[1] Incumbent Governor William Stratton, a Republican, narrowly won reelection to a second term.

Stratton's narrow victory came despite the fact that the Republican ticket of Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard Nixon carried the state of Illinois in a landslide in the presidential election.

In the primaries (held on April 10, 1960), turnout was 32.56%, with a total of 1,620,871 votes cast.

[1][3] In the general election, turnout was 82.69%, with a total of 4,314,611 ballots cast.

[1][4] Democratic nominee Herbert C. Paschen became embroiled in scandal related to his tenure as Cook County Treasurer.