1916 South Dakota gubernatorial election

The 1916 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1916. Incumbent Republican Governor Frank M. Byrne declined to seek re-election to a third term. Lieutenant Governor Peter Norbeck won the Republican primary to succeed him, and in the general election faced State Representative Orville V. Rinehart. Norbeck won his first term as Governor in a landslide over Rinehart.

1916 South Dakota gubernatorial election

← 1914 November 7, 1916 1918 →
 
Nominee Peter Norbeck Orville V. Rinehart
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 72,789 50,545
Percentage 56.64% 39.33%

County results
Norbeck:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Rinehart:      40–50%      50–60%      70–80%

Governor before election

Frank M. Byrne
Republican

Elected Governor

Peter Norbeck
Republican

Primary elections

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Primary elections were held on May 23, 1916.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Democratic primary results[3][4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Orville V. Rinehart 6,529 53.33%
Democratic Edmund D. Morcom 5,714 46.67%
Total votes 12,243 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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  • Peter Norbeck, Lieutenant Governor
  • George W. Egan, disbarred attorney, 1912 Republican candidate for Governor, 1910 Republican candidate for Governor
  • Richard Olsen Richards, perennial candidate[5]

Results

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Republican primary results[3][4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Peter Norbeck 31,987 59.37%
Republican George W. Egan 11,442 21.24%
Republican Richard O. Richards 10,449 19.39%
Total votes 53,878 100.00%

Prohibition primary

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Candidates

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  • C. K. Thompson, Prohibition candidate for Governor in 1914

Results

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Prohibition primary results[3][4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Prohibition C. K. Thompson 526 100.00%
Total votes 526 100.00%

Socialist primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Socialist primary results[3][4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Socialist Fred L. Fairchild 699 100.00%
Total votes 699 100.00%

General election

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Candidates

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  • Orville V. Rinehart, Democratic
  • Peter Norbeck, Republican
  • C. K. Thompson, Prohibition
  • Fred L. Fairchild, Socialist

Results

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1916 South Dakota gubernatorial election[3][4][6][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Peter Norbeck 72,789 56.64% +6.57%
Democratic Orville V. Rinehart 50,545 39.33% +4.13%
Socialist Fred L. Fairchild 3,556 2.77% +0.05%
Prohibition C. K. Thompson 1,630 1.27% −0.84%
Majority 22,244 17.31% +2.44%
Turnout 128,520 100.00%
Republican hold

References

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  1. ^ "Orville V. Rinehart". Historical Listing. South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  2. ^ "City Briefs". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, S.D. July 6, 1915. p. 3. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e "1916–1918 Election Returns" (PDF). South Dakota Secretary of State. Pierre, South Dakota. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e Elections (PDF). pp. 622–623. Retrieved March 6, 2021. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  5. ^ Otto, Kathryn (1979). "The Richard Olsen Richards Papers at the South Dakota Historical Resource Center" (PDF). South Dakota History. 9 (2): 153–56. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  6. ^ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 79.
  7. ^ "SD Governor, 1916". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 6, 2021.

Bibliography

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  • Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.