2014 Illinois gubernatorial election

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The 2014 Illinois gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 2014, to elect the governor and lieutenant governor of Illinois, concurrently with the election to Illinois's Class II U.S. Senate seat, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

Quick facts Turnout, Nominee ...
2014 Illinois gubernatorial election

 2010
November 4, 2014
2018 
Turnout48.48% Decrease 1.21 pp
 
Nominee Bruce Rauner Pat Quinn
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Evelyn Sanguinetti Paul Vallas
Popular vote 1,823,627 1,681,343
Percentage 50.27% 46.35%

Rauner:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Quinn:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      40–50%      No votes

Governor before election

Pat Quinn
Democratic

Elected Governor

Bruce Rauner
Republican

Close

Before this cycle, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor were nominated separately, and the primary winners ran on the same ticket in the general election. In 2011, the law was changed to allow candidates for governor to pick their own running mates. Incumbent Democratic Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon did not run for reelection, instead running unsuccessfully for comptroller. She was replaced as Quinn's running mate by Paul Vallas, a former CEO of Chicago Public Schools. Rauner chose Wheaton City councilwoman Evelyn Sanguinetti as his running mate and Grimm chose Alex Cummings.

Incumbent Democratic governor Pat Quinn ran for re-election to a second full term in office. Quinn, then the lieutenant governor, assumed the office of governor on January 29, 2009, upon the impeachment and removal of Rod Blagojevich. He narrowly won a full term in 2010. Primary elections were held on March 18, 2014.[1] Quinn won the Democratic primary, while the Republicans chose businessman Bruce Rauner and the Libertarians nominated political activist Chad Grimm.

Rauner defeated Quinn in the general election with 50.3% of the vote to Quinn's 46.4%, winning every county in the state except for Cook County, home to the city of Chicago and 40% of the state's residents.[2][3] Quinn was the only incumbent Democratic governor to lose a general election in 2014 and remained the last one to do so until Nevada's Steve Sisolak in 2022. Rauner became the second Republican to be elected governor of Illinois while carrying all but one county, the other being Jim Edgar in 1994. This was the only time since 1998 that a Republican was elected Governor of Illinois.

As of 2026, this alongside the concurrent comptroller election is the only time since 2010 that Republicans won a statewide election in Illinois. This is also the most recent Illinois gubernatorial election in which the winner won a majority of counties.

Background

The primaries and general elections coincided with those for federal (House and Senate) and those for other state offices. The election was part of the 2014 Illinois elections.

For the primary election, turnout was 16.88%, with 1,267,028 votes cast.[4][5] For the general election, turnout was 48.48%, with 3,627,690 votes cast.[6][5]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Withdrew

Declined

Endorsements

William Daley (withdrew)

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Pat
Quinn
Tio
Hardiman
Other Undecided
Strive Strategies[27] March 9, 2014 563 ± 4.21% 64% 36%
Close
Hypothetical polling
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Pat
Quinn
Bill
Daley
Lisa
Madigan
Kwame
Raoul
Other Undecided
We Ask America[28] August 6, 2013 1,528 ± ? 27% 23% 13% 37%
We Ask America[28] July 19, 2013 1,394 ± ? 38% 33% 29%
We Ask America[29] June 13, 2013 1,322 ± 2.8% 21% 22% 32% 25%
37% 38% 25%
33% 44% 23%
Paul Simon Institute[30] January 27–February 8, 2013 310 ± 5.5% 22.9% 11.9% 31.9% 4.8% 28.4%
We Ask America[31] January 30, 2013 1,255 ± 3% 20% 15% 37% 18%
38% 33% 29%
26% 51% 23%
Public Policy Polling[32] November 26–28, 2012 319 ± 5.5% 34% 37% 29%
20% 64% 17%
Close

Results

County results
More information Party, Candidate ...
Democratic primary results[33]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Pat Quinn (incumbent) 321,818 71.94
Democratic Tio Hardiman 125,500 28.06
Total votes 447,318 100.00
Close

