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      Data: MIT Election Lab, VEST, Census Bureau
      Home/Elections/1976/Governor/Illinois
      1976·Governor·Illinois

      Illinois Governor

      Winner
      REP
      James R. Thompson
      64.7%3,000,395 votes
      Runner-up
      DEM
      Michael J. Howlett
      34.7%1,606,989 votes
      Margin
      R+30.1
      4,635,728 total votes
      3 candidates4,635,728 total votes
      CandidatePartyVotes ▼%Vote Share
      James R. ThompsonREP✓
      		REP3,000,39564.7%
      Michael J. HowlettDEM
      		DEM1,606,98934.7%
      OtherOTH
      		OTH28,3440.6%

      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
      1972
      Daniel WalkerDEM
      D+1.7
      1968
      Richard B. OgilvieREP
      R+2.8
      View all Governor history for Illinois →

      Candidates

      James R. ThompsonREP
      Record4W-0L
      Avg MarginR+23.8
      Career1976-1986
      Governor
      Full profile →
      Michael J. HowlettDEM
      Record0W-1L
      Avg MarginR+30.1
      Career1976-1976
      Governor
      Full profile →

      Also in Illinois, 1976

      President1 contest →US House24 contests →
      ← All 1976 Governor races1976 overviewIllinois profileAll elections