Illinois — 1972 presidential election
Recent presidential results
Akashicstate1972 presidential electionIllinois · PresidentNixonR+18.5
How it voted
Share of the 1972 vote
| Richard Nixon ✓Republican | 59.0% | 2,788,179 |
|---|---|---|
| George McGovernDemocratic | 40.5% | 1,913,472 |
| OtherAll other candidates | 0.5% | 21,585 |
1972presidential margin
D+60R+60
102 counties, each filled by 1972 D-vs-R margin. Hover any county for its result.
Illinois cast 26 electoral votes this cycle.
County-level results (102 counties) — table
| County | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| Adams County, IL | Republican | R+39.1 |
| Alexander County, IL | Republican | R+19.1 |
| Bond County, IL | Republican | R+24.7 |
| Boone County, IL | Republican | R+38.1 |
| Brown County, IL | Republican | R+19.1 |
| Bureau County, IL | Republican | R+35.1 |
| Calhoun County, IL | Republican | R+13.5 |
| Carroll County, IL | Republican | R+40.2 |
| Cass County, IL | Republican | R+22.3 |
| Champaign County, IL | Republican | R+15.3 |
| Christian County, IL | Republican | R+14.2 |
| Clark County, IL | Republican | R+31.6 |
| Clay County, IL | Republican | R+30.0 |
| Clinton County, IL | Republican | R+25.0 |
| Coles County, IL | Republican | R+26.2 |
| Cook County, IL | Republican | R+7.4 |
| Crawford County, IL | Republican | R+30.7 |
| Cumberland County, IL | Republican | R+21.9 |
| De Witt County, IL | Republican | R+30.5 |
| DeKalb County, IL | Republican | R+20.8 |
| Douglas County, IL | Republican | R+37.4 |
| DuPage County, IL | Republican | R+50.2 |
| Edgar County, IL | Republican | R+29.7 |
| Edwards County, IL | Republican | R+48.1 |
| Effingham County, IL | Republican | R+32.8 |
| Fayette County, IL | Republican | R+22.1 |
| Ford County, IL | Republican | R+49.0 |
| Franklin County, IL | Republican | R+8.4 |
| Fulton County, IL | Republican | R+24.1 |
| Gallatin County, IL | Republican | R+7.6 |
| Greene County, IL | Republican | R+24.6 |
| Grundy County, IL | Republican | R+41.7 |
| Hamilton County, IL | Republican | R+24.1 |
| Hancock County, IL | Republican | R+35.3 |
| Hardin County, IL | Republican | R+25.3 |
| Henderson County, IL | Republican | R+21.3 |
| Henry County, IL | Republican | R+27.7 |
| Iroquois County, IL | Republican | R+52.4 |
| Jackson County, IL | Democratic | D+2.9 |
| Jasper County, IL | Republican | R+23.8 |
| Jefferson County, IL | Republican | R+19.2 |
| Jersey County, IL | Republican | R+21.7 |
| Jo Daviess County, IL | Republican | R+26.9 |
| Johnson County, IL | Republican | R+37.2 |
| Kane County, IL | Republican | R+40.1 |
| Kankakee County, IL | Republican | R+33.3 |
| Kendall County, IL | Republican | R+57.5 |
| Knox County, IL | Republican | R+29.8 |
| Lake County, IL | Republican | R+31.9 |
| LaSalle County, IL | Republican | R+18.6 |
| Lawrence County, IL | Republican | R+30.9 |
| Lee County, IL | Republican | R+37.8 |
| Livingston County, IL | Republican | R+44.2 |
| Logan County, IL | Republican | R+40.0 |