Republican primary

By early summer 2013, the field seeking the Republican nomination was set at four candidates.[34] Two of them, state senators Bill Brady and Kirk Dillard, had sought the nomination in 2010, with Brady edging out Dillard by 193 votes, but ultimately losing to Pat Quinn by less than 1 percent.[35] Dan Rutherford, who was elected state treasurer in 2010 after serving as a state representative and state senator, formally entered the race on June 2.[36]

Rauner had announced the formation of an exploratory committee in March[37] and made his entry into the Republican field official on June 5.[38] Despite longstanding rumors that Rauner was committed to spending $50 million on his campaign, he denied in an interview ever specifying a dollar figure.[39]

By the date of the primary, Rauner had broken the previous record for self-funding in an Illinois gubernatorial race by putting more than $6 million of his own money into his campaign. In total, he raised more than $14 million before the primary election.[40]

On March 18, 2014, Rauner won the Republican primary, collecting 40% of the vote, compared to 37% for State Senator Kirk Dillard.

Candidates

Declared

Removed

  • Peter Edward Jones (removed from the ballot)[49][50]
    • Running mate: None[49]

Declined

Endorsements

Kirk Dillard

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Adam
Andrzejewski
Bill
Brady
Kirk
Dillard
Dan
Proft
Bruce
Rauner
Dan
Rutherford
Aaron
Schock
Joe
Walsh
Other Undecided
We Ask America[71] March 17, 2014 1,126 ± 3% 19% 27% 44% 9%
Illinois Mirror/WAS[72] March 16, 2014 1,162 ± 3% 15% 26% 32% 5% 21%
We Ask America[73] March 11, 2014 1,235 ± 2.9% 19% 26% 46% 9%
Tribune/WGN-TV[74] March 1–5, 2014 600 ± 4% 18% 23% 36% 9% 13%
We Ask America[75] March 4, 2014 1,262 ± 2.85% 12% 14% 40% 8% 26%
We Ask America[76] February 25, 2014 1,178 ± 3% 13% 17% 36% 7% 27%
McKeon & Assoc.*[77] February 18–19, 2014 831 ± 3.6% 24% 13% 32% 3% 18%
We Ask America[78] February 18, 2014 1,323 ± ? 14% 13% 35% 8% 30%
Tribune/WGN-TV[79] February 5–8, 2014 600 ± 4% 20% 11% 40% 13% 15%
We Ask America[80] January 14, 2014 1,139 ± 2.9% 17% 9% 34% 15% 25%
Ogden & Fry[81] January 2014 778 ± 2.5% 8% 6% 18% 10% 58%
We Ask America[82] November 26, 2013 1,233 ± 2.79% 18% 10% 26% 17% 29%
Public Policy Polling[83] November 22–25, 2013 375 ± 5.1% 17% 10% 24% 14% 36%
We Ask America[84] November 14, 2013 1,191 ± 2.94% 25% 14% 11% 18% 32%
Battleground Polling[85] November 3–11, 2013 535 ± 3.97% 13% 12% 12% 18% 45%
We Ask America[86] August 13, 2013 1,102 ± ? 21% 10% 14% 17% 32%
We Ask America[87] June 20, 2013 1,310 ± 2.8% 18% 11% 12% 22% 38%
Battleground Polling[88] May 20–27, 2013 400 ± 4.8% 19% 14% 13% 5% 27% 22%
Paul Simon Institute[30] January 27–February 8, 2013 186 ± 7.2% 2% 10% 3% 2% 10% 9% 6% 5% 53%
Public Policy Polling[32] November 26–28, 2012 303 ± 5.6% 14% 12% 7% 19% 18% 8% 7% 15%
Close
  • * Internal poll for Bill Brady campaign

Results

County results
More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican primary results[33]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bruce Rauner 328,934 40.13
Republican Kirk Dillard 305,120 37.22
Republican Bill Brady 123,708 15.09
Republican Dan Rutherford 61,848 7.55
Total votes 819,624 100.00
Close

Third party and Independents

Candidates

Declared

  • Chad Grimm (Libertarian), political activist, candidate for the State House in 2012 and candidate for the Peoria City Council in 2013[89]
    • Running mate: Alex Cummings

Removed from ballot

Declined

General election

Debates

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[94] Tossup November 3, 2014
Sabato's Crystal Ball[95] Lean D November 3, 2014
Rothenberg Political Report[96] Tossup November 3, 2014
Real Clear Politics[97] Tossup November 3, 2014
Close

