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1944 Illinois elections

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Elections were held in Illinois on Tuesday, November 7, 1944.[1]

Quick facts
1944 Illinois elections

← 1942
November 7, 1944
1946 →
Close

Primaries were held April 11, 1944.[1]

Election information

Turnout

In the primaries, 1,428,685 ballots were cast (635,487 Democratic and 793,198 Republican).[1]

In the general election, 4,079,024 ballots were cast.[1]

Federal elections

United States President

Illinois voted for the Democratic ticket of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman.

United States Senate

Incumbent Democrat Scott W. Lucas won reelection to a second term.

United States House

All 26 Illinois seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 1944.

Democrats flipped four Republican-held seats, making the composition of Illinois' House delegation 15 Republicans and 11 Democrats.

State elections

Governor

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...
1944 Illinois gubernatorial election

← 1940
November 7, 1944
1948 →
 
Nominee Dwight H. Green Thomas J. Courtney
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 2,013,270 1,940,999
Percentage 50.75% 48.93%

County Results

Green:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Courtney:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election

Dwight H. Green
Republican

Elected Governor

Dwight H. Green
Republican

Close

Incumbent Governor Dwight H. Green, a Republican, was reelected to a second term.

Democratic primary

More information Party, Candidate ...
Gubernatorial Democratic primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Thomas J. Courtney 531,134 100
Write-in Others 1 0.00
Total votes 531,135 100
Close

Republican primary

More information Party, Candidate ...
Gubernatorial Republican primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dwight H. Green (incumbent) 621,286 86.16
Republican Oscar E. Carlstrom 99,831 13.84
Total votes 721,117 100
Close

General election

More information Party, Candidate ...
Gubernatorial election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dwight H. Green (incumbent) 2,013,270 50.75
Democratic Thomas J. Courtney 1,940,999 48.93
Socialist Labor Charles Storm 6,906 0.17
Prohibition Willis Ray Wilson 5,590 0.14
Total votes 3,966,765 100
Close

Lieutenant governor

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...
1944 Illinois lieutenant gubernatorial election

← 1940
November 7, 1944
1948 →
 
Nominee Hugh W. Cross Edward C. Hunter
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,950,767 1,919,029
Percentage 50.25% 49.43%

Lieutenant Governor before election

Hugh W. Cross
Republican

Elected Lieutenant Governor

Hugh W. Cross
Republican

Close

Incumbent lieutenant governor Hugh W. Cross, a Republican, was reelected to a second term.

Democratic primary

More information Party, Candidate ...
Lieutenant gubernatorial Democratic primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Edward C. "Ted" Hunter 487,810 100
Total votes 487,810 100
Close

Republican primary

More information Party, Candidate ...
Lieutenant gubernatorial Republican primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Hugh W. Cross (incumbent) 613,829 100
Write-in Others 1 0.00
Total votes 613,830 100
Close

General election

More information Party, Candidate ...
Lieutenant gubernatorial election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Hugh W. Cross (incumbent) 1,950,767 50.25
Democratic Edward C. "Ted" Hunter 1,919,029 49.43
Socialist Labor Gregory P. Lyngas 6,816 0.18
Prohibition Henry Johnson Long 5,827 0.15
Total votes 3,882,439 100
Close

Attorney general

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...
1944 Illinois Attorney General election

← 1940
November 7, 1944
1948 →
 
Nominee George F. Barrett Sveinbjorn Johnson
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,959,836 1,906,110
Percentage 50.53% 49.15%

Attorney General before election

George F. Barrett
Republican

Elected Attorney General

George F. Barrett
Republican

Close

Incumbent attorney general George F. Barrett, a Republican, won reelection to second term.

Democratic primary

More information Party, Candidate ...
Attorney General Democratic primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sveinbjorn Johnson 467,934 100
Total votes 467,934 100
Close

Republican primary

More information Party, Candidate ...
Attorney General Republican primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George F. Barrett (incumbent) 554,353 86.13
Republican Lloyd C. Moody 89,306 13.88
Total votes 643,659 100
Close

General election

More information Party, Candidate ...
Attorney General election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George F. Barrett (incumbent) 1,959,836 50.53
Democratic Sveinbjorn Johnson 1,906,110 49.15
Socialist Labor Tony Berchon 6,658 0.17
Prohibition Frederick Juchhoff 5,729 0.15
Total votes 3,878,333 100
Close

Secretary of State

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...
1944 Illinois Secretary of State election

← 1940
November 7, 1944
1948 →
 
Nominee Edward J. Barrett Arnold P. Benson
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,003,057 1,886,876
Percentage 51.33% 48.35%

County results
Barrett:      50–60%
Benson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Secretary of State before election

Richard Yates Rowe
Republican

Elected Secretary of State

Edward J. Barrett
Democratic

Close

Incumbent third-term Secretary of State Edward J. Hughes, a Democrat, did not seek reelection. Hughes then died before the general election, and in June 1944, Richard Yates Rowe, a Republican, was appointed to fill the rest of his term. In the election, Democrat Edward J. Barrett was elected to permanently succeed them in office.