| Macon County, IL | Republican | R+18.6 |
| Macoupin County, IL | Republican | R+16.8 |
| Madison County, IL | Republican | R+12.2 |
| Marion County, IL | Republican | R+21.3 |
| Marshall County, IL | Republican | R+35.0 |
| Mason County, IL | Republican | R+25.6 |
| Massac County, IL | Republican | R+40.3 |
| McDonough County, IL | Republican | R+34.5 |
| McHenry County, IL | Republican | R+49.7 |
| McLean County, IL | Republican | R+35.3 |
| Menard County, IL | Republican | R+39.3 |
| Mercer County, IL | Republican | R+22.1 |
| Monroe County, IL | Republican | R+37.2 |
| Montgomery County, IL | Republican | R+13.6 |
| Morgan County, IL | Republican | R+32.3 |
| Moultrie County, IL | Republican | R+14.4 |
| Ogle County, IL | Republican | R+47.9 |
| Peoria County, IL | Republican | R+29.6 |
| Perry County, IL | Republican | R+26.1 |
| Piatt County, IL | Republican | R+35.7 |
| Pike County, IL | Republican | R+20.9 |
| Pope County, IL | Republican | R+30.1 |
| Pulaski County, IL | Republican | R+19.1 |
| Putnam County, IL | Republican | R+19.8 |
| Randolph County, IL | Republican | R+20.5 |
| Richland County, IL | Republican | R+37.0 |
| Rock Island County, IL | Republican | R+7.1 |
| Saline County, IL | Republican | R+18.8 |
| Sangamon County, IL | Republican | R+32.1 |
| Schuyler County, IL | Republican | R+32.2 |
| Scott County, IL | Republican | R+32.1 |
| Shelby County, IL | Republican | R+24.3 |
| St. Clair County, IL | Republican | R+4.0 |
| Stark County, IL | Republican | R+43.4 |
| Stephenson County, IL | Republican | R+35.9 |
| Tazewell County, IL | Republican | R+34.4 |
| Union County, IL | Republican | R+18.9 |
| Vermilion County, IL | Republican | R+26.5 |
| Wabash County, IL | Republican | R+36.9 |
| Warren County, IL | Republican | R+40.5 |
| Washington County, IL | Republican | R+37.9 |
| Wayne County, IL | Republican | R+39.6 |
| White County, IL | Republican | R+24.4 |
| Whiteside County, IL | Republican | R+37.1 |
| Will County, IL | Republican | R+31.8 |
| Williamson County, IL | Republican | R+20.9 |
| Winnebago County, IL | Republican | R+23.2 |
| Woodford County, IL | Republican | R+45.9 |
Illinois results by county
102 counties. Third-party and independent votes are reported by the county source as one combined figure; every named candidate is listed in the complete result below.
| Led by | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | Richard Nixon+11,676 | 20,73169.5% | 9,05530.3% | 600.2% | 29,846 |
| Alexander County | Richard Nixon+1,187 | 3,66959.1% | 2,48240.0% | 580.9% | 6,209 |
| Bond County | Richard Nixon+1,771 | 4,47562.3% | 2,70437.6% | 40.1% | 7,183 |
| Boone County | Richard Nixon+3,872 | 7,00368.9% | 3,13130.8% | 310.3% | 10,165 |
| Brown County | Richard Nixon+577 | 1,78058.9% | 1,20339.8% | 391.3% | 3,022 |
| Bureau County | Richard Nixon+6,653 | 12,78667.5% | 6,13332.4% | 330.2% | 18,952 |
| Calhoun County | Richard Nixon+406 | 1,70556.5% | 1,29943.1% | 130.4% | 3,017 |
