1947 Chicago mayoral election
| |||||||||||||||||
Turnout | 70.31%[1] | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||
|
Elections in Illinois |
---|
The Chicago mayoral election of 1947 was held on April 1, 1947. The election saw Democrat Martin H. Kennelly being elected, defeating Republican Russell Root by a more-than 17% margin of victory.
The election was preceded by primary elections in February 1947 to determine the nominees of both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party.
Nominations
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2019) |
Democratic primary
After fourteen scandal-filled years in office, incumbent Democrat
The Democratic Party opted to back Kennelly, a wealthy warehouse magnate. Kennelly had no prior experience in political office.[3] Kennelly was the third mayoral candidate to reside in Edgewater, following Nathaniel C. Sears and William Emmett Dever, and would consequentially be the second Edgewater resident elected mayor (after Dever).[8]
Republican primary
The number of voters who participated in the Republican primary was roughly half the number of voters who participated in the Democratic primary participated.[9] Republicans nominated Russell Root. Root, considered rather politically undistinguished, had been strongly backed by the statewide Republican organization of Governor Dwight H. Green.[2]
General election
Root, appealing to the onslaught of the
Kenelly rebuked these allegations, arguing that he charged the city the same price in 1947 that he had when he began providing the city this service in 1923, and that he considered it more of a civic duty than a profit-making venture.[2] Kennelly benefited from the strong inroads that Kelly had built with African Americans. The Chicago Defender endorsed Kennelly, arguing that the city's black population saw it as important to, "continue and expand the progressive and far-reaching racial policies" of Kelly.[2]
Results
The election saw a record-breaking total, with more votes being cast than in any Chicago mayoral election before it.[11] Kennelly won the greatest vote total of any mayoral candidate in Chicago history.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Martin H. Kennelly | 919,593 | 58.73 | |
Republican | Russell Root | 646,239 | 41.27 | |
Turnout | 1,565,832 |
References
- ^ "Mayoral race one for history books; will turnout be headline or footnote?". Chicago Sun-Times. February 8, 2019. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ^ ISBN 9780809331994. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
- ^ a b Stewart, Russ (September 12, 2018). "EMANUEL'S CHOICE WAS EITHER TO GET OUT OR TO GET BEAT". Archived from the original on February 24, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
- ^ a b World War II Chicago By Paul Michael Green, Melvin G. Holli
- ISBN 0-226-64431-6
- ^ AN EXAMINIATION OF THE 2011 CHICAGO MAYORAL ELECTION By https://paulsimoninstitute.siu.edu/common/documents/whats-in.../krebs-turner.pdf[permanent dead link]
- ^ Cichowsk, Marla (September 7, 2010). "Rules For Running For Chicago Mayor". Fox News. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
- ^ "Edgewater Teasers Vol. XVI No. 3 - FALL 2005". Edgewater History. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
- ^ "Marshall Evening Chronicle Archives, Feb 26, 1947, p. 1". February 26, 1947.
- ISBN 978-0-19-976319-1. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
- ^ "Kennelly, Democrat, Is Elected Chicago Mayor by Wide Margin; KENNELLY ELECTED MAYOR OF CHICAGO CHICAGO MAYORALTY CHANGES HANDS". New York Times. April 2, 1947. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
- ^ "Board of Election Commissioners For the City of Chicago Mayoral Election Results Since 1900 General Elections Only". Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. July 18, 2004. Archived from the original on July 18, 2004. Retrieved March 26, 2023.