1916 Illinois gubernatorial election

The 1916 Illinois gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1916. Incumbent Democratic Governor Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne was defeated by Republican nominee Frank Orren Lowden.

1916 Illinois gubernatorial election

← 1912 November 7, 1916 1920 →

Nominee Frank Orren Lowden Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 696,535 556,654 Percentage 52.67% 42.09%

County results Lowden:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Dunne:      40-50%      50-60%

Governor before election Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne Democratic Elected Governor Frank Orren Lowden Republican

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on September 13, 1916.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• William B. Brinton, manufacturer^[1]
• Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne, incumbent Governor
• James Traynor

Results

Democratic primary results^[2][3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne (incumbent)	151,763	63.63
	Democratic	William B. Brinton	65,639	27.52
	Democratic	James Traynor	21,105	8.85
Total votes			238,507	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Morton D. Hull, State Senator
• Frank Orren Lowden, former U.S. Representative for Illinois's 13th congressional district
• Frank Leslie Smith, unsuccessful candidate for Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor in 1904

Results

Republican primary results^[4][3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Frank Orren Lowden	227,443	54.03
	Republican	Morton D. Hull	117,229	27.85
	Republican	Frank Leslie Smith	76,287	18.12
Total votes			420,959	100.00

Progressive primary

No candidates stood in the Progressive primary, and the Progressive Party did not put forward a candidate in the general election.

Results

Progressive primary results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Progressive	Scattering	64	100.00
Total votes			64	100.00

Socialist primary

Candidates

• Seymour Stedman, candidate for Mayor of Chicago in 1915

Results

Socialist primary results^[5][3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Socialist	Seymour Stedman	2,985	100.00
Total votes			2,985	100.00

General election

Candidates

• Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne, Democratic
• John M. Francis, Socialist Labor, perennial candidate
• John R. Golden, Prohibition, pastor and former state legislator^[6]
• Frank Orren Lowden, Republican
• Seymour Stedman, Socialist

Results

1916 Illinois gubernatorial election^{[7][8][9][10]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Frank Orren Lowden	696,535	52.67%
	Democratic	Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne (incumbent)	556,654	42.09%
	Socialist	Seymour Stedman	52,316	3.96%
	Prohibition	John R. Golden	15,309	1.16%
	Socialist Labor	John M. Francis	1,739	0.13%
Majority			139,881	10.58%
Turnout			1,322,553	100.00%
	Republican gain from Democratic		Swing

870,154, or 39.7%, fewer votes were cast in the gubernatorial election than in the presidential this year, as Illinois allowed women to vote for presidential electors, but not constitutional offices.

See also

• 1916 Illinois lieutenant gubernatorial election