| Carroll County | Richard Nixon+3,470 | 6,04170.0% | 2,57129.8% | 190.2% | 8,631 |
| Cass County | Richard Nixon+1,611 | 4,41461.1% | 2,80338.8% | 20.0% | 7,219 |
| Champaign County | Richard Nixon+8,957 | 33,70057.4% | 24,74342.2% | 2360.4% | 58,679 |
| Christian County | Richard Nixon+2,516 | 10,07257.0% | 7,55642.7% | 470.3% | 17,675 |
| Clark County | Richard Nixon+2,741 | 5,70665.7% | 2,96534.2% | 90.1% | 8,680 |
| Clay County | Richard Nixon+2,439 | 5,28364.9% | 2,84434.9% | 110.1% | 8,138 |
| Clinton County | Richard Nixon+3,175 | 7,93162.4% | 4,75637.4% | 250.2% | 12,712 |
| Coles County | Richard Nixon+5,693 | 13,68162.9% | 7,98836.7% | 820.4% | 21,751 |
| Cook County | Richard Nixon+171,039 | 1,234,30753.4% | 1,063,26846.0% | 13,4620.6% | 2,311,037 |
| Crawford County | Richard Nixon+3,091 | 6,56865.3% | 3,47734.6% | 100.1% | 10,055 |
| Cumberland County | Richard Nixon+1,174 | 3,25760.8% | 2,08338.9% | 180.3% | 5,358 |
| De Witt County | Richard Nixon+2,353 | 5,02565.2% | 2,67234.7% | 80.1% | 7,705 |
| DeKalb County | Richard Nixon+6,535 | 18,91060.3% | 12,37539.4% | 990.3% | 31,384 |
| Douglas County | Richard Nixon+3,184 | 5,84068.7% | 2,65631.2% | 100.1% | 8,506 |
| DuPage County | Richard Nixon+115,298 | 172,34175.0% | 57,04324.8% | 3550.2% | 229,739 |
| Edgar County | Richard Nixon+3,306 | 7,19564.7% | 3,88935.0% | 320.3% | 11,116 |
| Edwards County | Richard Nixon+1,962 | 3,01773.9% | 1,05525.9% | 90.2% | 4,081 |
| Effingham County | Richard Nixon+4,321 | 8,75266.3% | 4,43133.6% | 100.1% | 13,193 |
| Fayette County | Richard Nixon+2,382 | 6,57461.1% | 4,19238.9% | 20.0% | 10,768 |
| Ford County | Richard Nixon+3,722 | 5,65674.5% | 1,93425.5% | 10.0% | 7,591 |
| Franklin County | Richard Nixon+1,576 | 10,12154.0% | 8,54545.6% | 630.3% | 18,729 |
| Fulton County | Richard Nixon+4,799 | 12,32861.8% | 7,52937.7% | 920.5% | 19,949 |
| Gallatin County | Richard Nixon+304 | 2,14853.7% | 1,84446.1% | 90.2% | 4,001 |
| Greene County | Richard Nixon+1,849 | 4,67362.1% | 2,82437.5% | 240.3% | 7,521 |
| Grundy County | Richard Nixon+5,141 | 8,72570.7% | 3,58429.0% | 320.3% | 12,341 |
| Hamilton County | Richard Nixon+1,276 | 3,28261.9% | 2,00637.9% | 110.2% | 5,299 |
| Hancock County | Richard Nixon+3,927 | 7,51967.6% | 3,59232.3% | 180.2% | 11,129 |
| Hardin County | Richard Nixon+775 | 1,91562.5% | 1,14037.2% | 70.2% | 3,062 |
| Henderson County | Richard Nixon+945 | 2,68960.6% | 1,74439.3% | 30.1% | 4,436 |
| Henry County | Richard Nixon+6,428 | 14,79663.8% | 8,36836.1% | 210.1% | 23,185 |
| Iroquois County | Richard Nixon+8,272 | 11,99576.0% | 3,72323.6% | 660.4% | 15,784 |
| Jackson County | George McGovern+753 | 12,39348.4% | 13,14651.4% | 550.2% | 25,594 |
| Jasper County | Richard Nixon+1,347 | 3,46161.2% | 2,11437.4% | 821.4% | 5,657 |
| Jefferson County | Richard Nixon+3,052 | 9,44859.4% | 6,39640.2% | 610.4% | 15,905 |
| Jersey County | Richard Nixon+1,847 | 5,16460.7% | 3,31739.0% | 260.3% | 8,507 |
