The 1946 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1946. Incumbent Republican Governor Merrell Q. Sharpe ran for re-election to a third term, but was defeated in the Republican primary by Attorney General George T. Mickelson. In the general election, Mickelson faced farmer Richard Haeder, the Democratic nominee. In part because of South Dakota's growing trend toward the Republican Party, and because of the national Republican landslide, Mickelson easily defeated Haeder, winning 67% of the vote to Haeder's 33%.
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 County results Mickelson: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Haeder: 50–60% 80–90% | |||||||||||||||||
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Democratic primary
editCandidates
edit- Richard Haeder, farmer and president of the South Dakota Rural Electrification Association[1]
- Edward Prchal, former member of the South Dakota Board of Regents, 1942 Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate[1]
- Jennie M. O'Hern, Democratic National Committeewoman[1]
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Richard Haeder | 8,093 | 41.06% | |
| Democratic | Edward Prchal | 6,563 | 33.30% | |
| Democratic | Jennie M. O'Hern | 5,053 | 25.64% | |
| Total votes | 19,709 | 100.00% | ||
Republican primary
editCandidates
edit- George T. Mickelson, incumbent Attorney General of South Dakota
- Merrell Q. Sharpe, incumbent Governor
- Millard G. Scott, former State Rural Credit Director, 1942 Republican candidate for Governor[3]
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | George T. Mickelson | 32,515 | 44.98% | |
| Republican | Merrell Q. Sharpe (inc.) | 23,325 | 32.27% | |
| Republican | Millard G. Scott | 16,442 | 22.75% | |
| Total votes | 72,282 | 100.00% | ||
General election
editResults
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | George T. Mickelson | 108,998 | 67.16% | +1.66% | |
| Democratic | Richard Haeder | 53,294 | 32.84% | −1.66% | |
| Majority | 55,704 | 34.32% | +3.31% | ||
| Turnout | 162,292 | 100.00% | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
References
edit- ^ a b c "South Dakota Governor's Third-Term Bid Rejected". Evening star. Washington, D.C. June 5, 1946. p. A-6. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
- ^ a b c Elections (PDF). p. 632. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - ^ "Millard G. Scott Enters Republican Gubernatorial Fight: Avers G.O.P. Affairs Need Improvement". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, S.D. March 4, 1946. p. 1. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
- ^ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 79.
Bibliography
edit- Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.