Handbill showing vote totals of 1948 of the Illinois Republican presidential primary, which Bender won, having been the only candidate listed on the ballot
Riley Alvin Bender (July 8, 1890 – March 6, 1973) was a United States businessman and political candidate.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, to Josephine and Edward Bender, he was a lifelong resident of his native city. Bender was an entrepreuer in the areas of hotel and music store management. He was also a prize fighter.
Bender is perhaps best known for his three bids for Republican Party Presidential nomination in the elections of 1944, 1948 and
1952. In all three occasions he appeared only in his native Illinois ballot.
Although he was never a major candidate in these races, he won the 1948 Illinois primary in a landslide, with 96.90% (324,029) of votes against Douglas MacArthur (6,672 votes and 2.00%) and other well-known figures such as Harold Stassen, Thomas E. Dewey and Robert A. Taft, though only Bender was on the ballot as the rest were write-in votes.[1]
Bender, who had German and Irish heritage, died in Chicago's Central Hospital and was buried in Onarga Cemetery.
