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      Data: MIT Election Lab, VEST, Census Bureau
      Home/Elections/1956/Governor/Illinois
      1956·Governor·Illinois

      Illinois Governor

      Winner
      REP
      William G. Stratton
      50.5%2,178,432 votes
      Runner-up
      DEM
      Richard B. Austin
      49.5%2,134,909 votes
      Margin
      R+1.0
      4,314,611 total votes
      3 candidates4,314,611 total votes
      CandidatePartyVotes ▼%Vote Share
      William G. StrattonREP✓
      		REP2,178,43250.5%
      Richard B. AustinDEM
      		DEM2,134,90949.5%
      OtherOTH
      		OTH1,2700.0%

      Seat History

      Governor in Illinois

      2022
      J.B. PritzkerDEM
      D+12.5
      2018
      J.B. PritzkerDEM
      D+15.7
      2014
      Bruce RaunerREP
      R+3.9
      2010
      Pat QuinnDEM
      D+0.8
      2006
      Rod R BlagojevichDEM
      D+10.5
      2002
      Rod R BlagojevichDEM
      D+7.1
      1998
      George H. RyanREP
      R+3.6
      1994
      Jim EdgarREP
      R+29.4
      1990
      Jim EdgarREP
      R+2.6
      1986
      James R. ThompsonREP
      R+46.0
      1982
      James R. ThompsonREP
      R+0.1
      1978
      James R. ThompsonREP
      R+18.9
      1976
      James R. ThompsonREP
      R+30.1
      1972
      Daniel WalkerDEM
      D+1.7
      1968
      Richard B. OgilvieREP
      R+2.8
      View all Governor history for Illinois →

      Candidates

      Richard B. AustinDEM
      Record0W-1L
      Avg MarginR+1.0
      Career1956-1956
      Governor
      Full profile →
      William G. StrattonREP
      Record2W-1L
      Avg MarginD+1.7
      Career1952-1960
      Governor
      Full profile →

      Also in Illinois, 1956

      President1 contest →US Senate1 contest →
      ← All 1956 Governor races1956 overviewIllinois profileAll elections