1938 Illinois elections

1938 Illinois elections

← 1936 November 8, 1938 1940 →

Elections in Illinois
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State government General elections 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1969 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 Gubernatorial elections 1818 1822 1826 1830 1834 1838 1842 1846 1848 1852 1856 1860 1864 1868 1872 1876 1880 1884 1888 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 Lieutenant Gubernatorial elections 1818 1822 1826 1830 1834 1838 1842 1846 1848 1852 1856 1860 1864 1868 1872 1876 1880 1884 1888 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 Attorney General elections 2018 2022 Secretary of State elections 2022 Comptroller elections 2016 Senate elections 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 House of Representatives elections 1964 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 Judicial elections 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024
Ballot measures and referendums State capitol referendum (1834) Cutback Amendment (1980) Crime Victim Rights Amendment (1992) Illinois Governor Recall Amendment (2010) Public Pension Amendment (2012) Marsy's Law (2014) Right to Vote Amendment (2014) Transportation Taxes and Fees Lockbox Amendment (2016) Fair Tax (2020) Right to Collective Bargaining Amendment (2022)
Chicago General elections 2019 2023 Mayoral elections 1837 1838 1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1865 1867 1869 1871 1873 1876 1877 1879 1881 1883 1885 1887 1889 1891 1893 1893 sp 1895 1897 1899 1901 1903 1905 1907 1911 1915 1919 1923 1927 1931 1935 1939 1943 1947 1951 1955 1959 1963 1967 1971 1975 1977 sp 1979 1983 1987 1989 sp 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023 Aldermanic elections 1923 1925 1927 1929 2011 2015 2019 2023 Chicago Board of Education elections 2024 2026
Cook County County elections 1946 1980 State's Attorney 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024
Rockford Mayoral elections 2021
v t e

Elections were held in Illinois on Tuesday, November 8, 1938.^[1]

Primaries were held April 12, 1938.^[1]

1938 was a midterm election year in the United States.

In the primary election 2,550,642 ballots were cast (1,744,005 Democratic and 806,637 Republican).^[1]

In the general election 3,274,814 ballots were cast.^[1]

Incumbent Democrat William H. Dieterich retired. Democrat Scott W. Lucas was elected to succeed him.

All 27 Illinois seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 1938.

Republicans flipped four Democratic-held seats, making the composition of Illinois' House delegation 17 Democrats and 10 Republicans.

1938 Illinois State Treasurer election

← 1936 November 8, 1938 1940 →

Nominee Louie E. Lewis William R. McCauley Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,595,354 1,490,659 Percentage 51.53% 48.15%

Treasurer before election John C. Martin Democratic Elected Treasurer Louie E. Lewis Democratic

Incumbent Treasurer John C. Martin, a Democrat serving his second nonconsecutive term, did not seek reelection, instead opting to run for United States congress. Democrat Louie E. Lewis was elected to succeed him.

Incumbent congressman William G. Stratton won the Republican nomination.

1938 Illinois Superintendent of Public Instruction election

← 1934 November 8, 1938 1942 →

Nominee John A. Wieland Wiley B. Garvin Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,559,286½ 1,466,167 Percentage 51.35% 48.29%

Superintendent before election John A. Wieland Democratic Elected Superintendent John A. Wieland Democratic

Incumbent first-term Superintendent of Public Instruction John A. Wieland, a Democrat, won reelection.

1938 Illinois Clerk of the Supreme Court election

← 1932 November 8, 1938 1944 →

Nominee Adam F. Bloch George E. Lambur, Jr. Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,574,010 1,473,902 Percentage 51.47% 48.20%

Clerk before election Adam F. Bloch Democratic Elected Clerk Adam F. Bloch Democratic

Incumbent first-term Clerk of the Supreme Court, Democrat Adam F. Bloch, was reelected.

Seats in the Illinois Senate were up for election in 1938. Democrats retained control of the chamber.

Seats in the Illinois House of Representatives were up for election in 1938. Republicans flipped control of the chamber.

An election was held for three of nine seats for Trustees of University of Illinois. All three Democratic nominees won.^[1]

Incumbent first-term Democrats Orville M. Karraker and Karl A. Meyer were reelected.^[1][2] New Democratic member Frank A. Jensen was also elected.^[1][2]

Incumbent Democrat was Nellie V. Freeman was not renominated.^[2]

On June 27, 1938, one district of the Supreme Court of Illinois had a special election.^[1]

A special election was held for the seat of the court's 3rd district, after the death in office of Lott R. Herrick.^[1] Republican Walter T. Gunn won the election.^[1]

One ballot measure was put before voters in 1938, a legislatively referred constitutional amendment^[1][3]

The Illinois Banking Amendment, a proposed legislatively referred constitutional amendment to Sections 5, 6, 7 and 8, of Article XI of the 1870 Illinois Constitution, failed to meet the threshold for approval.^[1][4] In order to be approved, legislatively referred constitutional amendments required approval equal to a majority of voters voting in the entire general election.^[4][5]

If approved, this amendment would have made modifications to state banking rules that would have reduced the liability of bank stockholders.^[4]

One advisory referendum ("question of public policy") was put before voters.^[1][3]

An advisory question was voted on, which asked voters whether the states United States congressmen should vote against a national military draft. Those who voted overwhelmingly instructed congressmen to vote against a national military draft.^[6]

Local elections were held.