1924 United States presidential election in Illinois

The 1924 United States presidential election in Illinois took place on November 4, 1924, as part of the 1924 United States presidential election. State voters chose 29 representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

1924 United States presidential election in Illinois

← 1920November 4, 19241928 →

All 29 Illinois votes to the Electoral College
 
NomineeCalvin CoolidgeJohn W. DavisRobert M. La Follette
PartyRepublicanDemocraticProgressive
Home stateMassachusettsWest VirginiaWisconsin
Running mateCharles G. DawesCharles W. BryanBurton K. Wheeler
Electoral vote2900
Popular vote1,453,321576,975432,027
Percentage58.84%23.36%17.49%

County Results

President before election

Calvin Coolidge
Republican

Elected President

Calvin Coolidge
Republican

A strongly Democratic state during the Second Party System, Illinois became Republican-leaning after the American Civil War due to a combination of strong Free Soil Party heritage amongst its Yankee northern counties with the wartime conversion of some Virginian-settled rock-ribbed Democratic Southern Illinois counties[1] to Unionist Republicanism[2] à la Appalachia.[3] Between the Civil War and World War I, partisanship in Illinois – like in the Border States – largely re-fought the war, with the result that although the Democratic Party gained at least 43 percent of the statewide vote via Southern and German Catholic support in every election up to 1900, they never gained an absolute majority and carried the state's electoral votes only in 1892.[4]

Due to the Democratic Party's growing Populist and prohibitionist leanings, a decline in Democratic support after 1900 in its German Central Illinois strongholds transformed Illinois into a powerfully Republican state at all levels.[5] Even Woodrow Wilson in 1912 when the GOP was mortally divided carried the state by only a very narrow margin, and in 1920 hostility to the League of Nations and the perceived anti-German bias of both outgoing President Wilson and new Democratic nominee and former Ohio Governor James M. Cox – the latter of whom had banned German-language instruction in Ohio schools[6] – meant Harding carried Illinois by over 42 percentage points and the state was his sixth strongest in a national landslide. German Catholic Clinton County, and twelve southern-settled counties in the Illinois River valley and southward, went Republican for the first time.[7]

During the Republican National Convention, Illinosian Charles G. Dawes easily won the Vice-Presidential nomination ahead of fellow state resident Frank Lowden.[8] The first campaign in Illinois was not by Coolidge or Davis, but by radical third-party nominee, veteran Wisconsin Senator Robert M. La Follette, who on July 4 confirmed his previous plan to run a third-party campaign when nominated by the "Conference for Progressive Political Action".[9] La Follette on Labor Day, August 22, said he hoped to carry Illinois because he believed gubernatorial candidate Len Small would not aid the Coolidge ticket.[10] Democratic nominee John W. Davis, a conservative Southern Democrat from West Virginia, spent four days in Chicago conferring with party leaders from half-a-dozen other states,[11] but did not campaign downstate. Coolidge was urged to campaign in the state[12] after suspicions La Follette would be a severe threat in Chicago and other German-American communities.[13] Coolidge did not respond, and Dawes was viciously criticised by La Follette's running mate, Montana Senator Burton K. Wheeler, for being associated with the Central Trust Company and Lorimer Street State Savings Bank.[14]

At the beginning of the campaign it was considered possible that Davis could carry Illinois if there was a strong enough vote for La Follette.[15] However, as early as mid-August it was thought that the Coolidge-Dawes ticket was certain of carrying Illinois,[16] and in mid-September it seemed likely Coolidge was a clear first with La Follette running ahead of Davis,[17] a result that would be repeated in a survey during the second week of October.[18]

Primaries

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The primaries and general elections coincided with those for other federal offices (Senate and House), as well as those for state offices.[19]

Turnout

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The total vote in the state-run primary elections (Democratic and Republican) was 1,101,583.[19]

The total vote in the general election was 2,470,067.[19] Both major parties held non-binding state-run preferential primaries on April 8.[19]

Democratic

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1924 Illinois Democratic presidential primary

← 1920April 8, 1924 (1924-04-08)1928 →
 
CandidateWilliam Gibbs McAdoo
Home stateCalifornia
Popular vote180,544
Percentage98.93%

The 1924 Illinois Democratic presidential primary was held on April 8, 1924 in the U.S. state of Illinois as one of the Democratic Party's state primaries ahead of the 1924 presidential election.