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Pat
Quinn (D)
Bruce
Rauner (R)
Chad
Grimm (L)
Other Undecided
Public Policy Polling[98] November 1–2, 2014 1,064 ± 3% 47% 45% 3% 5%
48% 48% 4%
McKeon & Associates[99] October 28, 2014 823 ± 3.9% 45% 42% 4% 9%
We Ask America[100] October 27–28, 2014 2,327 ± 3% 50% 45% 6%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[101] October 16–23, 2014 3,519 ± 3% 45% 41% 1% 13%
Rasmussen Reports[102] October 20–22, 2014 1,000 ± 3% 47% 48% 2% 4%
APC Research[103] October 16–21, 2014 800 ± 3.5% 43% 45% 4% 7%
Southern Illinois University[104] September 23 – October 15, 2014 1,006 RV ± 3% 41% 39% 5% 1% 15%
691 LV ± 3.7% 41% 42% 3% 1% 13%
We Ask America[105] October 8, 2014 1,051 ± 3.02% 44% 41% 7% 8%
University of Illinois Springfield[106] October 2–8, 2014 723 ± 3.7% 41% 43% 2% 14%
We Ask America[107] October 6, 2014 1,097 ± 3% 44% 40% 6% 11%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[108] September 20 – October 1, 2014 3,955 ± 2% 46% 43% 1% 10%
Communication Express[109] September 30, 2014 1,208 ± 2.87% 37% 43% 5% 16%
Fabrizio Lee[110] September 27–29, 2014 600 ± 4% 41% 39% 5% 15%
Rasmussen Reports[102] September 24–25, 2014 750 ± 4% 44% 42% 6% 8%
Battleground Polling[111] September 23–24, 2014 408 ± 4.8% 43% 43% 6% 8%
We Ask America[112] September 18–19, 2014 1,418 ± 3% 41% 44% 6% 9%
Global Strategy Group[113] September 4–7, 2014 605 ± 4% 43% 40% 5% 12%
APC Research[114] September 3–5, 2014 800 ± 3.5% 48% 37% 5% 10%
We Ask America[115] September 2, 2014 1,064 ± 3% 37% 46% 7% 10%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[116] August 18 – September 2, 2014 4,363 ± 3% 40% 44% 2% 13%
Garin Hart Yang Research Group*[117] August 12–14, 2014 802 ± 3.5% 43% 46% 11%
We Ask America[118] August 5–6, 2014 1,085 ± 3.12% 38% 51% 11%
Gravis Marketing[119] August 4–5, 2014 567 ± 4% 40% 48% 12%
Rasmussen Reports[102] July 29–30, 2014 750 ± 4% 39% 44% 7% 10%
We Ask America[120] July 28, 2014 1,087 ± 2.97% 33% 47% 20%
Mellman Group^[121] July 27–29, 2014 600 ± 5% 38% 39% 23%
Harstad Strategic Research[122] July 17–22, 2014 1,003 ± 3.1% 42% 46% 3% 8%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[123] July 5–24, 2014 5,298 ± 2.1% 43% 46% 2% 8%
McKeon & Associates[124] July 9–10, 2014 800 ± 3.9% 34% 40% 26%
Capitol Fax/We Ask America[125] July 8, 2014 940 ± 3.2% 39% 51% 10%
We Ask America[126] June 10–11, 2014 1,075 ± 3% 37% 47% 16%
Where America Stands[127] May 12, 2014 1,168 ± 3% 31% 49% 1% 3%[128] 16%
We Ask America[129][130] April 27, 2014 ? ± 3.14% 44% 44% 12%
We Ask America[129][131] April 21, 2014 ? ± 3.21% 38% 49% 13%
Rasmussen Reports[102] April 9–10, 2014 750 ± 4% 40% 43% 6% 10%
Where America Stands[132] March 27, 2014 1,033 ± 3% 32% 46% 1% 2%[133] 19%
Gravis Marketing[134] March 21–22, 2014 806 ± 3% 35% 43% 22%
We Ask America[135] January 30, 2014 1,354 ± 2.7% 39% 47% 14%
Public Policy Polling[83] November 22–25, 2013 557 ± 4.2% 41% 38% 21%
Close
Hypothetical polling

