1932 Illinois gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1932 United States gubernatorial elections.

The 1932 Illinois gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1932. Democratic nominee Henry Horner defeated Republican nominee and former Governor Len Small with 57.62% of the vote.

1932 Illinois gubernatorial election

← 1928 November 8, 1932 1936 →

Nominee Henry Horner Len Small Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,930,330 1,364,043 Percentage 57.62% 40.71%

County results Horner:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Small:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election Louis Lincoln Emmerson Republican Elected Governor Henry Horner Democratic

Incumbent first-term Republican Governor Louis Lincoln Emmerson did not run for re-election.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on April 12, 1932.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Joseph L. Burke
• Bruce A. Campbell, former State Representative
• R. S. Douglas
• Leo Patrick Dwyer
• Oliver Wendell Holmes
• Henry Horner, judge^[1]
• Michael L. Igoe, member of the board of South Park Commissioners^[2]
• Andrew W. Sullivan

Results

Democratic primary results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Henry Horner	397,499	48.67
	Democratic	Michael L. Igoe	255,527	31.28
	Democratic	Bruce A. Campbell	134,972	16.53
	Democratic	Oliver Wendell Holmes	8,138	1.00
	Democratic	Joseph L. Burke	6,375	0.78
	Democratic	Andrew W. Sullivan	6,334	0.77
	Democratic	R. S. Douglas	4,289	0.52
	Democratic	Leo Patrick Dwyer	3,639	0.45
Total votes			816,773	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Edward J. Brundage, former Attorney General of Illinois
• Oscar E. Carlstrom, incumbent Attorney General of Illinois
• Herbert E. Clayton
• Omer N. Custer, former Treasurer of Illinois
• J. Edward Jones
• William H. Malone, former chairman of the Illinois Tax Commission
• Willard A. Maxwell
• Len Small, former Governor

Endorsements

Omer N. Custer

Statewide officials

• Louis Lincoln Emmerson, incumbent Governor of Illinois^[4]

Results

Republican primary results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Len Small	481,960	36.64
	Republican	Omer N. Custer	370,301	28.15
	Republican	Oscar E. Carlstrom	282,741	21.50
	Republican	William H. Malone	116,838	8.88
	Republican	Edward J. Brundage	38,449	2.92
	Republican	Willard A. Maxwell	13,413	1.02
	Republican	Herbert E. Clayton	6,259	0.48
	Republican	J. Edward Jones	5,284	0.40
Total votes			1,315,245	100.00

General election

Major candidates

• Henry Horner, Democratic
• Len Small, Republican

Minor candidates

• Leondies McDonald, Communist
• W. W. O'Brien, Independent
• Roy E. Burt, Socialist, member of the board of education of the Methodist Episcopal Church^[5]
• J. E. Procum, Socialist Labor, nominee for Governor in 1928

Post-primary endorsements

Henry Horner

Statewide officials

• Louis Lincoln Emmerson, incumbent Governor of Illinois^[4] (Republican)

Results

1932 Illinois gubernatorial election^[6][7][8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Henry Horner	1,930,330	57.62%
	Republican	Len Small	1,364,043	40.71%
	Socialist	Roy E. Burt	39,389	1.18%
	Communist	Leondies McDonald	12,466	0.37%
	Socialist Labor	J. E. Procum	2,896	0.09%
	Independent	W. W. O'Brien	1,182	0.03%
		Scattering	14	0.00%
Majority			566,287	16.90%
Turnout			3,350,320	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican		Swing

See also

• 1932 Illinois lieutenant gubernatorial election