[1] Heading into this election, Stratton was seen as vulnerable to being unseated if the Democrats ran a strong candidate, as he had only narrowly won reelection in 1956 (despite a strong overall performance by the Republican party in the state that year), and since the Democratic Party had nationally had a strong performance in the 1958 elections.

[2] Incumbent Governor William Stratton, a Republican seeking a third term, lost reelection to Democrat Otto Kerner Jr.

[1][3] In the general election, turnout was 84.99%, with 4,674,187 votes cast.

[1] Names floated as potential Democratic contenders included former Illinois Governor John Stelle, former Illinois Attorney General John Edward Cassidy, former United States Senator Scott W. Lucas, President of the Chicago Board of Education Sargent Shriver, and Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley, all of whom opted not to run.

[4][2] Daley, the head of the Cook County Democratic Party and a political boss, helped slate Otto Kerner for the nomination.