In the Chicago mayoral election of 1901, Democrat Carter Harrison IV was reelected to a third term, defeating Republican nominee Elbridge Hanecy by a 9.5% margin of victory.

The election took place on April 2.Mayor Carter Henry Harrison IV Biography Until 2019, no subsequent election had more candidates running on its ballot.

Ahead of the election, there were competitive races to receive the two major party's nominations at their municipal nominating conventions. Mayor Harrison was challenged for the Democratic Party nomination by former governor John Peter Altgeld. However, Altgeld was politically weaker than he once had been, and Harrison easily fended him off. In the March indirect primary to elect the delegates to the city's nominating convention, delegates supporting Harrison won a broad majority. At the convention, Harrison received the party's nomination by acclamation. The Republican Party had a large field of candidates seeking its nomination. Along with Hanecy (who was a judge on the Circuit Court of Cook County), the two other front-running contenders for the Republican nomination were Sanitary District of Chicago president William Boldenweck and former alderman John Maynard Harlan. and incumbent alderman Walter J. Raymer. Other contenders that Henry beat were Judge Marcus Kavanagh and aldermen William Mavor and Frank T. Fowler. Additionally, Alderman William Hale Thompson had initially declared his candidacy, but did not ultimately compete for the nomination at the convention.

Democratic nomination Contenders Carter Harrison IV, incumbent mayor John Peter Altgeld, former governor and third-party candidate for mayor in 1899

Primary and convention Incumbent mayor Carter Harrison IV was renominated by the Democratic Party. Harrison's opponent for the nomination was former governor John Peter Altgeld, who had been a third-party challenger in the previous election. Altgeld's 1901 candidacy was not considered a serious threat to Harrison, as Altgeld had lost much of his influence over the preceding two years. There had been rumors that Roger Charles Sullivan and John Patrick Hopkins might recruit a candidate of their own to challenge Harrison, but this never materialized.

In the March primary to elect delegates to the city nominating convention, Harrison-supporting delegate candidates won a large majority. At the convention, Harrison was renominated by acclamation.

Republican nomination Contenders William Boldenweck, board president of the Chicago Sanitary District Frank T. Fowler alderman on the Chicago City Council John Maynard Harlan, former alderman on the Chicago City Council Elbridge Hanecy, judge of the Cook County Circuit Court and candidate for governor in 1900 Marcus Kavanagh, judge on the Cook County Superior Court William Mavor, alderman on the Chicago City Council Walter J. Raymer, alderman on the Chicago City Council

Additionally, there was early speculation that Graeme Stewart (an attorney and member of the Chicago Board of Education) might be a candidate. Initially, alderman William Hale Thompson declared himself a candidate, though he ultimately did not contest at the convention.

Convention balloting (overview) The Republican Party nominated Cook County Circuit Court judge Elbridge Hanecy at its city convention on March 2. He captured the nomination on the eighth round of balloting. The top three contenders for the nomination were Hanecy, Harlan, and Boldenweck. Machine Republicans largely backed Hanecy. Independent Republicans largely backed Harlan. German Republicans largely backed Boldenweck.

Hanecy had been a judge on the Cook County Circuit Court for a number of years. The previous year, Hanecy had sought the gubernatorial nomination, being defeated by Richard Yates Jr. at the state convention by a thin margin. Hanecy was politically allied with William Lorimer, being Lorimer's candidate both in this mayoral election and in the previous year's gubernatorial election.

Despite speculation, Harlan denied any intentions of running as an independent if he lost the nomination.

Since every round of voting saw all 940 delegate votes cast, each round required candidates to win 471 votes in order to secure the majority needed for the nomination.

Republican convention ballotingCandidate1st2nd(before shifts)2nd(after shifts)3rd4th5th6th7th8thHanecy 222299327370398393392466486Harlan 284296296267260247231229202Boldenweck 158167167161147163185125131 Raymer 1098484827578736564Fowler826666606059595557Kavanagh28280000000Mavor 5700000000

Convention balloting (ward results, by round) First round + Republican convention 1st round balloting by ward Ward Hanecy Harlan Boldenweck Raymer Fowler Kavanagh Mavor Total # % # % # % # % # % # % # % # 1st 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 28 100 0 0.00 28 2nd 37100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 37 3rd 25 69.44 6 16.67 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 5 13.89 36 4th 17 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 17 5th 17 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 17 6th 0 0.00 4 7.84 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 47 92.16 51 7th 2 4.44 42 93.33 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 2.2 45 8th 12 52.17 4 17.39 3 13.04 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 4 14.29 23 9th 19 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 19 10th 14 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 14 11th 0 0.00 0 0.00 10 52.63 5 26.32 0 0.00 4 21.05 0 0.00 19 12th 0 0.00 0 0.00 12 50.00 9 26.47 3 8.82 0 0.00 0 0.00 24 13th12 35.29 0 0.00 3 8.82 8 23.53 11 32.35 0 0.00 0 0.00 34 14th 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 31 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 31 15th 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 13 50.00 13 50.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 26 16th 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 10 66.67 5 33.33 0 0.00 0 0.00 15 17th 0 0.00 3 10.00 0 0.00 20 66.67 7 23.33 0 0.00 0 0.00 30 18th12 60.00 0 0.00 4 20.00 4 20.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 20 19th7 36.84 6 31.58 6 31.58 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 19 20th26 63.42 0 0.00 5 12.20 5 12.20 5 12.20 0 0.00 0 0.00 41 21st 0 0.00 36 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 36 22nd 0 0.00 28 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 28 23rd 0 0.00 0 0.00 22 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 22 24th 0 0.00 0 0.00 20 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 20 25th 0 0.00 6 13.33 39 86.67 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 45 26th 0 0.00 3 12.00 22 88.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 25 27th 0 0.00 13 54.17 3 12.50 7 29.17 1 4.17 0 0.00 0 0.00 24 28th 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 28 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 28 29th 0 0.00 12 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 12 30th 0 0.00 22 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 22 31st 0 0.00 32 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 32 32nd 0 0.00 30 85.71 5 14.29 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 35 33rd3 10.00 27 90.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 30 34th8 53.33 5 33.33 2 13.33 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 15 35th11 55.00 5 25.00 2 10.00 0 0.00 2 10.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 20 Total 222 23.62 284 30.21 158 16.89 109 11.60 82 7.98 28 2.98 57 6.06 940

