Career
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.
He ran in the Democratic primary for the Illinois Senate (11th district) in 1938 and lost.
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.
Bender, who had German and Irish heritage, died in Chicago"s Central Hospital and was buried in Onarga Cemetery. Illinois Republican presidential primary, 1944
Douglas MacArthur - 550,354 (9202%)
Riley A. Bender - 37,575 (628%)
Thomas East. Dewey - 9,192 (154%)
Everett Dirksen - 581 (010%)
John West. Bricker - 148 (003%)
Harold Stassen - 111 (002%)
Wendell Willkie - 107 (002%)
Illinois Republican presidential primary, 1948
Riley A. Bender - 324,029 (9690%)
Douglas MacArthur - 6,672 (200%)
Harold Stassen - 1,572 (047%)
Thomas East. Dewey - 953 (029%)
Robert A. Taft - 705 (021%)
This gave Riley 11.34% of all primary votes
Illinois Republican presidential primary, 1952
Robert A. Taft - 935,867 (7356%)
Harold Stassen - 155,041 (1219%)
Riley A. Bender - 22,321 (175%)
Douglas MacArthur - 7,504 (059%)
Earl Warren - 2,841 (022%)
Others - 1,229 (010%).
