The 1908 Illinois gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1908. Republican incumbent Charles S. Deneen was elected to a second term in office over former vice president Adlai Stevenson I. This was the first Illinois election to use direct primary elections for the nomination of candidates.
Primary elections were held on August 8. In the Republican primary, Deneen narrowly survived a challenge from former governor Richard Yates Jr., whom he had defeated at a lengthy and drawn-out convention in 1904. Stevenson won the Democratic nomination over J. Hamilton Lewis with a large plurality of the vote.
Republican primary
Candidates Charles S. Deneen, incumbent governor since 1905 Richard Yates Jr., former governor
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates Charles F. Gunther, former Chicago treasurer Eugene Kimbrough J. Hamilton Lewis, former Chicago corporation counsel and U.S. representative for Washington's at-large district John P. McGoorty, state representative from Chicago James O. Monroe, candidate for U.S. representative in 1902 and 1904 Douglas Pattison, state representative from Freeport Adlai Stevenson, former vice president of the United States
Results
Other primaries
Prohibition primary Candidates Eugene W. Chafin, perennial candidate Daniel R. Sheen, former state representative from Peoria
Results
Socialist primary Candidates James H. Brower, candidate for lieutenant governor in 1904
Results
General election Candidates James H. Brower, candidate for lieutenant governor in 1904 (Socialist) Charles S. Deneen, incumbent governor since 1905 (Republican) Gustav A. Jennings (Socialist Labor) George W. McCaskrin, former mayor of Rock Island (Independence League) Daniel R. Sheen, former state representative from Peoria (Prohibition) Adlai Stevenson, former vice president of the United States (Democratic)
Results
See also 1908 Illinois lieutenant gubernatorial election
References
Bibliography