The preference vote was a non-binding "beauty contest". Delegates were instead elected by direct votes by congressional district on delegate candidates.[19] Delegate candidates either were listed on the ballot with their preference on for a particular presidential candidate, or were listed as expressing no preference.[19]

The preference vote was near-unanimously won by the only name on the ballot, former United States Secretary of the Treasury William Gibbs McAdoo.[19]

1924 Illinois Democratic presidential primary[19]
CandidateVotes%
William Gibbs McAdoo180,54498.93
William E. Dever (write-in)1,5740.86
Al Smith (write-in)2350.13
James Reed (write-in)840.05
Scattering660.04
Total182,503100

Republican

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1924 Illinois Republican presidential primary

← 1920April 8, 1924 (1924-04-08)1928 →
 
CandidateCalvin CoolidgeHiram Johnson
Home stateMassachusettsCalifornia
Popular vote533,193385,590
Percentage58.01%41.95%

The 1924 Illinois Republican presidential primary was held on April 8, 1924 in the U.S. state of Illinois as one of the Republican Party's state primaries ahead of the 1924 presidential election.

The preference vote was a "beauty contest". Delegates were instead selected by direct vote in each congressional district on delegate candidates.[19] Delegate candidates either were listed on the ballot with their preference on for a particular presidential candidate, or were listed as expressing no preference.[19]

1924 Illinois Republican presidential primary[19]
CandidateVotes%
Calvin Coolidge (incumbent)533,19358.01
Hiram W. Johnson385,59041.95
Robert La Follette (write-in)2780.03
Scattering210.00
Total919,082100

Results

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Presidential CandidateRunning MatePartyElectoral Vote (EV)Popular Vote (PV)[19]
Calvin Coolidge of Massachusetts (incumbent)Charles G. DawesRepublican291,453,32158.84%
John W. DavisCharles W. BryanDemocratic0576,97523.36%
Robert M. La FolletteBurton K. WheelerProgressive0432,02717.49%
William Z. FosterBenjamin GitlowWorkers' Party America02,6220.11%
Herman P. FarisMarie C. BrehmProhibition02,3670.10%
Frank T. JohnsVerne L. ReynoldsSocialist Labor02,3340.09%
William WallaceJohn C. LincolnCommonwealth Land04210.02%

