1982 Illinois gubernatorial election


Gubernatorial elections were held in Illinois on November 2, 1982. Republican candidate James R. Thompson won a third term in office, defeating Democrat Adlai Stevenson III by a slim margin of about 5,000 votes.

Election information

The election coincided with those for congress and those for other state offices. The election was part of the 1982 Illinois elections.

Turnout

Turnout in the primaries saw 22.42% in the gubernatorial primaries, with a total of 1,337,581 votes cast, and 20.25% in the lieutenant gubernatorial primary, with 1,208,178 votes cast.
Turnout during the general election was 61.58%, with 3,673,707 votes cast.

Democratic primary

Governor

, former United States Senator, won the primary for the gubernatorial nomination unopposed.

Lieutenant Governor

Grace Mary Stern won the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor unopposed.

Republican primary

Governor

Incumbent James R. Thompson defeated challengers John E. Roche and V. A. Kelley.

Lieutenant Governor

defeated Susan Catania and Donald L. Totten in the lieutenant gubernatorial primary.

General election

Before the election, Thompson had been favored by polls and predictions to win by roughly twenty percentage points.
Thompson managed to prevail by a narrow 5,074 vote margin. Thompson won a clear majority of Illinois's 102 counties, but Stevenson won Cook County home of Chicago. Cook County accounts for more than 25% of the states total population. Thompson was most likely able to win narrowly, because he performed well in the Collar counties of Chicago, including, Will, Lake, and DuPage counties. Immediately following the election Stevenson filed a motion with the Illinois Supreme Court for a state paid recount. But his motion for a recount was denied by the panel by just one vote. Shortly after the court's decision Stevenson conceded defeat, and called Thompson to congratulate him on his victory.