| Jo Daviess County | Richard Nixon+2,445 | 5,76363.4% | 3,31836.5% | 160.2% | 9,097 |
| Johnson County | Richard Nixon+1,533 | 2,82668.5% | 1,29331.4% | 40.1% | 4,123 |
| Kane County | Richard Nixon+37,021 | 64,54669.9% | 27,52529.8% | 3060.3% | 92,377 |
| Kankakee County | Richard Nixon+13,432 | 26,86666.5% | 13,43433.3% | 730.2% | 40,373 |
| Kendall County | Richard Nixon+6,848 | 9,37378.7% | 2,52521.2% | 190.2% | 11,917 |
| Knox County | Richard Nixon+7,982 | 17,31564.7% | 9,33334.9% | 1180.4% | 26,766 |
| Lake County | Richard Nixon+44,636 | 92,05265.8% | 47,41633.9% | 3440.2% | 139,812 |
| LaSalle County | Richard Nixon+9,785 | 31,19059.2% | 21,40540.6% | 920.2% | 52,687 |
| Lawrence County | Richard Nixon+2,529 | 5,34765.4% | 2,81834.4% | 160.2% | 8,181 |
| Lee County | Richard Nixon+5,848 | 10,63668.7% | 4,78830.9% | 650.4% | 15,489 |
| Livingston County | Richard Nixon+8,107 | 13,21772.1% | 5,11027.9% | 120.1% | 18,339 |
| Logan County | Richard Nixon+5,882 | 10,27769.9% | 4,39529.9% | 200.1% | 14,692 |
| Macon County | Richard Nixon+9,300 | 29,59659.2% | 20,29640.6% | 1370.3% | 50,029 |
| Macoupin County | Richard Nixon+3,921 | 13,58358.0% | 9,66241.3% | 1620.7% | 23,407 |
| Madison County | Richard Nixon+12,096 | 55,38555.9% | 43,28943.7% | 4420.4% | 99,116 |
| Marion County | Richard Nixon+3,787 | 10,75560.6% | 6,96839.2% | 310.2% | 17,754 |
| Marshall County | Richard Nixon+2,311 | 4,45267.4% | 2,14132.4% | 90.1% | 6,602 |
| Mason County | Richard Nixon+1,996 | 4,89762.7% | 2,90137.1% | 120.2% | 7,810 |
| Massac County | Richard Nixon+2,482 | 4,31370.0% | 1,83129.7% | 180.3% | 6,162 |
| McDonough County | Richard Nixon+5,430 | 10,57367.2% | 5,14332.7% | 220.1% | 15,738 |
| McHenry County | Richard Nixon+24,024 | 36,11474.8% | 12,09025.0% | 1080.2% | 48,312 |
| McLean County | Richard Nixon+16,236 | 31,06067.6% | 14,82432.3% | 710.2% | 45,955 |
| Menard County | Richard Nixon+2,070 | 3,65769.5% | 1,58730.2% | 190.4% | 5,263 |
| Mercer County | Richard Nixon+1,975 | 5,45261.0% | 3,47738.9% | 110.1% | 8,940 |
| Monroe County | Richard Nixon+3,521 | 6,47968.4% | 2,95831.2% | 290.3% | 9,466 |
| Montgomery County | Richard Nixon+2,167 | 9,02556.7% | 6,85843.1% | 300.2% | 15,913 |
| Morgan County | Richard Nixon+5,429 | 11,10366.1% | 5,67433.8% | 120.1% | 16,789 |
| Moultrie County | Richard Nixon+793 | 3,14357.1% | 2,35042.7% | 140.3% | 5,507 |
| Ogle County | Richard Nixon+8,769 | 13,51273.9% | 4,74325.9% | 350.2% | 18,290 |
| Peoria County | Richard Nixon+23,060 | 50,32464.5% | 27,26434.9% | 4440.6% | 78,032 |
| Perry County | Richard Nixon+2,884 | 6,96863.0% | 4,08436.9% | 120.1% | 11,064 |
| Piatt County | Richard Nixon+2,663 | 5,05767.7% | 2,39432.1% | 170.2% | 7,468 |
| Pike County | Richard Nixon+2,057 | 5,94060.2% | 3,88339.4% | 400.4% | 9,863 |
| Pope County | Richard Nixon+667 | 1,44064.9% | 77334.9% | 50.2% | 2,218 |
| Pulaski County | Richard Nixon+802 | 2,48559.3% | 1,68340.1% | 250.6% | 4,193 |
| Putnam County | Richard Nixon+553 | 1,66559.7% | 1,11239.9% | 100.4% | 2,787 |