Results by county

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CountyJohn Calvin Coolidge
Republican
John William Davis
Democratic
Robert Marion La Follette, Sr.
Progressive
Various candidates
Other parties
MarginTotal votes cast[20]
#%#%#%#%#%
Adams9,98540.92%8,62835.35%5,69323.33%980.40%1,3575.56%24,404
Alexander4,46558.10%2,63934.34%5737.46%80.10%1,82623.76%7,685
Bond3,64456.88%2,14333.45%5859.13%350.55%1,50123.43%6,407
Boone4,87275.37%3485.38%1,23519.11%90.14%3,637[a]56.27%6,464
Brown1,63741.49%2,14954.46%1393.52%210.53%-512-12.98%3,946
Bureau9,45760.38%1,99512.74%4,16926.62%420.27%5,288[a]33.76%15,663
Calhoun1,13648.12%1,11547.23%1004.24%100.42%210.89%2,361
Carroll4,55960.93%6038.06%2,30130.75%190.25%2,258[a]30.18%7,482
Cass3,13941.23%2,90938.21%1,54720.32%180.24%2303.02%7,613
Champaign14,24462.81%5,22123.02%3,14913.89%630.28%9,02339.79%22,677
Christian7,39846.08%5,82636.29%2,74117.07%910.57%1,5729.79%16,056
Clark4,73151.55%4,20345.79%2112.30%330.36%5285.75%9,178
Clay3,43249.60%2,98743.17%4796.92%210.30%4456.43%6,919
Clinton2,35829.69%1,69321.32%3,87648.80%150.19%-1,518[a]-19.11%7,942
Coles8,34254.90%5,54436.49%1,2758.39%330.22%2,79818.42%15,194
Cook688,97361.87%226,14120.31%196,14917.61%2,3890.21%462,83241.56%1,113,652
Crawford4,83051.25%4,22344.81%3643.86%80.08%6076.44%9,425
Cumberland2,69851.09%2,38445.14%1903.60%90.17%3145.95%5,281
De Witt5,17358.77%2,75231.27%8469.61%310.35%2,42127.51%8,802
DeKalb10,50076.40%1,54011.20%1,65412.03%500.36%8,846[a]64.36%13,744
Douglas4,04655.65%2,31531.84%87412.02%350.48%1,73123.81%7,270
DuPage16,91772.81%1,8938.15%4,37818.84%450.19%12,539[a]53.97%23,233
Edgar6,29752.31%5,22243.38%5004.15%180.15%1,0758.93%12,037
Edwards2,75069.59%1,04726.49%1403.54%150.38%1,70343.09%3,952
Effingham3,15939.18%3,81447.30%1,07013.27%200.25%-655-8.12%8,063
Fayette5,01048.43%4,66845.13%6276.06%390.38%3423.31%10,344
Ford4,67270.53%1,09316.50%84912.82%100.15%3,57954.03%6,624
Franklin6,77939.59%5,79133.82%4,30425.14%2471.44%9885.77%17,121
Fulton8,66448.35%5,01127.96%4,15023.16%960.54%3,65320.38%17,921
Gallatin1,79239.16%2,38552.12%3688.04%310.68%-593-12.96%4,576
Greene3,52739.73%4,64852.35%6877.74%160.18%-1,121-12.63%8,878
Grundy4,33763.97%74210.94%1,68124.79%200.29%2,656[a]39.17%6,780
Hamilton2,65944.02%3,16852.44%2003.31%140.23%-509-8.43%6,041
Hancock6,67851.83%5,18940.27%9637.47%550.43%1,48911.56%12,885
Hardin1,37849.06%1,35848.34%702.49%30.11%200.71%2,809
Henderson2,87972.87%80320.32%2576.50%120.30%2,07652.54%3,951
Henry13,15972.39%1,94410.69%3,02716.65%490.27%10,132[a]55.73%18,179
Iroquois7,49864.07%2,30319.68%1,87316.01%280.24%5,19544.39%11,702
Jackson6,42449.30%4,70736.12%1,84514.16%540.41%1,71713.18%13,030
Jasper3,03047.37%3,14449.15%2013.14%220.34%-114-1.78%6,397
Jefferson5,40644.57%6,25851.59%4363.59%300.25%-852-7.02%12,130
Jersey2,46044.44%2,72349.19%3356.05%180.33%-263-4.75%5,536
Jo Daviess4,86450.36%1,47715.29%3,27933.95%390.40%1,585[a]16.41%9,659
Johnson2,46860.59%1,40834.57%1884.62%90.22%1,06026.03%4,073
Kane32,71776.34%3,5178.21%6,51715.21%1070.25%26,200[a]61.13%42,858
Kankakee12,46267.47%2,48813.47%3,43818.61%830.45%9,024[a]48.85%18,471
Kendall3,51379.68%4329.80%45510.32%90.20%3,058[a]69.36%4,409
Knox12,96865.89%2,61713.30%4,04420.55%510.26%8,924[a]45.35%19,680
Lake18,22975.48%2,0088.31%3,67115.20%2421.00%14,558[a]60.28%24,150
LaSalle21,41760.47%6,21617.55%7,68621.70%980.28%13,731[a]38.77%35,417
Lawrence4,60751.50%4,10345.87%1671.87%680.76%5045.63%8,945
Lee8,36369.36%2,36719.63%1,28910.69%380.32%5,99649.73%12,057
Livingston9,69564.53%2,91119.37%2,38715.89%320.21%6,78445.15%15,025
Logan7,06357.16%3,70830.01%1,53712.44%480.39%3,35527.15%12,356
Macon16,45860.22%6,67024.40%4,12015.07%830.30%9,78835.81%27,331
Macoupin8,57139.24%6,13428.08%6,95931.86%1770.81%1,612[a]7.38%21,841
Madison19,92647.61%12,86330.74%8,96521.42%970.23%7,06316.88%41,851
Marion5,88944.01%4,76835.63%2,67119.96%530.40%1,1218.38%13,381
Marshall3,77658.41%1,83628.40%82312.73%300.46%1,94030.01%6,465
Mason3,52252.72%2,53637.96%6049.04%180.27%98614.76%6,680
Massac3,22771.44%92020.37%3507.75%200.44%2,30751.07%4,517
McDonough7,50560.99%4,01632.63%7466.06%390.32%3,48928.35%12,306
McHenry8,75167.24%1,37210.54%2,86422.01%280.22%5,887[a]45.23%13,015
McLean16,55055.95%6,82623.07%6,13220.73%740.25%9,72432.87%29,582
Menard2,93156.18%1,95437.45%3196.11%130.25%97718.73%5,217
Mercer5,61868.30%1,69920.66%89010.82%180.22%3,91947.65%8,225
Monroe2,39048.35%1,36927.70%1,17323.73%110.22%1,02120.66%4,943
Montgomery8,02247.26%5,62233.12%3,22519.00%1060.62%2,40014.14%16,975
Morgan8,22355.40%5,72138.54%8775.91%230.15%2,50216.86%14,844
Moultrie3,00153.10%2,40342.52%2253.98%230.41%59810.58%5,652
Ogle8,44971.61%1,59113.48%1,72714.64%320.27%6,722[a]56.97%11,799
Peoria25,24358.55%6,34314.71%11,30626.22%2200.51%13,937[a]32.33%43,112
Perry3,69339.76%3,00732.37%2,53627.30%530.57%6867.39%9,289
Piatt3,79964.31%1,73329.34%3545.99%210.36%2,06634.98%5,907
Pike4,98945.59%5,42449.57%4814.40%490.45%-435-3.98%10,943
Pope2,16166.51%97830.10%1063.26%40.12%1,18336.41%3,249
Pulaski3,35561.57%1,70031.20%3907.16%40.07%1,65530.37%5,449
Putnam1,36461.50%26011.72%58626.42%80.36%778[a]35.08%2,218
Randolph4,52741.61%3,73434.32%2,59123.81%280.26%7937.29%10,880
Richland3,08250.07%2,74944.66%2954.79%290.47%3335.41%6,155
Rock Island20,56357.69%3,63110.19%11,32031.76%1330.37%9,243[a]25.93%35,647
Saline6,08447.03%4,03731.21%2,74321.20%730.56%2,04715.82%12,937
Sangamon23,44351.58%12,64027.81%9,05419.92%3090.68%10,80323.77%45,446
Schuyler2,72946.21%2,86048.43%2985.05%190.32%-131-2.22%5,906
Scott2,22750.49%1,99445.21%1804.08%100.23%2335.28%4,411
Shelby5,60548.13%5,26545.21%7176.16%590.51%3402.92%11,646
St. Clair23,38045.85%14,92129.26%12,46824.45%2250.44%8,45916.59%50,994
Stark2,69871.07%78420.65%3108.17%40.11%1,91450.42%3,796
Stephenson8,63853.27%2,45215.12%5,08831.38%380.23%3,550[a]21.89%16,216
Tazewell7,48852.11%3,37523.49%3,47024.15%370.26%4,018[a]27.96%14,370
Union2,57939.16%3,78357.44%2163.28%80.12%-1,204-18.28%6,586
Vermilion17,82254.64%6,42419.70%8,07324.75%2960.91%9,749[a]29.89%32,615
Wabash2,56445.61%2,44243.44%58910.48%260.46%1222.17%5,621
Warren6,91265.07%2,44022.97%1,22511.53%460.43%4,47242.10%10,623
Washington3,44456.43%1,71728.13%91715.03%250.41%1,72728.30%6,103
Wayne4,93752.70%4,24745.34%1641.75%200.21%6907.37%9,368
White3,78044.71%4,37751.77%2783.29%190.22%-597-7.06%8,454
Whiteside11,53274.04%1,95712.56%2,05713.21%300.19%9,475[a]60.83%15,576
Will22,78064.16%4,70713.26%7,90222.26%1160.33%14,878[a]41.90%35,505
Williamson9,36645.27%6,11729.57%5,11424.72%920.44%3,24915.70%20,689
Winnebago21,97871.32%2,2287.23%6,43420.88%1740.56%15,544[a]50.44%30,814
Woodford4,29057.48%1,82824.49%1,32617.77%200.27%2,46232.98%7,464
Totals1,453,32158.84%576,97523.36%432,02717.49%7,7440.31%876,34635.48%2,470,067

