Election Resources

Did Not Run for a Second Term:

• James K. Polk (1845-1849): Chose not to seek re-election and retired after one term.

• James Buchanan (1857-1861): Did not seek re-election, largely due to the contentious political climate leading up to the Civil War.

• Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881): Pledged to serve only one term and did not seek re-election.

• Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929): Chose not to run for a second full term after finishing Warren G. Harding's term and serving one of his own.

Lost Re-election:

• John Adams (1797-1801): Lost to Thomas Jefferson in the election of 1800.

• John Quincy Adams (1825-1829): Lost to Andrew Jackson in the election of 1828.

• Martin Van Buren (1837-1841): Lost to William Henry Harrison in the election of 1840.

• Grover Cleveland (1885-1889): Lost re-election in 1888 to Benjamin Harrison but was later re-elected in 1892.

• Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893): Lost to Grover Cleveland in the election of 1892.

• William Howard Taft (1909-1913): Lost to Woodrow Wilson in the election of 1912.

• Herbert Hoover (1929-1933): Lost to Franklin D. Roosevelt in the election of 1932.

• Gerald Ford (1974-1977): Lost to Jimmy Carter in the election of 1976.

• Jimmy Carter (1977-1981): Lost to Ronald Reagan in the election of 1980.

• George H. W. Bush (1989-1993): Lost to Bill Clinton in the election of 1992.

• Donald Trump (2017-2021): Lost to Joe Biden in the election of 2020, but won "re-election" in 2024.

Died in Office During Their First Term

• William Henry Harrison (1841): Died of pneumonia just a month after taking office.

• Zachary Taylor (1849-1850): Died of illness 16 months into his term.

• James A. Garfield (1881): Assassinated and died after six months in office.

• Warren G. Harding (1921-1923): Died of a heart attack during his third year in office.

• John F. Kennedy (1961-1963): Assassinated in November 1963, during his third year in office.

There are ten main media markets in Illinois, with some market boundaries that are not entirely within the state:

Chicago

Rockford

Quad Cities

Peoria

Springfield-Decatur-Champaign

Quincy

Terre Haute

St. Louis

Evansville

Paducah

Illinois media markets are targeted in elections through strategic advertising placements. Political campaigns identify key regions, demographics, and political affiliations within the state and utilize various media platforms, such as television, radio, and digital advertising, to reach and engage voters in those specific markets.

Campaigns use data-driven approaches to decide which media markets to prioritize in Illinois elections. They rely on polling data, voter demographics, historical election results, and voter turnout patterns to identify the regions where their message is likely to resonate the most. Additionally, campaigns consider the availability and cost of media advertising in different markets to optimize their resources effectively.

Targeting Illinois media markets can have a significant impact on election outcomes. By focusing their advertising efforts on specific regions, campaigns can reach and persuade voters directly, increasing their chances of success. Effective targeting allows campaigns to tailor their messages to address the concerns and interests of local communities, thereby influencing voter opinions and mobilizing support in key media markets throughout the state.