1942 Illinois elections

In the primary election 1,963,298 ballots were cast (1,026,644 Democratic and 936,654 Republican).[1]

In the general election 3,049,312 ballots were cast.[1]

Incumbent Republican Charles W. Brooks was reelected.

Illinois had redistricted before this election, and had lost one seat due to reapportionment following the 1950 United States Census. All of Illinois' remaining 26 seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 1942.

Before the election Republicans held 16 seats and Democrats held 11 seats from Illinois. In 1942, Republicans won 19 seats and Democrats won 7 seats.

1942 Illinois State Treasurer election

November 3, 1942

Nominee William G. Stratton W. D. Forsyth Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,553,944 1,300,091 Percentage 54.25% 45.39%

Treasurer before election Warren Wright Republican Elected Treasurer William G. Stratton Republican

Incumbent first-term Treasurer, Republican Warren Wright, did not seek reelection, instead opting to run for United States Senate. Republican William G. Stratton was elected to succeed him.

W. D. Forsyth defeated former Illinois Treasurer and Auditor of Public Accounts Edward J. Barrett and two other candidates.

Incumbent congressman William G. Stratton won the Republican nomination.

1942 Illinois Superintendent of Public Instruction election

November 3, 1942

Nominee Vernon L. Nickell John A. Wieland Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,497,550 1,333,679 Percentage 52.71% 46.94%

Superintendent before election John A. Wieland Democratic Elected Superintendent Vernon L. Nickell Republican

Incumbent second-term Superintendent of Public Instruction John A. Wieland, a Democrat, lost reelection, being unseated by Republican Vernon L. Nickell was elected to succeed him in office.

Seats in the Illinois Senate were up for election in 1942. Republicans retained control of the chamber.

Seats in the Illinois House of Representatives were up for election in 1942. Republicans retained control of the chamber.

An election was held for three of nine seats for Trustees of University of Illinois. All three Republican nominees won.[1]

Incumbent Republican Chester R. Davis (elected in a special elections two years prior) was reelected.[1][2] New Republican members Martin G. Luken and Frank H. McKelvey were also elected.[1][2]

Incumbent Democrats Homer M. Adams and James M. Cleary were not renominated.[2]

Democrat Kenney E. Williamson had briefly served before, having been appointed in 1940.[2]

On June 1, 1942, several districts of the Supreme Court of Illinois had elections.[1]

Republican Charles H. Thompson unseated Democratic incumbent Paul Farthing.

Republican incumbent June C. Smith with reelected.

Republican incumbent Walter T. Gunn was reelected, running unopposed.

Incumbent Democrat Elwyn Riley Shaw was unseated by Republican William J. Fulton.

Incumbent Democrat Francis S. Wilson was reelected, running unopposed.

Election were held on November 3, 1942 to fill two vacancies on the 16th Judicial Circuit and one vacancy on the 17th Judicial Circuit.

An election was held November 3, 1942 to fill two vacancies on the Superior Court of Cook County.[1]

One measure was put before voters in 1942.

The Illinois Revenue Amendment, a proposed amendment to Section 1 of Article IX of the Constitution, failed to meet the threshold for approval.[1][3]

If approved, this amendment would have enabled the legislature to exempt from certain taxes businesses that sold food for human consumption, allowing the legislature to define the word "food".[3]

In order to be approved, legislatively referred constitutional amendments required approval equal to a majority of voters voting in the entire general election.[3][4]