Governor and Lieutenant Governor Incumbent Republican
Richard B. Ogilvie lost to Democrat
Dan Walker. Incumbent
Lieutenant Governor Paul Simon did not seek reelection to a second term, instead opting to (ultimately unsuccessfully) seek the Democratic nomination for governor. Democrat
Neil Hartigan was elected to succeed him. 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.
Attorney General Incumbent
Attorney General William J. Scott, a Republican, was elected to a second term.
Democratic primary Illinois State Senator Thomas G. Lyons won the Democratic primary, running unopposed.
Republican primary Incumbent William J. Scott won the Republican primary, running unopposed.
General election Secretary of State Incumbent
Secretary of State John W. Lewis Jr., a Republican, had been appointed in 1970. He did not seek reelection. Democrat
Michael Howlett was elected to succeed him in office.
Democratic primary Illinois Auditor of Public Accounts Michael J. Howlett won the Democratic primary, running unopposed.
Republican primary Edmund J. Kucharski won the Republican primary, running unopposed.
General election ===
Comptroller === Comptroller was a newly formed office, created by the 1970
Constitution of Illinois to replace the office of Auditor of Public Accounts, of which the outgoing incumbent was Democrat
Michael Howlett, who instead opted to run for Secretary of State. Republican
George W. Lindberg was elected the inaugural Illinois Comptroller.
Democratic primary Dean Barringer won the Democratic primary, running unopposed.
Republican primary George W. Lindberg won the Republican primary, running unopposed.
General election State Senate Seats of the
Illinois Senate were up for election in 1972. Republicans flipped control of the chamber.
State House of Representatives Seats in the
Illinois House of Representatives were up for election in 1972. Republicans retained control of the chamber.
Trustees of University of Illinois An election was held for three of nine seats for Trustees of
University of Illinois system. The election saw the reelection of three-term former member Republican Park Livingston and first-term Republican incumbent Ralph Crane Hahn, as well as the election of new Republican member Jane S. Hayes Rader. Democratic incumbent Robert B. Pogue (elected in a special election two years earlier) lost reelection. {{Election box begin no change
Judicial elections Multiple judicial positions were up for election in 1972. ==Local elections==