With Quinn

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Pat
Quinn (D)
Bill
Brady (R)
Undecided
We Ask America[135] January 30, 2014 1,354 ± 2.7% 39% 48% 13%
Public Policy Polling[83] November 22–25, 2013 557 ± 4.2% 41% 41% 18%
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Pat
Quinn (D)
Kirk
Dillard (R)
Undecided
We Ask America[135] January 30, 2014 1,354 ± 2.7% 37% 46% 17%
Public Policy Polling[83] November 22–25, 2013 557 ± 4.2% 39% 39% 21%
Public Policy Polling[32] November 26–28, 2012 500 ± 4.4% 37% 44% 19%
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Pat
Quinn (D)
Dan
Rutherford (R)
Undecided
We Ask America[135] January 30, 2014 1,354 ± 2.7% 37% 46% 17%
Public Policy Polling[83] November 22–25, 2013 557 ± 4.2% 39% 41% 20%
Public Policy Polling[32] November 26–28, 2012 500 ± 4.4% 39% 43% 18%
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Pat
Quinn (D)
Aaron
Schock (R)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling[32] November 26–28, 2012 500 ± 4.4% 40% 39% 21%
Close

With Daley

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Bill
Daley (D)
Kirk
Dillard (R)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling[32] November 26–28, 2012 500 ± 4.4% 34% 36% 30%
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Bill
Daley (D)
Dan
Rutherford (R)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling[32] November 26–28, 2012 500 ± 4.4% 37% 38% 25%
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Bill
Daley (D)
Aaron
Schock (R)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling[32] November 26–28, 2012 500 ± 4.4% 40% 35% 25%
Close

With Emanuel

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Rahm
Emanuel (D)
Dan
Rutherford (R)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling[83] November 22–25, 2013 557 ± 4.2% 40% 38% 22%
Close

With Hynes

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Daniel
Hynes (D)
Dan
Rutherford (R)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling[83] November 22–25, 2013 557 ± 4.2% 34% 34% 32%
Close

With Madigan

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Lisa
Madigan (D)
Kirk
Dillard (R)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling[32] November 26–28, 2012 500 ± 4.4% 46% 37% 17%
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Lisa
Madigan (D)
Dan
Rutherford (R)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling[83] November 22–25, 2013 557 ± 4.2% 45% 40% 15%
Public Policy Polling[32] November 26–28, 2012 500 ± 4.4% 46% 37% 18%
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Lisa
Madigan (D)
Aaron
Schock (R)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling[32] November 26–28, 2012 500 ± 4.4% 46% 38% 17%
Close
  • * Internal Poll for Dick Durbin campaign
  • ^ Internal Poll for Pat Quinn campaign

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
2014 Illinois gubernatorial election[136]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Bruce Rauner 1,823,627 50.27% +4.33%
Democratic Pat Quinn (incumbent) 1,681,343 46.35% −0.44%
Libertarian Chad Grimm 121,534 3.35% +2.42%
Write-in 1,186 0.03% N/A
Total votes 3,627,690 100.00% N/A
Republican gain from Democratic
Close

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

By congressional district

Rauner won 12 of 18 districts, including four that elected Democrats.[137]

More information District, Quinn ...
District Quinn Rauner Representative
1st 71% 27% Bobby Rush
2nd 73% 25% Robin Kelly
3rd 48.7% 48.8% Dan Lipinski
4th 72% 25% Luis Gutierrez
5th 55% 43% Mike Quigley
6th 32% 65% Peter Roskam
7th 81% 18% Danny K. Davis
8th 43% 54% Tammy Duckworth
9th 54% 44% Jan Schakowsky
10th 43% 55% Brad Schneider
Robert Dold
11th 46% 52% Bill Foster
12th 38% 56% William Enyart
Mike Bost
13th 38% 57% Rodney Davis
14th 32% 65% Randy Hultgren
15th 23% 71% John Shimkus
16th 35% 61% Adam Kinzinger
17th 43% 52% Cheri Bustos
18th 28% 66% Aaron Schock
Close

See also

References

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