Previous Governors of Illinois

Jay Robert Pritzker is an American politician, philanthropist, and businessman serving since 2019 as the 43rd governor of Illinois. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Bruce Vincent Rauner is an American businessman, venture capitalist, and politician who served as the 42nd governor of Illinois from 2015 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he had a decades-long career in investment management before entering politics, serving as the co-founder and chairman of Chicago-based private equity firm GTCR. As of 2026, Rauner and his lieutenant governor Evelyn Sanguinetti are the most recent Republicans to have won or held statewide office in Illinois.

Patrick Joseph Quinn is an American politician who served as the 41st governor of Illinois from 2009 to 2015. A Democrat, Quinn began his career as a political activist, founding the Coalition for Political Honesty, which organized citizen-initiated referendums advocating political reform. He later served as a commissioner on the Cook County Board of Tax Appeals from 1982 to 1986, Illinois Treasurer from 1991 to 1995, and the 45th lieutenant governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009.

Rod R. Blagojevich, often referred to by his nickname "Blago", is an American politician who served as the 40th governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009. A member of the Democratic Party, Blagojevich previously worked in both the state and federal legislatures. He served as an Illinois state representative from 1993 to 1997, and the U.S. representative from Illinois's 5th district from 1997 to 2003.

George Homer Ryan was an American politician who served as the 39th governor of Illinois from 1999 to 2003. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as Secretary of State of Illinois from 1991 to 1999 and as lieutenant governor from 1983 to 1991. He was later convicted of federal racketeering, bribery, extortion, money laundering, and tax fraud stemming from his time in office.

James Robert Edgar was an American politician who served as the 38th governor of Illinois from 1991 to 1999. A moderate Republican, he previously served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1977 to 1979 and as the 35th secretary of state of Illinois from 1981 to 1991.

James Robert Thompson Jr. was an American politician and federal prosecutor who served as the 37th governor of Illinois from 1977 to 1991. He was Illinois's longest-serving governor, serving four consecutive terms over fourteen years.

Daniel J. Walker was an American lawyer, businessman, and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 36th governor of Illinois, from 1973 until 1977.

Richard Buell Ogilvie was an American attorney and law enforcement officer who served as the 35th governor of Illinois from 1969 to 1973. A wounded combat veteran of World War II, he became known as the mafia-fighting sheriff of Cook County, Illinois, in the 1960s before becoming governor.

Samuel Harvey Shapiro was an American politician, the 34th governor of Illinois, serving from 1968 to 1969. He was a member of the Democratic Party.