| | [[File:Illinois Governor Election Results by County, 2014.svg.png|thumb|left|150px|2014 gubernatorial election results. If it were not for Cook County, Rauner would have won in a landslide.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Newman | first1=James | title=Quinn/Rauner a Squeaker? Durbin/Oberweis a Cakewalk? Think Again | url=http://www.niutoday.info/2014/11/05/think-quinnrauner-was-a-squeaker-and-durbinoberweis-was-a-cakewalk-heres-why-youd-be-wrong/ | date=November 5, 2014 | publisher=''[[Northern Illinois University|NIU]] Today'' | accessdate=July 26, 2016}}</ref>]] | | [[File:Illinois Governor Election Results by County, 2014.svg.png|thumb|left|150px|2014 gubernatorial election results. If it were not for Cook County, Rauner would have won in a landslide.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Newman | first1=James | title=Quinn/Rauner a Squeaker? Durbin/Oberweis a Cakewalk? Think Again | url=http://www.niutoday.info/2014/11/05/think-quinnrauner-was-a-squeaker-and-durbinoberweis-was-a-cakewalk-heres-why-youd-be-wrong/ | date=November 5, 2014 | publisher=''[[Northern Illinois University|NIU]] Today'' | accessdate=July 26, 2016}}</ref>]] |
| − | Overall, Illinois is a blue state. Geographically speaking, the vast majority of Illinois is Republican and conservative, but because of the large population of ultraliberal Cook County and parts of the suburbs, the Democratic Party dominates the state. The 2014 gubernatorial election was very tight, even though Bruce Rauner, who won the election, won every county except Cook. Particularly regarding presidential elections, Illinois is a liberal Democrat stronghold. In 1962, Illinois became the first state in the nation to legalize [[Homosexuality|homosexual conduct]]. | + | Overall, Illinois is a blue state. Geographically speaking, the vast majority of Illinois is Republican and [[conservative]], but because of the large population of ultraliberal Cook County and parts of the suburbs, the Democratic Party dominates the state. The 2014 gubernatorial election was very tight, even though Bruce Rauner, who won the election, won every county except Cook. Particularly regarding presidential elections, Illinois is a liberal Democrat stronghold. In 1962, Illinois became the first state in the nation to legalize [[Homosexuality|homosexual conduct]]. |
| | Currently, Illinois has a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] governor, [[J.B. Pritzker]]. One of its governors in the recent past was [[George Ryan]], who controversially emptied the state's death row after an investigation by [[Northwestern University]] law students proved that one death row inmate was innocent.<ref>https://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/01/11/illinois.death.row/</ref> Critics charged that he only did so to gain sympathy because he was about to be tried for [[corruption]] and selling commercial driver's licenses when he was the [[Secretary of State|Illinois Secretary of State]]. There are 2 Senators and 18 Representatives in Illinois. | | Currently, Illinois has a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] governor, [[J.B. Pritzker]]. One of its governors in the recent past was [[George Ryan]], who controversially emptied the state's death row after an investigation by [[Northwestern University]] law students proved that one death row inmate was innocent.<ref>https://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/01/11/illinois.death.row/</ref> Critics charged that he only did so to gain sympathy because he was about to be tried for [[corruption]] and selling commercial driver's licenses when he was the [[Secretary of State|Illinois Secretary of State]]. There are 2 Senators and 18 Representatives in Illinois. |