Illinois gubernatorial election, 1872

Illinois gubernatorial election, 1872

November 5, 1872

Nominee Richard J. Oglesby Gustavus Koerner Party Republican Liberal Republican Popular vote 237,774 197,084 Percentage 54.41% 45.10%

130px Red denotes a county won by Oglesby, and Pink denotes a county won by Koerner

Governor before election Richard J. Oglesby Republican Elected Governor John M. Palmer Republican

The Illinois gubernatorial election of 1872 was the fifteenth election for this office. Republican nonimee, Former Governor Richard J. Oglesby defeated the Democratic and Liberal Republican nominee Gustavus Koerner. B. G. Wells represented Independent Democrats unwilling to ally with Liberal Republicans. Oglesby had agreed to run for the Governorship but to resign upon being elected so that Lt. Governor John Lourie Beveridge could assume the office. Oglesby was in turn appointed to the U.S. Senate.

At this time in Illinois history, the Lieutenant Governor was elected on a separate ballot from the governor. This would remain so until the 1970 constitution.

Results

1868 gubernatorial election, Illinois

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Richard J. Oglesby	237,774	54.41%	-1.16%
	Liberal Republican	Gustavus Koerner	197,084	45.10%	N/A%
	Independent	B. G. Wright	2,185	0.50%	N/A
Majority			40,690	9.31%	-1.83%
Turnout			437,043
	Republican hold		Swing

References

• Our Campaigns – Illinois Governor Race – Nov 5, 1872
• Stringer, Lawrence B. History of Logan County, Illinois, a Record of Its Settlement, Organization, Progress, and Achievement. Chicago, Pioneer Publishing Company: 1911. p. 292