1976 Illinois elections

← 1974 November 2, 1976 1978 →
Turnout	77.38%

Elections in Illinois
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Ballot measures and referendums State capitol referendum (1834) Cutback Amendment (1980) Crime Victim Rights Amendment (1992) Illinois 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)
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Cicero Municipal elections 1924
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v t e

Elections were held in Illinois on Tuesday, November 2, 1976.^[1]

Primaries were held on March 16, 1976.^[1]

In order to, per Constitution of Illinois, allow for all statewide executive offices to be up for election in the 1978 midterms, all statewide executive offices up for election in 1976 were only elected to two-year terms.

Election information

In order to, per Constitution of Illinois, allow for all statewide executive offices to be up for election in the 1978 midterms, all statewide executive offices up for election in 1976 were only elected to two-year terms.

This is would be the last time that any election for a nstatewide executive office would be held in Illinois during a presidential election year, until 2016, when a special election was held for comptroller.

Turnout

Turnout in the primary election was 21.55%, with a total of 1,239,487 ballots cast. 669,210 Democratic and 570,277 Republican primary ballots were cast.^[1]

Turnout during the general election was 77.38%, with 4,838,182 ballots cast.^[1]

Federal elections

United States President

Illinois voted for the Republican ticket of Gerald Ford and Bob Dole.^[1]

United States House

All 24 Illinois seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 1976.

Republicans flipped one seat, making the composition of Illinois' House delegation consist of 12 Democrats and 12 Republicans.

State elections

Governor and Lieutenant Governor

1976 Illinois gubernatorial election

← 1972 November 2, 1976 1978 →
Turnout	74.18%[1]
Nominee James R. Thompson Michael J. Howlett Party Republican Democratic Running mate David C. O'Neal Neil Hartigan Popular vote 3,000,395 1,610,258 Percentage 64.68% 34.71%
County Results Thompson:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90% Howlett:      50–60%
Governor before election Dan Walker Democratic Elected Governor James R. Thompson Republican

Incumbent Governor Dan Walker, a Democrat, had been defeated by Michael J. Howlett in the Democratic primary, while incumbent Lieutenant Governor Neil Hartigan was renominated in the Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial primary. The Republican ticket of James R. Thompson and David C. O'Neal won the election.

Attorney General

1976 Illinois Attorney General election

← 1972 November 2, 1976 1978 →
Turnout	72.15%[1]
Nominee William J. Scott Cecil Partee Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 2,795,013 1,678,800 Percentage 61.95% 37.21%
Attorney General before election William J. Scott Republican Elected Attorney General William J. Scott Republican

Incumbent Attorney General William J. Scott, a Republican, was elected to a third term.

Democratic primary

President of the Illinois Senate Cecil Partee narrowly defeated Superintendent of the Illinois Department of Registration and Education^[2] Ronald E. Stackler in the Democratic primary.

Republican primary

Incumbent William J. Scott won the Republican primary, running unopposed.

General election

Secretary of State

1976 Illinois Secretary of State election

← 1972 November 2, 1976 1978 →
Turnout	72.00%[1]
Nominee Alan J. Dixon William C. Harris Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,906,311 1,562,028 Percentage 64.55% 34.69%
Secretary of State before election Michael Howlett Democratic Elected Secretary of State Alan J. Dixon Democratic

Incumbent Secretary of State Michael Howlett, a Democrat, did not seek a second term, instead opting to run for governor. Democrat Alan J. Dixon was elected to succeed him in office.

Democratic primary

Illinois Treasurer Alan J. Dixon won the Democratic primary, defeating Illinois State Senator Vince Demuzio.

Republican primary

Illinois State Senator William C. Harris won the Republican primary, running unopposed.

General election

Comptroller

1976 Illinois State Comptroller election

← 1972 November 2, 1976 1978 →
Turnout	71.25%[1]
Nominee Michael Bakalis George W. Lindberg Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,298,074 2,117,977 Percentage 51.67% 47.53%
State Comptroller before election George W. Lindberg Republican Elected State Comptroller Michael Bakalis Democratic

Incumbent Comptroller George W. Lindberg, a Republican running for a second term, was defeated by Democrat Michael Bakalis.

Democratic primary

Former Illinois Superintendent of Public Instruction Michael Bakalis won the Democratic primary, defeating Director of the Illinois State Department of General Services^[3] Roland Burris.

Republican primary

Incumbent George W. Lindberg won the Republican primary, running unopposed.

General election

State Senate

Seats of the Illinois Senate were up for election in 1976. Democrats retained control of the chamber.

State House of Representatives

Seats in the Illinois House of Representatives were up for election in 1976. Democrats retained control of the chamber.

Trustees of University of Illinois

An election was held for three of nine seats for Trustees of University of Illinois system.

The election saw the reelection of first-term Democrats William D. Forsyth Jr., George W. Howard III, and Earl L. Neal.^[1][4]

Judicial elections

Multiple judicial positions were up for election in 1976.^[1]

Local elections

Local elections were held.