Democratic primary

More information Party, Candidate ...
Secretary of State Democratic primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Edward J. Barrett 505,699 100
Write-in Others 1 0.00
Total votes 505,700 100
Close

Republican primary

Arnold P. Benson, the president pro tempore of the Illinois Senate, won the Republican primary, defeating incumbent Illinois Treasurer and former congressman William Stratton.

More information Party, Candidate ...
Secretary of State Republican primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Arnold P. Benson 401,040 57.00
Republican William G. Stratton 302,539 43.00
Total votes 703,579 100
Close

General election

More information Party, Candidate ...
Secretary of State election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Edward J. Barrett 2,003,057 51.33
Republican Arnold P. Benson 1,886,876 48.35
Socialist Labor Louis Fisher 6,927 0.18
Prohibition Robert W. Melven 5,740 0.15
Write-in Others 1 0.00
Total votes 3,902,601 100
Close

Auditor of Public Accounts

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...
1944 Illinois Auditor of Public Accounts election

← 1940
November 7, 1944
1948 →
 
Nominee Arthur C. Lueder William Vicars
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,951,828 1,910,269
Percentage 50.37% 49.30%

Auditor of Public Accounts before election

Arthur C. Lueder
Republican

Elected Auditor of Public Accounts

Arthur C. Lueder
Republican

Close

Incumbent Auditor of Public Accounts Arthur C. Lueder, a Republican, was reelected to a second term.

Democratic primary

More information Party, Candidate ...
Auditor of Public Accounts Democratic primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William Vicars 468,933 100
Total votes 468,933 100
Close

Republican primary

More information Party, Candidate ...
Auditor of Public Accounts Republican primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Arthur C. Lueder (incumbent) 606,531 100
Total votes 606,531 100
Close

General election

More information Party, Candidate ...
Auditor of Public Accounts election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Arthur C. Lueder (incumbent) 1,951,828 50.37
Democratic William Vicars 1,910,269 49.30
Socialist Labor O. Alfred Olson 7,132 0.18
Prohibition Arthur McFall 5,808 0.15
Total votes 3,875,037 100
Close

Treasurer

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...
1944 Illinois State Treasurer election

← 1942
November 7, 1944
1946 →
 
Nominee Conrad F. Becker Earl W. Merritt
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,933,705 1,918,595
Percentage 50.03% 49.64%

County results
Becker:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Merritt:      50–60%

Treasurer before election

William G. Stratton
Republican

Elected Treasurer

Conrad F. Becker
Republican

Close

Incumbent first-term Treasurer William G. Stratton, a Republican, did not seek reelection, instead opting to run for Secretary of State. Republican Conrad F. Becker was elected to succeed him in office.

Democratic primary

More information Party, Candidate ...
Treasurer Democratic primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Earl W. Merritt 471,294 100
Total votes 471,294 100
Close

Republican primary

More information Party, Candidate ...
Treasurer Republican primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Conrad F. Becker 422,336 67.29
Republican Walter W. Waite 117,506 18.72
Republican Taylor E. Wilhelm 87,791 13.99
Write-in Others 1 0.00
Total votes 627,633 100
Close

General election

More information Party, Candidate ...
Treasurer election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Conrad F. Becker 1,933,705 50.03
Democratic Earl W. Merritt 1,918,595 49.64
Socialist Labor Gus Larson 7,071 0.18
Prohibition William J. Goodman 5,838 0.15
Total votes 3,865,209 100
Close

Clerk of the Supreme Court

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...
1944 Illinois Clerk of the Supreme Court election

← 1938
November 7, 1944
1950 →
 
Nominee Earle Benjamin Searcy Casimir Griglik
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,953,537 1,885,321
Percentage 50.72% 48.95%

Clerk before election

Edward F. Cullinane
Democratic

Elected Clerk

Earle Benjamin Searcy
Republican

Close

Incumbent Clerk of the Supreme Court Edward F. Cullinane, a Democrat appointed to the office in 1940 after the death in office of Adam F. Bloch, did not seek reelection.[1][2] Republican Earle Benjamin Searcy was elected to succeed him in office.

