Illinois is a Democratic stronghold in presidential elections and one of the "Big Three" Democratic strongholds alongside California and New York. It is one of the most Democratic states in the nation with all state executive offices and both state legislative branches held by Democrats. For most of its history, Illinois was widely considered to be a swing state, voting for the winner of all but two presidential elections in the 20th century. Political party strength in Illinois is highly dependent upon Cook County, and the state's reputation as a blue state rests upon the fact that over 40% of its population and political power is concentrated in Chicago, Cook County, and the Chicago metropolitan area. Outside of Chicago, the suburban collar counties continue trending Democratic while downstate Illinois can be considered more conservative with several Democratic leaning regions including Champaign-Urbana, Bloomington-Normal, Rockford, Peoria, the Quad Cities, and suburban St. Louis.

Illinois's electoral college votes have gone towards the Democratic presidential candidate for the past eight elections, and its congressional makeup tilts heavily Democratic with a 14–3 majority . However, it has a history of competitive statewide elections and has elected a small number of moderate Republicans including Governors Jim Edgar, George Ryan, and Bruce Rauner, Senators Peter Fitzgerald and Mark Kirk, and other state executive officeholders including Judy Baar Topinka and Dan Rutherford.

The following table indicates the party of elected officials in the U.S. state of Illinois: Governor Lieutenant Governor Secretary of State Attorney General Comptroller (Auditor before 1972) Treasurer

The table also indicates the historical party composition in the: State Senate State House of Representatives State delegation to the U.S. Senate State delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives

