1936 Illinois gubernatorial elections

Incumbent first-term governor Henry Horner, a Democrat, won reelection.

Democratic primary
The Chicago political machine unsuccessfully ran Chicago Board of Health president Herman Bundesen against the incumbent Henry Horner in retribution for Horner having vetoed a bill that would have allowed bookies to legally operate, a bill favored by Chicago political bosses such as Edward J. Kelly.

Candidates

 * Herman Bundesen, Chicago Board of Health president and Chicago health commissioner, former Cook County coroner
 * Henry Horner, incumbent governor
 * James Fred Robertson, 1934 U.S. congress candidate and 1935 Chicago mayoral candidate

Candidates

 * C. Wayland Brooks
 * Oscar E. Carlstrom, former Illinois attorney general
 * George W. Dowell, Progressive nominee for Illinois's 25th congressional district in 1914
 * Thomas P. Gunning, Illinois state senator
 * J. Paul Kuhn
 * John G. Oglesby, former lieutenant governor of Illinois (publicly withdrew before primary)
 * Len Small, former governor of Illinois

General election
Challenging both Democratic nominee Henry Horner and Republican nominee Charles W. Brooks, Republican former Chicago mayor William Hale Thompson ran on the Union Progressive Party of Illinois' ballot line. There were also several other minor candidates.