Democratic primary

More information Party, Candidate ...
Clerk of the Supreme Court Democratic primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Casimir Griglik 465,397 100
Total votes 465,397 100
Close

Republican primary

More information Party, Candidate ...
Clerk of the Supreme Court Republican primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Earle Benjamin Searcy 585,325 100
Total votes 585,325 100
Close

General election

More information Party, Candidate ...
Clerk of the Supreme Court election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Earle Benjamin Searcy 1,953,537 50.72
Democratic Casimir Griglik 1,885,321 48.95
Socialist Labor Rudy Kosic 6,798 0.18
Prohibition Harry A. Varney 5,774 0.15
Total votes 3,851,430 100
Close

State Senate

Seats of the Illinois Senate were up for election in 1944. Republicans retained control of the chamber.

State House of Representatives

Seats in the Illinois House of Representatives were up for election in 1944. Republicans retained control of the chamber.

Trustees of University of Illinois

Quick facts 3 out of 9 seats on the University of Illinois Board of Trustees 5 seats needed for a majority, Majority party ...
1944 Trustees of University of Illinois election
← 1942
November 7, 1944
1946 →

3 out of 9 seats on the University of Illinois Board of Trustees
5 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Republican Democratic
Seats before 6 3
Seats after 6 3
Seat change Steady Steady
Popular vote 5,650,742½ 5,809,521½
Percentage 49.14% 50.52%
Swing Decrease 4.43% Increase 4.49%
Seats up 0 3
Races won 0 3

[1][3][4]

Close

An election was held for three of the nine seats for Trustees of University of Illinois.[1] The election was for six-year terms. All three Democratic nominees won. However, since all three seats up for election were already held by Democrats, the partisan composition of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees remained unchanged, with a 9–3 Republican majority over Democrats.

Democratic incumbent Karl A. Meyer was reelected to a third term.[3] Democratic incumbent Kenny E. Williamson, who had been appointed to fill a vacancy in 1940 was reelected to his first full term.[3] New Democratic member Walter W. McLaughlin was also elected.[3] First-term Democratic incumbent Frank A. Jensen was not nominated for reelection.[1][3]

More information Party, Candidate ...
Trustees of the University of Illinois election[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Walter W. McLaughlin 1,944,733½ 16.91
Democratic Karl A. Meyer (incumbent) 1,941,038 16.88
Democratic Kenney E. Williamson (incumbent) 1,923,750 16.73
Republican Charles L. Engstrom 1,899,495½ 16.52
Republican Charles S. Pillsbury 1,888,459½ 16.42
Republican Charles Wham 1,862,787½ 16.20
Socialist Labor Helen Olson 7,269½ 0.06
Socialist Labor Nada Mijanovich 7,045 0.06
Socialist Labor Gabriele McKenzie 6,806 0.06
Prohibition Mildred E. Young 6,083½ 0.05
Prohibition Alonzo L. Parrott 5,956 0.05
Prohibition Clay Freeman Gaumer 5,866 0.05
Total votes 11,499,290 100
Close

Ballot measures

Two ballot measures were put before voters in 1944. One was a legislatively referred state statute and one was a legislatively referred constitutional amendment.

In order to be approved, legislatively referred state statues required the support of a majority of those voting on the statute. In order to be approved, legislatively referred constitutional amendments required approval equal to a majority of voters voting in the entire general election.[5]

Illinois County Officer Term Limit Amendment

Illinois County Officer Term Limit Amendment, a legislatively referred constitutional amendment which would have amended Section 8 of Article X of the Constitution of the 1870 Constitution of Illinois, failed to meet the threshold for approval.[1][6]

The amendment would have removed a constitutional provision requiring elected county officers to wait for four years after their term expired before they would be eligible to hold that same office again.[6]

More information Illinois County Officer Term Limit Amendment, Option ...
Illinois County Officer Term Limit Amendment[1][6]
Option Votes % of all ballots
cast
Yes 898,107 22.02
No 653,877 16.03
Total votes 1,551,984 38.05
Close

Illinois General Banking Law Amendment

The Illinois General Banking Law Amendment, a legislatively referred state statute which amended section 10 of the Illinois General Banking Law, was approved by voters.[1][7]

More information Candidate, Votes ...
Illinois General Banking Law Amendment[1][7]
Candidate Votes %
Yes 973,159 69.12
No 434,767 30.88
Total votes 1,407,926 100
Close

Local elections

Local elections were held.

References

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