Courier . March 19, 1912 . 1. registration. December 26, 2023. NewspaperArchive by Storied.
4. Book: Perry . Albert J. . 1912 . History of Knox County, Illinois . Chicago, Illinois . The S. J. Clare Publishing Company . II . 265 .
5. News: . Jones would limit power of courts . The Inter Ocean . Chicago, Illinois . 26 February 1913 . 12 . 7 May 2020 .
6. . July 1916 . John McCan Davis: Biographical Sketch Prepared at the Request of Historical Society by Clinton L. Conkling and H. W. Clendenin . Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society . 9 . 2 . University of Illinois Press on behalf of the Illinois State Historical Society . 232–233 . 40194391 .
7. News: . Illinois Happenings . The Ashton Gazette . Ashton, Illinois . 17 . 50 . 8 February 1912 . 9 . 7 May 2020 .