1912 Illinois gubernatorial election

1912 Illinois gubernatorial election
	County results ; Dunne: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% ; Deneen: 30–40% 40–50% 60–70%; Funk: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60%
Governor before election; Charles S. Deneen; Republican	Elected Governor ; Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne; Democratic

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 2025 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]^[a]
Ben F. Caldwell, former U.S. Representative for the 21st district
George E. Dickson
Edward F. Dunne, former mayor of Chicago

Results

Democratic primary results^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Edward F. Dunne	131,212	43.83
	Democratic	Samuel Alschuler	87,127	29.11
	Democratic	Ben F. Caldwell	71,972	24.04
	Democratic	George E. Dickson	9,034	3.02
Total votes			299,345	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

John J. Brown, former member of the Illinois House of Representatives^[7]
Charles S. Deneen, incumbent Governor
Charles F. Hurburgh, State Senator^[8]
Walter C. Jones, State Senator^[9]^[10]
J. McCan Davis, Clerk of the Supreme Court of Illinois^[11]
Len Small, former treasurer
John E. W. Wayman, Cook County State's attorney
Richard Yates Jr., former governor

Results

Republican primary results^[12]^[5]^[13]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Charles S. Deneen (incumbent)	152,997	34.80
	Republican	Len Small	88,829	20.20
	Republican	John E. W. Wayman	61,178	13.92
	Republican	Richard Yates Jr.	45,325	10.31
	Republican	John J. Brown	31,995	7.28
	Republican	Charles F. Hurburgh	29,992	6.82
	Republican	Walter C. Jones	22,491	5.12
	Republican	J. McCan Davis	6,855	1.56
Total votes			439,662	100.00

Prohibition primary

Candidates

Edwin R. Worrell, Presbyterian minister^[14]

Results

Prohibition primary results^[15]^[5]^[6]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Prohibition	Edwin R. Worrell	3,568	100.00
Total votes			3,568	100.00

Socialist primary

Candidates

John C. Kennedy, alderman for the 27th ward

Results

Socialist primary results^[16]^[5]^[6]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Socialist	John C. Kennedy	8,333	100.00
Total votes			8,333	100.00

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

1912 Illinois gubernatorial election^[17]^[18]^[19]^[20]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Edward F. Dunne	443,120	38.11%
	Republican	Charles S. Deneen (incumbent)	318,469	27.39%
	Progressive	Frank H. Funk	303,401	26.09%
	Socialist	John C. Kennedy	78,679	6.77%
	Prohibition	Edwin R. Worrell	15,231	1.31%
	Socialist Labor	John M. Francis	3,980	0.34%
Majority			124,651	10.72%
Turnout			1,163,480	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican		Swing

Notes

^ Some secondary sources (OurCampaigns, US Election Atlas) state that this candidate was Benjamin P. Alschuler, brother of Samuel. Primary sources from the 1910s are clear this was not the case.

References

^ Solomon, Rayman L. (1981). History of the Seventh Circuit 1891–1941. The Bicentennial Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States. p. 94.
^ Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the First Session of the Seventy-Fourth Congress. Vol. 79. Washington D.C.: United States Government Printing Office. 1935. p. 7088.
^ "IL Governor, 1912 – D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
^ "1912 Gubernatorial Democratic Primary Election Results – Illinois". US Election Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Illinois Blue Book & 1913-14, p. 460.
^ ^a ^b ^c Illinois Primary Vote 1912, pp. 14–15.
^ "John J. Brown Speaks in Twins". Urbana Daily Courier. March 19, 1912. p. 1. Retrieved December 26, 2023 – via NewspaperArchive by Storied.
^ Perry, Albert J. (1912). History of Knox County, Illinois. Vol. II. Chicago, Illinois: The S. J. Clare Publishing Company. p. 265.
^ Illinois Blue Book & 1913-14, p. 248.
^ "Jones would limit power of courts". The Inter Ocean. Chicago, Illinois. February 26, 1913. p. 12. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
^ "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. July 1916. JSTOR 40194391.
^ "IL Governor, 1912 – R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
^ Illinois Primary Vote 1912, pp. 12–13.
^ "Illinois Happenings". The Ashton Gazette. Vol. 17, no. 50. Ashton, Illinois. February 8, 1912. p. 9. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
^ "IL Governor, 1912 – PRB Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
^ "IL Governor, 1912 – S Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
^ "IL Governor, 1912". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
^ "1912 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Illinois". US Election Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
^ Illinois Blue Book & 1913-14, p. 565.
^ Illinois Official Vote 1912, pp. 8–9.

