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| Elections in South Dakota |
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The 1974 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1974, to elect a Governor of South Dakota. This election was the first in South Dakota to elect the governor for a four-year term, after it was allowed by a constitutional amendment passed in 1972.[1] Democratic nominee and Governor Richard F. Kneip was re-elected, defeating Republican nominee John E. Olson. As of 2024, this is the last time that a Democrat was elected Governor of South Dakota, marking the start of the longest Republican winning streak in the country for a state's governorship, as well as the longest gubernatorial winning streak by a single party.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Richard F. Kneip, incumbent Governor of South Dakota
- Bill Dougherty, Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Richard F. Kneip (Incumbent) | 45,932 | 66.19 | |
| Democratic | Bill Dougherty | 23,467 | 33.81 | |
| Total votes | 69,399 | 100.00 | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- John E. Olson
- Ronald F. Williamson
- Oscar W. Hagen
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John E. Olson | 49,973 | 55.57 | |
| Republican | Ronald F. Williamson | 25,509 | 28.37 | |
| Republican | Oscar W. Hagen | 14,444 | 16.06 | |
| Total votes | 89,926 | 100.00 | ||
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Richard F. Kneip (inc.) | 149,151 | 53.61 | |
| Republican | John E. Olson | 129,077 | 46.39 | |
| Total votes | 278,228 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
References
- ^ Public affairs, Issues 52-108. February 1973. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
- ^ a b "Official Election Returns for South Dakota" (PDF). South Dakota Secretary of State. 1974. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
- ^ Leip, David (March 29, 2010). "1974 Gubernatorial General Election Results – South Dakota". Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
- ^ "Official Election Results for South Dakota" (PDF). South Dakota Secretary of State. 1974. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
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