The 1912 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1912. Incumbent Republican Governor Robert S. Vessey declined to run for re-election to a third term. Lieutenant Governor Frank M. Byrne won the Republican primary to succeed Vessey, and then faced State Senator Edwin S. Johnson, the Democratic nominee, in the general election. Byrne only narrowly defeated Johnson, winning just 49% of the vote to Johnson's 46%, the closest gubernatorial election since 1898.
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County results Byrne: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Johnson: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% No Vote: | |||||||||||||||||
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Primary elections
editPrimary elections were held on June 4, 1912.
Democratic primary
editCandidates
edit- Edwin S. Johnson, former State Senator[1]
- P. F. Wickhem, former State Senator[2]
Results
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Edwin S. Johnson | 7,092 | 55.32% | |
Democratic | P. F. Wickhem | 5,727 | 44.68% | |
Total votes | 12,819 | 100.00% |
Republican primary
editCandidates
edit- Frank M. Byrne, Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
- George W. Egan, disbarred attorney, 1910 Republican candidate for Governor
- Loomis S. Cull, Registrar of the Rapid City United States Land Office[4]
Results
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Frank M. Byrne | 38,660 | 51.74% | |
Republican | George W. Egan | 29,481 | 39.46% | |
Republican | Loomis S. Cull | 6,576 | 8.80% | |
Total votes | 74,717 | 100.00% |
Prohibition primary
editCandidates
edit- O. W. Butterfield, Prohibition candidate for Governor in 1910
Results
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Prohibition | O. W. Butterfield | 636 | 100.00% | |
Total votes | 636 | 100.00% |
Socialist primary
editCandidates
edit- Samuel Lovett
Results
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Socialist | Samuel Lovett | 636 | 100.00% | |
Total votes | 636 | 100.00% |
General election
editCandidates
edit- Edwin S. Johnson, Democratic
- Frank M. Byrne, Republican
- O. W. Butterfield, Prohibition
- Samuel Lovett, Socialist
Results
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Frank M. Byrne | 57,160 | 48.51% | −9.84% | |
Democratic | Edwin S. Johnson | 53,850 | 45.70% | +9.81% | |
Socialist | Samuel Lovett | 3,479 | 2.95% | — | |
Prohibition | O. W. Butterfield | 3,339 | 2.83% | −1.42% | |
Majority | 3,310 | 2.81% | −19.65% | ||
Turnout | 117,828 | 100.00% | |||
Republican hold |
References
edit- ^ "Edwin S. Johnson". Historical Listing. South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
- ^ "P. F. Wickhem". Historical Listing. South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Nelson, Nelson; Heinrich, Chad W., eds. (2005). "Chapter 8: Elections". Legislative Manual: South Dakota, 2005. Pierre, S.D. p. 631.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "Cull to Stay in the Race". Pierre Weekly Free Press. Pierre, S.D. January 25, 1912. p. 1. Retrieved June 12, 2021.