Table

YearExecutive officesGeneral AssemblyUnited States CongressElectoralvotesGovernorLt. GovernorSec. of StateAttorneyGeneralComptroller/AuditorTreasurerStateSenateStateHouseU.S. Senator(Class II)U.S. Senator(Class III)U.S.House1809Ninian Edwards Nathaniel Pope 181018111812H. H. MaxwellShadrach Bond 18131814vacant1815BenjaminStephenson 1816Daniel Pope Cook 1817Joseph Phillips Robert BlackwellNathaniel Pope 1818Elijah C. Berry Shadrach Bond Pierre Menard Elias Kane Daniel Pope Cook John Thomas DR majorityDR majorityJesse B. Thomas Ninian Edwards John McLean 1819William Mears R. K. McLaughlin DR majorityDR majorityDaniel PopeCook 1820Monroe/Tompkins 1821Samuel D. Lockwood DR majorityDR majority1822Samuel D. Lockwood James Turney 1823Edward Coles Adolphus Hubbard David Blackwell Abner Field DR majorityDR majority18242 – Jackson/Calhoun 1 – Adams/Calhoun Morris Birkbeck John McLean 1825George Forquer DR majorityDR majorityJesse B. Thomas Elias Kane Daniel PopeCook 1826Elijah C. Berry D majorityD majority1827Ninian Edwards William Kinney James Hall D majorityD majorityJoseph Duncan 1828Jackson/Calhoun 1829Alexander Pope Field George Forquer D majorityD majorityJohn McLean 1830David J. Baker 1831John Reynolds Zadok Casey James T. B. Stapp John Dement D majorityD majorityJohn M. Robinson 1832Jackson/Van Buren 1833James Semple D majorityD majority3JWilliam Lee D. Ewing 1834Ninian Wirt Edwards W. L. D. Ewing vacant1835Joseph Duncan Alexander M. Jenkins Jesse B. Thomas Jr. Levi Davis D majorityD majority1836Walter B. Scates Charles Gregory W. L. D. Ewing Van Buren/Johnson 1837William H. Davidson Usher F. Linder John D. Whiteside 22D, 18W57D, 24W, 10?John M. Robinson Richard M. Young 3D1838George W. Olney 1839Thomas Carlin Stinson Anderson Wickliffe Kitchell 20D, 20W46W, 40D, 5I2D, 1W1840Josiah Lamborn Van Buren/Johnson Stephen Douglas 1841Lyman Trumbull James Shields Milton Carpenter 26D, 14W51D, 40WSamuel McRoberts 1D, 1ID, 1W18421843Thomas Ford John Moore Thompson Campbell James A. McDougall W. L. D. Ewing 30D, 12W84D, 37WSidney Breese 6D, 1WJames Semple 1844Polk/Dallas 184526D, 15W78D, 40W, 3?1846David B. Campbell Thomas H. Campbell 1847Augustus C. French Joseph Wells Horace S. Cooley 29D, 12W76D, 44W, 3?Stephen Douglas 1848office abolished 1848–1867John Moore Cass/Butler 1849William McMurtry 17D, 7W, 1?54D, 21WJames Shields 1850David L. Gregg 185117D, 8W46D, 29W1852Pierce/King 1853Joel Aldrich Matteson Gustav Koerner Alexander Starne 20D, 5W56D, 18W, 1FS5D, 4W1854185514D, 11W41W, 34DLyman Trumbull 5D, 2O, 2R1856Buchanan/Breckinridge 1857William Henry Bissell John Wood Ozias M. Hatch Jesse K. Dubois James Miller 13D, 12R55D, 30RLyman Trumbull 5D, 4R1858185914D, 11R40D, 35R1860Lincoln/Hamlin John Wood Thomas Marshall 1861Richard Yates Francis Hoffmann William Butler 13R, 12D41R, 34DOrville H. Browning 18621863Alexander Starne 13D, 12R55D, 30RWilliam Richardson 9D, 5R1864Lincoln/Johnson 1865Richard J. Oglesby William Bross Sharon Tyndale Orlin H. Miner James H. Beveridge 14R, 11D51R, 34DRichard Yates 11R, 3D18661867Robert G. Ingersoll George W. Smith 16R, 9D60R, 25D1868Grant/Colfax 1869John M. Palmer John Dougherty Edward Rummel Washington Bushnell Charles E. Lippincott Erastus Newton Bates 18R, 7D58R, 27D10R, 4D1870187130R, 20D98R, 76D, 1IJohn A. Logan Lyman Trumbull 8R, 6D1872Grant/Wilson 1873Richard