Who won Illinois in the 1968 presidential election?

Nixon (Republican) carried Illinois in 1968, winning its 26 electoral votes.

How many electoral votes did Illinois have in 1968?

Illinois cast 26 electoral votes in the 1968 presidential election.

Did Illinois vote for the national winner in 1968?

Yes. Illinois backed Richard Nixon, who won the presidency that year.

Cold War RealignmentIL · 26 EV

1968

Illinois: Nixon carries 26 EV.

Illinois cast its 26 electoral votes for Nixon (Republican). National winner: Richard Nixon (Republican) — Illinois voted with the national winner this cycle.

What happened in Illinois, 1968

In 1968, Illinois awarded its 26 electoral votes to Nixon of the Republican party. That placed Illinois with the eventual winner: Richard Nixon went on to take the presidency, and Illinois was part of his column.

The result flipped Illinois away from the Democratic ticket it had backed in each of the previous 2 cycles. Illinois did not move alone — neighboring Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, and Indiana broke the same way in 1968. Over its 53 recorded presidential cycles, Illinois has backed the Democratic party more than any other — 26 times in all. The vote fell within the Cold War Realignment — Nixon, Reagan, and the Republican South.

Nationally, Richard Nixon finished with 301 of the 538 electoral votes to Hubert Humphrey's 191. Richard Nixon led the national popular vote with 43.42% of the ballots cast.

The 1968 national map

Illinois full history →