State Political Career
Upon his discharge, Simon was elected to and began his political career in the Illinois House of Representatives. As a state representative, Simon was an advocate for civil rights, and once hosted an event attended by former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. After a primary debate with two other candidates, a newspaper account of a debate stated "the man with the bowtie did well", and he adopted his trademark bowtie and horned glasses.
In 1963, Simon was elected to the Illinois State Senate until 1969 when he became the Lieutenant Governor of Illinois. As a Democrat, he served with Republican Governor, Richard B. Ogilvie. Their bipartisan teamwork produced the state's first income tax and paved the way for the state's 1969 constitutional convention, which created the fourth and current Illinois Constitution. The Ogilvie-Simon ticket was the only one in Illinois history in which the elected Governor and Lieutenant Governor were from different political parties.
In 1972, Simon ran for the Democratic nomination for Governor, but lost to Daniel Walker, who went on to win the general election.
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