Analysis

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After polls in mid-October suggested a trend toward him, Davis intended to campaign downstate, but never did so. As election day neared, it became clearer that Coolidge would carry Illinois, although at the beginning of the fourth week of October it was thought he would win by only half Harding's 1920 margin, even with La Follette abandoning his campaigns in the Corn Belt.[21] Polls on October 29 further confirmed Illinois as in Coolidge's hands,[22]

Ultimately Coolidge won by substantially more than the mid-October predictions, although by less than Harding had in 1920. Davis did regain seven of the thirteen counties that defected to the GOP for the first time in 1920, but still did worse than any other major party nominee in Illinois presidential election history except William Howard Taft in 1912.[4] La Follette ran third below Davis, running far below his performance in his adjacent home state of Wisconsin and other states to the northwest, but nonetheless performed extremely well for a third party in German Catholic precincts and in industrial areas of the Upper Mississippi Valley adjacent to Iowa. The Wisconsin Senator did carry one county – German Catholic Clinton – which was the nation's southeasternmost county to vote for La Follette. Coolidge maintained the dominance that Warren Harding had enjoyed in 1920, despite losing substantial German Catholic and Mississippi Valley industrial support to La Folette.[23] This is the most recent presidential election in which Illinois would vote to the right of neighboring Indiana.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa In this county where La Follette ran second ahead of Davis, margin given is Coolidge vote minus La Follette vote and percentage margin Coolidge percentage minus La Follette percentage.

References

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