Bissell: 30-40%      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90% Richardson: 40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%      90-100% Joel Aldrich Matteson Democratic William Henry Bissell Republican The 1856 Illinois gubernatorial election was the eleventh election for this office.

Democratic governor Joel Aldrich Matteson did not seek re-election.

Former Democratic Congressman William Henry Bissell was nominated by the newly formed Republican Party at the Bloomington Convention.

Former Whig Mayor of Chicago Buckner S. Morris was nominated on the Know-Nothing Party ticket.

The Democratic campaign focused upon Bissell's involvement in a duel with future Confederate President Jefferson Davis, legally disqualifying him from holding state office, while the Republican campaign emphasized the Kansas-Nebraska Act.