Second round (before shifts) After the first ballot, Mavor's name was withdrawn. While Hanecy gained a sizable number of votes on the second ballot, little else changed. At the end of the ballot, the 28 votes cast for Kavanagh in the first ward were silently shifted to Hanecy, although Kavanagh's name was not withdrawn.

+ Republican convention 2nd round balloting (before shifts) by ward Ward Hanecy Harlan Boldenweck Raymer Fowler Kavanagh Total # % # % # % # % # % # % # 1st 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 28 100 28 2nd 37100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 37 3rd 25 69.44 8 22.22 3 8.33 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 36 4th 17 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 17 5th 17 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 17 6th 34 66.67 10 19.61 6 11.76 1 1.96 0 0.00 0 0.00 51 7th 6 13.33 36 80.00 3 6.67 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 45 8th 20 86.96 2 8.70 1 4.35 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 23 9th 19 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 19 10th 14 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 14 11th 0 0.00 0 0.00 14 73.68 5 26.32 0 0.00 0 0.00 19 12th 0 0.00 0 0.00 12 50.00 8 33.33 4 16.67 0 0.00 24 13th26 76.47 2 5.88 2 5.88 0 0.00 4 11.76 0 0.00 34 14th 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 31 100 0 0.00 31 15th 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 13 50.00 13 50.00 0 0.00 26 16th 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 10 66.67 5 16.67 0 0.00 15 17th14 46.67 2 6.67 0 0.00 7 23.33 7 23.33 0 0.00 30 18th12 60.00 0 0.00 4 20.00 4 20.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 20 19th7 36.84 6 31.58 6 31.58 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 19 20th41 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 41 21st 0 0.00 36 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 36 22nd 0 0.00 28 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 28 23rd 0 0.00 0 0.00 22 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 22 24th 0 0.00 0 0.00 20 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 20 25th 0 0.00 6 13.33 39 86.67 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 45 26th 0 0.00 3 12.00 22 88.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 25 27th 0 0.00 12 50.00 2 8.33 9 37.5 1 4.17 0 0.00 24 28th 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 28 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 28 29th4 33.33 5 41.67 3 25.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 12 30th 0 0.00 22 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 22 31st 0 0.00 32 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 32 32nd 0 0.00 30 85.71 5 14.29 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 35 33rd7 23.33 23 76.67 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 30 34th9 76.67 4 26.67 2 13.33 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 15 35th14 70.00 5 25.00 1 5.00 0 0.00 2 10.00 0 0.00 20 Total 299 31.80 296 31.49 167 17.77 84 8.94 66 7.02 28 2.98 940

Second round (after shifts) + Republican convention 2nd round balloting (after shifts) by ward Ward Hanecy Harlan Boldenweck Raymer Fowler Kavanagh Total # % # % # % # % # % # % # 1st 28 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 28 2nd 37100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 37 3rd 25 69.44 8 22.22 3 8.33 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 36 4th 17 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 17 5th 17 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 17 6th 34 66.67 10 19.61 6 11.76 1 1.96 0 0.00 0 0.00 51 7th 6 13.33 36 80.00 3 6.67 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 45 8th 20 86.96 2 8.70 1 4.35 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 23 9th 19 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 19 10th 14 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 14 11th 0 0.00 0 0.00 14 73.68 5 26.32 0 0.00 0 0.00 19 12th 0 0.00 0 0.00 12 50.00 8 33.33 4 16.67 0 0.00 24 13th26 76.47 2 5.88 2 5.88 0 0.00 4 11.76 0 0.00 34 14th 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 31 100 0 0.00 31 15th 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 13 50.00 13 50.00 0 0.00 26 16th 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 10 66.67 5 16.67 0 0.00 15 17th14 46.67 2 6.67 0 0.00 7 23.33 7 23.33 0 0.00 30 18th12 60.00 0 0.00 4 20.00 4 20.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 20 19th7 36.84 6 31.58 6 31.58 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 19 20th41 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 41 21st 0 0.00 36 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 36 22nd 0 0.00 28 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 28 23rd 0 0.00 0 0.00 22 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 22 24th 0 0.00 0 0.00 20 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 20 25th 0 0.00 6 13.33 39 86.67 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 45 26th 0 0.00 3 12.00 22 88.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 25 27th 0 0.00 12 50.00 2 8.33 9 37.5 1 4.17 0 0.00 24 28th 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 28 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 28 29th4 33.33 5 41.67 3 25.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 12 30th 0 0.00 22 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 22 31st 0 0.00 32 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 32 32nd 0 0.00 30 85.71 5 14.29 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 35 33rd7 23.33 23 76.67 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 30 34th9 76.67 4 26.67 2 13.33 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 15 35th14 70.00 5 25.00 1 5.00 0 0.00 2 10.00 0 0.00 20 Total 327 34.79 296 31.49 167 17.77 84 8.94 66 7.02 0 0.00 940

Third round