1896 Illinois gubernatorial election

1896 Illinois gubernatorial election
	November 3, 1896
	County results ; Tanner: 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 80-90% Altgeld: 40-50% 50-60% 60-70%
Governor before election; John Peter Altgeld; Democratic	Elected Governor ; John Riley Tanner; Republican

The 1896 Illinois gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1896.

Incumbent Democratic Governor John Peter Altgeld was defeated by Republican nominee John Riley Tanner who won 54.10% of the vote.

Democratic nomination

Candidates

John Peter Altgeld, incumbent Governor

Results

The Democratic state convention was held on June 23, 1896, in Peoria.^[1]

Democratic gubernatorial nomination, 1st ballot, 23 June 1896^[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John Peter Altgeld (incumbent)	acclaimed

Republican nomination

Candidates

Albert J. Hopkins, incumbent U.S. Congressman for Illinois's 8th congressional district
Dr. Joseph Robbins
John Riley Tanner, former Illinois State Treasurer, chairman of the Illinois State Republican Central Committee in 1894^[3]

Results

The Republican state convention was held on April 29 and 30, 1896 at Springfield.^[4]^[5]^[6]

Republican gubernatorial nomination, 1st ballot, 29 April 1896^[7]^[8]^[9]^[10]^[11]^[12]^[13]^[a]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Riley Tanner	1,083	81.12
	Republican	Albert J. Hopkins	183	13.71
	Republican	Joseph Robbins	69	5.17
Total votes			1,335	100.00

General election

The "Flying Squadron" of Illinois Governors who campaigned for John Tanner. Sitting from left to right is former Governor John L. Beveridge, former Governor Richard J. Oglesby, former Governor Shelby M. Cullom, and former Governor John M. Hamilton. Standing from left to right is former Lieutenant Governor John C. Smith, Republican gubernatorial nominee and future Governor John R. Tanner, James Van Cleve, former Governor Joseph W. Fifer, and former Lieutenant Governor Lyman B. Ray.

Candidates

John Peter Altgeld, Democratic
John Riley Tanner, Republican
George Washington Gere, Prohibition
William St. John Forman, National Democrat, former U.S. Congressman for Illinois's 18th congressional district
Charles A. Baustian, Socialist Labor
Isaac W. Higgs, National

Results

Illinois gubernatorial election, 1896^[23]^[24]^[25]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Riley Tanner	587,637	54.10%
	Democratic	John Peter Altgeld (incumbent)	474,256	43.66%
	Prohibition	George Washington Gere	14,559	1.34%
	National Democratic	William St. John Forman	8,102	0.75%
	Socialist Labor	Charles A. Baustian	985	0.09%
	National Party	Isaac W. Higgs	723	0.07%
	Scattering		10	0.00%
Majority			113,381	10.44%
Turnout			1,086,272	100.00%
	Republican gain from Democratic		Swing