J. Oglesby John Lourie Beveridge George H. Harlow James K. Edsall Edward Rutz 33R, 18D86R, 67DRichard J. Oglesby 14R, 5DJohn Lourie Beveridge John Early 18741875Archibald A. Glenn Thomas S. Ridgway 24R, 18D, 9I69R, 42D, 41I10D, 7R, 2I187611D, 6R, 2IHayes/Wheeler 1877Shelby M. Cullom Andrew Shuman Thomas B. Needles Edward Rutz 22D, 21R, 8I79R, 67D, 7IDavid Davis 12R, 7D18781879John C. Smith 26R, 24D, 1I80R, 60D, 10GB, 3SocJohn A. Logan 12R, 6D, 1GB1880Garfield/Arthur 1881John Marshall Hamilton Henry D. Dement James McCartney Charles Philip Swigert Edward Rutz 32R, 18D, 1Soc82R, 71D13R, 6D18821883John Marshall Hamilton William James Campbell John C. Smith 31R, 20D77R, 75D, 1IShelby M. Cullom 11R, 8D, 1ID1884Blaine/Logan 1885Richard J. Oglesby John C. Smith George Hunt Jacob Gross 26R, 25D76D, 76R, 1I10D, 10R18861887John R. Tanner 33R, 18D92R, 61DCharles B. Farwell 14R, 6D1888Harrison/Morton 1889Joseph W. Fifer Lyman Beecher Ray Isaac N. Pearson Charles W. Pavey Charles Becker 33R, 18D92R, 61D13R, 7D18901891Edward S. Wilson 27R, 24D77D, 73R, 3FAJohn M. Palmer 14D, 6R1892Cleveland/Stevenson 1893John Peter Altgeld Joseph B. Gill William H. Hinrichsen Maurice T. Moloney David Gore Rufus N. Ramsay 29D, 22R78D, 75R11D, 11R18941895Henry Wulff 33R, 18D92R, 61D20R, 2D189622RMcKinley/Hobart 1897John R. Tanner William Northcott James A. Rose Edward C. Akin James S. McCullough Henry L. Hertz 39R, 11D, 1Pop89R, 62D, 2PopWilliam E. Mason 17R, 5D18981899Floyd K. Whittemore 34R, 16D, 1Pop81R, 71D, 1Proh14R, 8D1900McKinley/Roosevelt 1901Richard Yates Jr. Howland J. Hamlin Moses O. Williamson 32R, 19D81R, 72D11D, 11R19021903Fred A. Busse 36R, 15D88R, 62D, 2, 1ProhAlbert J. Hopkins 17R, 8D1904Roosevelt/Fairbanks 1905Charles S. Deneen Lawrence Y. Sherman William H. Stead Len Small 41R, 10D91R, 57D, 3Proh, 2Soc24R, 1D19061907John F. Smulski 44R, 7D90R, 60D, 3Proh20R, 5D1908Taft/Sherman 1909John G. Oglesby Andrew Russel 38R, 13D88R, 65DWilliam Lorimer 19R, 6D19101911Edward E. Mitchell 34R, 17D82R, 68D, 2I, 1Proh14R, 11D1912Cornelius Doyle Wilson/Marshall 1913Edward F. Dunne Barratt O'Hara Harry Woods Patrick J. Lucey James J. Brady William F. Ryan Jr. 25R, 24D, 2Prog71D, 52R, 27Prog, 3SocJ. Hamilton Lewis Lawrence Y. Sherman 20D, 5R, 2Prog19141915Lewis Stevenson Andrew Russel 25D, 25R, 1Prog79R, 70D, 2Soc, 1I, 1Prog16R, 10D, 1Prog1916Hughes/Fairbanks 1917Frank O. Lowden John G. Oglesby Louis L. Emmerson Edward Brundage Andrew Russel Len Small 33R, 18D85R, 67D, 1I21R, 6D19181919Fred E. Sterling 34R, 17D90R, 63DMedill McCormick 22R, 5D1920Harding/Coolidge 1921Len Small Fred E. Sterling Edward E. Miller 43R, 8D95R, 58DWilliam B. McKinley 24R, 3D19221923Oscar Nelson 42R, 9D89R, 63D, 1I20R, 7D1924Coolidge/Dawes 1925Oscar E. Carlstrom Oscar Nelson Omer N. Custer 38R, 13D94R, 59DCharles S. Deneen 22R, 5D19261927Garrett D. Kinney 41R, 10D93R, 60Dvacant20R, 7D1928Otis F. Glenn Hoover/Curtis 1929Louis L. Emmerson William J. Stratton Omer N. Custer 40R, 11D91R, 62D21R, 6D19301931Edward Barrett 33R, 18D81R, 72DJ. Hamilton Lewis 15R, 12D193214R, 13DRoosevelt/Garner 1933Henry Horner Thomas Donovan Edward J. Hughes Otto Kerner Sr. Edward Barrett John C. Martin 33D, 18R80D, 73RWilliam H. Dieterich 19D, 8R19341935John H. Stelle 35D, 16R84D, 69R21D, 6R19361937John H. Stelle John C. Martin 34D, 17R86D, 67R19381939John E. Cassidy Louie E. Lewis 