| Randolph County | Richard Nixon+3,321 | 9,76160.2% | 6,44039.7% | 140.1% | 16,215 |
| Richland County | Richard Nixon+3,005 | 5,55868.4% | 2,55331.4% | 140.2% | 8,125 |
| Rock Island County | Richard Nixon+5,019 | 37,54853.4% | 32,52946.3% | 2530.4% | 70,330 |
| Saline County | Richard Nixon+2,434 | 7,66059.3% | 5,22640.5% | 320.2% | 12,918 |
| Sangamon County | Richard Nixon+24,738 | 50,45865.5% | 25,72033.4% | 8971.2% | 77,075 |
| Schuyler County | Richard Nixon+1,460 | 2,99466.0% | 1,53433.8% | 60.1% | 4,534 |
| Scott County | Richard Nixon+1,083 | 2,22866.0% | 1,14533.9% | 30.1% | 3,376 |
| Shelby County | Richard Nixon+2,828 | 7,21762.1% | 4,38937.8% | 200.2% | 11,626 |
| St. Clair County | Richard Nixon+3,883 | 50,51951.5% | 46,63647.5% | 9421.0% | 98,097 |
| Stark County | Richard Nixon+1,536 | 2,52971.4% | 99328.1% | 180.5% | 3,540 |
| Stephenson County | Richard Nixon+7,180 | 13,58467.9% | 6,40432.0% | 310.2% | 20,019 |
| Tazewell County | Richard Nixon+16,361 | 31,93767.1% | 15,57632.7% | 1000.2% | 47,613 |
| Union County | Richard Nixon+1,606 | 5,03459.4% | 3,42840.4% | 180.2% | 8,480 |
| Vermilion County | Richard Nixon+10,450 | 24,86363.1% | 14,41336.6% | 1490.4% | 39,425 |
| Wabash County | Richard Nixon+2,325 | 4,31068.3% | 1,98531.5% | 110.2% | 6,306 |
| Warren County | Richard Nixon+4,052 | 7,02170.2% | 2,96929.7% | 180.2% | 10,008 |
| Washington County | Richard Nixon+2,852 | 5,17968.9% | 2,32730.9% | 160.2% | 7,522 |
| Wayne County | Richard Nixon+3,637 | 6,40069.8% | 2,76330.1% | 120.1% | 9,175 |
| White County | Richard Nixon+2,374 | 6,05262.1% | 3,67837.7% | 160.2% | 9,746 |
| Whiteside County | Richard Nixon+9,396 | 17,30568.4% | 7,90931.3% | 870.3% | 25,301 |
| Will County | Richard Nixon+31,522 | 65,15565.7% | 33,63333.9% | 4300.4% | 99,218 |
| Williamson County | Richard Nixon+4,899 | 14,10160.0% | 9,20239.2% | 1890.8% | 23,492 |
| Winnebago County | Richard Nixon+21,745 | 57,68261.5% | 35,93738.3% | 2310.2% | 93,850 |
| Woodford County | Richard Nixon+6,064 | 9,62272.9% | 3,55826.9% | 230.2% | 13,203 |
Nominees: George McGovern (D) · Richard Nixon (R)
Illinois's presidential margins
1892–2024, the 1972 contest in context
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 1892 | +3.1% |
| 1896 | −13.0% |
| 1900 | −8.4% |
| 1904 | −28.3% |
| 1908 | −15.5% |
| 1912 | +13.2% |
| 1916 | −9.2% |
| 1920 | −42.3% |
| 1924 | −35.5% |
| 1928 | −14.7% |
| 1932 | +13.2% |
| 1936 | +18.0% |
| 1940 | +2.4% |
| 1944 | +3.5% |
| 1948 | +0.8% |
| 1952 | −9.9% |
| 1956 | −19.2% |
| 1960 | +0.2% |
| 1964 | +18.9% |
| 1968 | −2.9% |
| 1972 | −18.5% |
| 1976 | −2.0% |
| 1980 | −7.9% |
| 1984 | −12.9% |
| 1988 | −2.1% |
| 1992 | +14.2% |
| 1996 | +17.5% |
| 2000 | +12.0% |
| 2004 | +10.3% |
| 2008 | +25.1% |
| 2012 | +16.8% |
| 2016 | +16.9% |
| 2020 | +16.9% |
| 2024 | +10.9% |
Source. Compiled historical county records — 1972 presidential returns · official county-level results. Real returns — nothing estimated.