References

^ "Desperation of Democracy". The San Francisco call. San Francisco, Calif. June 24, 1896. p. 1. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
^ "Political". Alexandria gazette. Alexandria, D.C. June 24, 1896. p. 2. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
^ Bateman, Newton; Selby, Paul, eds. (1918). Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois. Vol. I. Chicago: Munsell Publishing Company. p. 518.
^ "Cullom's a Stayer". Wood County reporter. Grand Rapids, Wis. April 30, 1896. p. 2. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
^ "M'Kinley The Choice". The copper country evening news. Calumet, Mich. May 2, 1896. p. 1. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
^ "Tanner for Governor". Abilene weekly reflector. Abilene, Kan. May 7, 1896. p. 12. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
^ "Tanner's Without A Fight". Omaha daily bee. Omaha, Neb. April 30, 1896. p. 5. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
^ "Named for Governor". Evening star. Washington, D.C. April 30, 1896. p. 15. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
^ "Goldbugs to the very core". The Salt Lake herald. Salt Lake City, Utah. April 30, 1896. p. 2. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
^ "In the field of politics". The herald. Los Angeles, Calif. April 30, 1896. p. 1. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
^ "Inland". Abendblatt. Chicago, Ill. April 30, 1896. p. 2. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
^ "The Illinois Republicans". Indianapolis News. Indianapolis, Indiana. April 30, 1896. p. 1. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
^ "Cullom or M'Kinley?". Indianapolis Journal. Indianapolis, Indiana. April 30, 1896. p. 1. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
^ "Tanner named for Governor". The Norfolk Virginian. Norfolk, Va. April 30, 1896. p. 1. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
^ "The Illinois Republicans". The San Francisco call. San Francisco, Calif. April 30, 1896. p. 2. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
^ "Battle Royal in Illinois". New-York tribune. New York, N.Y. April 30, 1896. p. 3. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
^ "Big fight is in prospect". The daily morning journal and courier. New Haven, Conn. April 30, 1896. p. 1. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
^ "Slow Work at Springfield". The morning news. Savannah, Ga. April 30, 1896. p. 1. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
^ "Illinois Republicans". Birmingham state herald. Birmingham, Ala. April 30, 1896. p. 5. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
^ "Illinois's Great Fight". The sun. New York, N.Y. April 30, 1896. p. 1. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
^ Church, Charles A. (1912). History of the Republican Party in Illinois 1854-1912. Rockford, Ill.: Wilson Brothers Company. p. 179.
^ "IL Governor, 1896 - R Convention". Our Campaigns. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
^ Illinois Official Vote 1896, pp. 7–9.
^ "IL Governor, 1896". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
^ Journal of the Senate of the Fortieth General Assembly of the State of Illinois. Convened at the Capitol, in Springfield, January 6, 1897, and adjourned sine die June 4, 1897. Springfield, Ill.: Phillips Bros., State Printers. 1897. p. 159.

Notes

^ Some sources give the result as Tanner 1,106, Hopkins 160, Robbins 69^[14]^[15]^[16]^[17]^[18]^[19]^[20] or as Tanner 1,081, Hopkins 185, Robbins 69^[21]^[22]

Bibliography

Compiled and Printed by the Secretary of State (1897). Official vote of the State of Illinois cast at the General Election held November 3, 1896. Springfield, Ill.: Phillips Bros., State Printers.

[1] "Desperation of Democracy". The San Francisco call. San Francisco, Calif. June 24, 1896. p. 1. Retrieved July 19, 2021.

[2] "Political". Alexandria gazette. Alexandria, D.C. June 24, 1896. p. 2. Retrieved July 19, 2021.

[3] Bateman, Newton; Selby, Paul, eds. (1918). Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois. Vol. I. Chicago: Munsell Publishing Company. p. 518.

[4] "Cullom's a Stayer". Wood County reporter. Grand Rapids, Wis. April 30, 1896. p. 2. Retrieved July 19, 2021.

[5] "M'Kinley The Choice". The copper country evening news. Calumet, Mich. May 2, 1896. p. 1. Retrieved July 19, 2021.

[6] "Tanner for Governor". Abilene weekly reflector. Abilene, Kan. May 7, 1896. p. 12. Retrieved July 19, 2021.

[7] "Tanner's Without A Fight". Omaha daily bee. Omaha, Neb. April 30, 1896. p. 5. Retrieved July 19, 2021.

[8] "Named for Governor". Evening star. Washington, D.C. April 30, 1896. p. 15. Retrieved July 19, 2021.

[9] "Goldbugs to the very core". The Salt Lake herald. Salt Lake City, Utah. April 30, 1896. p. 2. Retrieved July 19, 2021.

[10] "In the field of politics". The herald. Los Angeles, Calif. April 30, 1896. p. 1. Retrieved July 19, 2021.

[11] "Inland". Abendblatt. Chicago, Ill. April 30, 1896. p. 2. Retrieved July 19, 2021.

[12] "The Illinois Republicans". Indianapolis News. Indianapolis, Indiana. April 30, 1896. p. 1. Retrieved July 19, 2021.

[13] "Cullom or M'Kinley?". Indianapolis Journal. Indianapolis, Indiana. April 30, 1896. p. 1. Retrieved July 19, 2021.

[14] "Tanner named for Governor". The Norfolk Virginian. Norfolk, Va. April 30, 1896. p. 1. Retrieved July 19, 2021.

[15] "The Illinois Republicans". The San Francisco call. San Francisco, Calif. April 30, 1896. p. 2. Retrieved July 19, 2021.

[16] "Battle Royal in Illinois". New-York tribune. New York, N.Y. April 30, 1896. p. 3. Retrieved July 19, 2021.