30D, 21R80R, 73DScott W. Lucas 17D, 10R1940James M. Slattery John H. Stelle vacantC. Wayland Brooks Roosevelt/Wallace 1941Dwight H. Green Hugh W. Cross George F. Barrett Arthur C. Lueder Warren Wright 28R, 23D79R, 74D16R, 11D19421943William Stratton 84R, 69D19R, 7D1944Richard Y. Rowe Roosevelt/Truman 1945Edward Barrett Conrad F. Becker 34R, 17D78R, 75D15R, 11D19461947Richard Y. Rowe 37R, 14D87R, 66D20R, 6D1948Truman/Barkley 1949Adlai Stevenson II Sherwood Dixon Ivan A. Elliott Benjamin O. Cooper Ora Smith 33R, 18D79D, 74RPaul Douglas 14R, 12D19501951William Stratton 31R, 27D84R, 69DEverett Dirksen 18R, 8D1952Eisenhower/Nixon 1953William Stratton John William Chapman Charles F. Carpentier Latham Castle Orville Hodge Elmer Hoffman 38R, 13D16R, 9D19541955Warren Wright 32R, 19D79R, 74D13R, 12D1956Lloyd Morey 1957Elbert S. Smith Elmer Hoffman 38R, 20D94R, 83D14R, 11D19581959Grenville Beardsley Joseph D. Lohman 34R, 24D92D, 85R14D, 11R1960William L. Guild Kennedy/Johnson 1961Otto Kerner Jr. Samuel Shapiro William G. Clark Michael Howlett 31R, 27D89R, 88D1962Francis S. Lorenz 1963William J. Scott 35R, 23D90R, 87D12D, 12R1964William H. Chamberlain Johnson/Humphrey 1965Paul Powell 33R, 25D118D, 59R13D, 11R19661967Adlai Stevenson III 38R, 20D99R, 78DCharles H. Percy 12D, 12R1968Nixon/Agnew Samuel Shapiro vacant1969Richard B. Ogilvie Paul Simon William J. Scott 94R, 83DRalph T. Smith 19701971John W. Lewis Jr. Alan J. Dixon 29D, 29R90R, 87DAdlai Stevenson III 19721973Dan Walker Neil Hartigan Michael Howlett George W. Lindberg 30R, 29D92R, 84D, 1I14R, 10D1974197534D, 25R98D, 76R, 3I13D, 11R1976Ford/Dole 1977Jim Thompson Dave O'Neal Alan J. Dixon Michael Bakalis Donald R. Smith 93D, 83R, 1I12D, 12R19781979Roland Burris Jerome Cosentino 32D, 27R88D, 88R, 1I13R, 11D1980Tyrone C. Fahner 14R, 10DReagan/Bush 198130D, 29R91R, 85D, 1IAlan J. Dixon vacantJim Edgar 19821983George Ryan Neil Hartigan James Donnewald 33D, 26R70D, 48R12D, 10R1984198531D, 28R67D, 51RPaul Simon 13D, 9R19861987Jerome Cosentino 1988Bush/Quayle 198968D, 50R14D, 8R19901991Jim Edgar Bob Kustra George Ryan Roland Burris Dawn Clark Netsch Pat Quinn 72D, 46R15D, 7R1992Clinton/Gore 199332R, 27D67D, 51RCarol Moseley Braun 12D, 8R19941995Jim Ryan Loleta Didrickson Judy Baar Topinka 33R, 26D64R, 54D10D, 10R1996199731R, 28D60D, 58RDick Durbin 1998vacant1999George Ryan Corinne Wood Jesse White Daniel Hynes 32R, 27D62D, 56RPeter Fitzgerald 2000Gore/Lieberman 200120022003Rod Blagojevich Pat Quinn Lisa Madigan 32D, 26R, 1I66D, 52R10R, 9D2004Kerry/Edwards 200531D, 27R, 1I65D, 53RBarack Obama 10D, 9R20062007Alexi Giannoulias 37D, 22R66D, 52R10D, 8R200867D, 51RObama/Biden 11D, 8R2009Pat Quinn vacant70D, 48RRoland Burris 12D, 7R20102011Sheila Simon Judy Baar Topinka Dan Rutherford 35D, 24R64D, 54RMark Kirk 11R, 8D2012201340D, 19R71D, 47R12D, 6R20142015Bruce Rauner Evelyn Sanguinetti Leslie Munger Mike Frerichs 39D, 20R10D, 8R2016Clinton/Kaine 2017Susana Mendoza 37D, 22R67D, 51RTammy Duckworth 11D, 7R20182019J. B. Pritzker Juliana Stratton Kwame Raoul 40D, 19R74D, 44R13D, 5R2020Biden/Harris 202141D, 18R73D, 45R20222023Alexi Giannoulias 40D, 19R78D, 40R14D, 3R2024Harris/Walz 20252026

Regarding resignations and appointments; the person who held the office for the majority of the year is listed as the office holder for that year.

Gallery

See also Elections in Illinois