The 1972 Illinois gubernatorial election was held in Illinois on November 7, 1972.^[1] Incumbent first-term Republican governor Richard B. Ogilvie lost reelection in an upset to the Democratic nominee, Dan Walker.

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1972 Illinois gubernatorial election

← 1968 (Gov) 1968 (Lt. Gov) November 7, 1972 1976 →
Turnout	75.28% 4.11 pp
Nominee Dan Walker Richard B. Ogilvie Party Democratic Republican Running mate Neil Hartigan James D. Nowlan Popular vote 2,371,303 2,293,809 Percentage 50.7% 49.0%
County results Walker:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Ogilvie:      50–60%      60–70%
Governor before election Richard B. Ogilvie Republican Elected Governor Dan Walker Democratic

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This was the first election in which each party's nominee for lieutenant governor of Illinois ran on a ticket with the gubernatorial nominee for the general election. Previously, there had been two separate elections for the two offices. This would be the last election of the 20th century in which a Democrat won the governorship of Illinois, with all seven remaining elections of that century being won by Republican nominees.

This was the first gubernatorial elections in which gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial candidates were elected on a ticket in the general election, per the 1970 Constitution of Illinois.

The election coincided with those for federal offices (United States President, Senate, and House) and those for other state offices.^[1] The election was part of the 1972 Illinois elections. Walker was the last Democrat to be elected governor of Illinois until Rod Blagojevich in 2002.

The primaries were held on March 21, 1972.^[1]