[17] "Big fight is in prospect". The daily morning journal and courier. New Haven, Conn. April 30, 1896. p. 1. Retrieved July 19, 2021.

[18] "Slow Work at Springfield". The morning news. Savannah, Ga. April 30, 1896. p. 1. Retrieved July 19, 2021.

[19] "Illinois Republicans". Birmingham state herald. Birmingham, Ala. April 30, 1896. p. 5. Retrieved July 19, 2021.

[20] "Illinois's Great Fight". The sun. New York, N.Y. April 30, 1896. p. 1. Retrieved July 19, 2021.

[21] Church, Charles A. (1912). History of the Republican Party in Illinois 1854-1912. Rockford, Ill.: Wilson Brothers Company. p. 179.

[22] "IL Governor, 1896 - R Convention". Our Campaigns. Retrieved July 19, 2021.

[FOOTNOTEIllinois_Official_Vote_18967–9-24] Illinois Official Vote 1896, pp. 7–9.

[25] "IL Governor, 1896". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 18, 2020.

[26] Journal of the Senate of the Fortieth General Assembly of the State of Illinois. Convened at the Capitol, in Springfield, January 6, 1897, and adjourned sine die June 4, 1897. Springfield, Ill.: Phillips Bros., State Printers. 1897. p. 159.

[23] Some sources give the result as Tanner 1,106, Hopkins 160, Robbins 69^[14]^[15]^[16]^[17]^[18]^[19]^[20] or as Tanner 1,081, Hopkins 185, Robbins 69^[21]^[22]

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Elections in Illinois
By year	1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1969 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1998 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024
Presidential	1820 1824 1828 1832 1836 1840 1844 1848 1852 1856 1860 1864 1868 1872 1876 1880 1884 1888 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 (Dem primary, Rep primary) 2012 2016 (Dem primary) 2020 (Dem primary) 2024 (Dem primary, Rep primary)
U.S. Senate	1885 1891 1913 1914 1918 1920 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1948 1950 1954 1956 1960 1962 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1978 1980 1984 1986 1990 1992 1996 1998 2002 2004 2008 2010 2014 2016 2020 2022 2026
U.S. House	2000 (1st) 2006 2008 2010 (17th) 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2026
Special	2nd congressional, 1995 14th congressional, 2008 5th congressional, 2009 2nd congressional, 2013 18th congressional, 2015 Comptroller, 2016
Gubernatorial	1818 1822 1826 1830 1834 1838 1842 1846 1848 1852 1856 1860 1864 1868 1872 1876 1880 1884 1888 1892 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 2026
Lieutenant gubernatorial	1818 1822 1826 1830 1834 1838 1842 1846 1848 1852 1856 1860 1864 1868 1872 1876 1880 1884 1888 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968
Other state executive offices	Attorney General 2018 2022 Secretary of State 2018 2022 Comptroller 2016 2026
State Senate	2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2026
State House	1964 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024
State judicial	1936 1938 1940 1942 1948 1960 1962 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022
Ballot measures and referendums	State capitol referendum (1834) Cutback Amendment (1980) Crime Victim Rights Amendment (1992) Governor Recall Amendment (2010) Public Pension Amendment (2012) Marsy's Law (2014) Right to Vote Amendment (2014) Transportation Taxes and Fees Lockbox Amendment (2016) Fair Tax (2020) Right to Collective Bargaining Amendment (2022)
Chicago mayoral	1837 1838 1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 (Mar) 1844 (Apr) 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1865 1867 1869 1871 1873 1876 (Apr) 1876 (Jul) 1877 1879 1881 1883 1885 1887 1889 1891 1893 (Apr) 1893 (Dec) 1895 1897 1899 1901 1903 1905 1907 1911 1915 1919 1923 1927 1931 1935 1939 1943 1947 1951 1955 1959 1963 1967 1971 1975 1977 1979 1983 1987 1989 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023 2027
Chicago City Council	1923 1925 1927 1929 1931 1933 1935 1939 1943 1947 1951 1955 1959 1963 1967 1971 1975 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023
Other municipal	1924 Cicero Bring Chicago Home (2024)
Cook County	1946 1980 (State's Attorney) 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 (State's Attorney) 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 (State's Attorney) 2022

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