Bibliography

Compiled by Harry Woods, Secretary of State (1914). Blue Book of the State of Illinois, 1913–14. Danville, Illinois: Illinois Printing Company.
Compiled by Cornelius J. Doyle, Secretary of State (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.
Compiled by Cornelius J. Doyle, Secretary of State (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.

[3] Some secondary sources (OurCampaigns, US Election Atlas) state that this candidate was Benjamin P. Alschuler, brother of Samuel. Primary sources from the 1910s are clear this was not the case.

[1] Solomon, Rayman L. (1981). History of the Seventh Circuit 1891–1941. The Bicentennial Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States. p. 94.

[2] Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the First Session of the Seventy-Fourth Congress. Vol. 79. Washington D.C.: United States Government Printing Office. 1935. p. 7088.

[4] "IL Governor, 1912 – D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 7, 2020.

[5] "1912 Gubernatorial Democratic Primary Election Results – Illinois". US Election Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2020.

[FOOTNOTEIllinois_Blue_Book1913-14460-6] Illinois Blue Book & 1913-14, p. 460.

[FOOTNOTEIllinois_Primary_Vote_191214–15-7] Illinois Primary Vote 1912, pp. 14–15.

[8] "John J. Brown Speaks in Twins". Urbana Daily Courier. March 19, 1912. p. 1. Retrieved December 26, 2023 – via NewspaperArchive by Storied.

[9] Perry, Albert J. (1912). History of Knox County, Illinois. Vol. II. Chicago, Illinois: The S. J. Clare Publishing Company. p. 265.

[FOOTNOTEIllinois_Blue_Book1913-14248-10] Illinois Blue Book & 1913-14, p. 248.

[11] "Jones would limit power of courts". The Inter Ocean. Chicago, Illinois. February 26, 1913. p. 12. Retrieved May 7, 2020.

[12] "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. July 1916. JSTOR 40194391.

[13] "IL Governor, 1912 – R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 7, 2020.

[FOOTNOTEIllinois_Primary_Vote_191212–13-14] Illinois Primary Vote 1912, pp. 12–13.

[15] "Illinois Happenings". The Ashton Gazette. Vol. 17, no. 50. Ashton, Illinois. February 8, 1912. p. 9. Retrieved May 7, 2020.

[16] "IL Governor, 1912 – PRB Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 7, 2020.

[17] "IL Governor, 1912 – S Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 7, 2020.

[18] "IL Governor, 1912". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 7, 2020.

[19] "1912 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Illinois". US Election Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2020.

[FOOTNOTEIllinois_Blue_Book1913-14565-20] Illinois Blue Book & 1913-14, p. 565.

[FOOTNOTEIllinois_Official_Vote_19128–9-21] Illinois Official Vote 1912, pp. 8–9.

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v t e Elections in Illinois
By year	1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1969 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1998 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024
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Other state executive offices	Attorney General 2018 2022 Secretary of State 2022 Comptroller 2016
State Senate	2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024
State House	1964 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024
State judicial	1936 1938 1940 1942 1948 1960 1962 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022
Ballot measures and referendums	State capitol referendum (1834) Cutback Amendment (1980) Crime Victim Rights Amendment (1992) Governor Recall Amendment (2010) Public Pension Amendment (2012) Marsy's Law (2014) Right to Vote Amendment (2014) Transportation Taxes and Fees Lockbox Amendment (2016) Fair Tax (2020) Right to Collective Bargaining Amendment (2022)
Chicago mayoral	1837 1838 1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 (Mar) 1844 (Apr) 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1865 1867 1869 1871 1873 1876 (Apr) 1876 (Jul) 1877 1879 1881 1883 1885 1887 1889 1891 1893 (Apr) 1893 (Dec) 1895 1897 1899 1901 1903 1905 1907 1911 1915 1919 1923 1927 1931 1935 1939 1943 1947 1951 1955 1959 1963 1967 1971 1975 1977 1979 1983 1987 1989 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023 2027
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Other municipal	1924 Cicero
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Primary elections

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Prohibition primary

Candidates

Results

Socialist primary

Candidates

Results

General election

Candidates

Results

See also

Notes

References

Bibliography