1912 Illinois gubernatorial election

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

1912 Illinois gubernatorial election

← 1908 November 5, 1912 1916 →

Nominee Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne Charles S. Deneen Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 443,120 318,469 Percentage 38.11% 27.39%   Nominee Frank H. Funk John C. Kennedy Party Progressive Socialist Popular vote 303,401 78,679 Percentage 26.09% 6.77%

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

Dunne was the first Democratic Governor of Illinois elected since 1892 and only the second since 1852. As of 2023 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
• Charles S. Deneen, incumbent Governor
• Charles F. Hurburgh, State Senator^[7]
• Walter C. Jones, State Senator^[8][9]
• J. McCan Davis, Clerk of the Supreme Court of Illinois^[10]
• Len Small, former treasurer
• John E. W. Wayman, Cook County State's attorney
• Richard Yates Jr., former governor

Results

Republican primary results^[11][5][12]

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^[13]

Results

Prohibition primary results^[14][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^[15][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^{[16][17][18][19]}

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

See also

• 1912 Illinois lieutenant gubernatorial election

References

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.
3. "IL Governor, 1912 – D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
4. "1912 Gubernatorial Democratic Primary Election Results – Illinois". US Election Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
5. Illinois Blue Book & 1913-14, p. 460.
6. Illinois Primary Vote 1912, pp. 14–15.
7. Perry, Albert J. (1912). History of Knox County, Illinois. Vol. II. Chicago, Illinois: The S. J. Clare Publishing Company. p. 265.
8. Illinois Blue Book & 1913-14, p. 248.
9. "Jones would limit power of courts". The Inter Ocean. Chicago, Illinois. February 26, 1913. p. 12. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
10. "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. University of Illinois Press on behalf of the Illinois State Historical Society. 9 (2): 232–233. July 1916. JSTOR 40194391.
11. "IL Governor, 1912 – R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
12. Illinois Primary Vote 1912, pp. 12–13.
13. "Illinois Happenings". The Ashton Gazette. Vol. 17, no. 50. Ashton, Illinois. February 8, 1912. p. 9. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
14. "IL Governor, 1912 – PRB Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
15. "IL Governor, 1912 – S Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
16. "IL Governor, 1912". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
17. "1912 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Illinois". US Election Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
18. Illinois Blue Book & 1913-14, p. 565.
19. Illinois Official Vote 1912, pp. 8–9.

1. 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.

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.